Purchased from the Abergavenny estate in June 1928

Please note that this text is an extract from a reference work written in 1990.  As a result, some of the content may not reflect recent research, changes and events.

g) PEACE GARDENS: Patcham Peace Gardens cover 3.12 acres of land which were purchased from the Abergavenny estate in June 1928, chiefly through the efforts of Herbert Carden ; it had been planned to build a petrol station on the site. The northern half of the gardens is a simple grassed area, but the southern half was laid out as an attractive sunken rose garden and includes a Tuscan pergola and a small Doric temple, both purchased from the 1924 Wembley Exhibition; the temple is decorated with fruit motifs and figureheads. Some statues from the Aquarium were re-sited here in 1929, but were later removed. By the roadway at the southern end is an 1897 drinking fountain which originally stood in the London Road at Home Farm, Withdean , until the road was widened. {26a,126}

Any numerical cross-references in the text above refer to resources in the Sources and Bibliography section of the Encyclopaedia of Brighton by Tim Carder.

Comments about this page

  • I had a gorgeous photograph taken here with my husband on our wedding day in 1995. It was the most popular photo in the album. Happy memories!

    By Allison Craig (13/10/2009)
  • I evidently spent happy hours in my pram here during the war, probably ’40 – ’44. Opposite was the pre-war constructed Brangwyn Estate of Tudor type houses. My father worked on these as a plumber in the late ’30s. This area was an “island” sandwiched between the Old London Road and the by-pass whose northern end faced the Black Lion Hotel (Beards of Lewes) built in ’28. On the left here was Patcham Place, later a YMCA hostel, and the adjacent park complete with a wooden cricket pavilion. To the right of The Black Lion was Church Hill leading up to All Saints Church and a farm with the longest tithe barn in Sussex (now apartments). Adjacent to the Church and opposite an ancient dovecote was once a spring fed pond. A stream ran down Church Hill and was originally a river that ran all the way to the sea. It now runs underground although I can remember springs popping up near the horse trough, through the tarmac, after heavy rain. Would love to read some of your memories. 

    By John Snelling (07/11/2012)
  • I’ve grown up in this place with my friends. And I can say the council have gutted and destroyed the place in the last 10 years. I have no doubt it will end up just grass and by the time I die it’ll be a block of flats. Also it took them seven months after I notified them three times to fix a bench.

    By Jason (21/10/2013)
  • I have just re-read my article of 10 years ago and the reply by “Jason” . I sincerely hope that the fate he predicts hasn’t happened. On our next visit I must take a look. Although sandwiched between two roads, it always seemed a peaceful spot and when we lived in Patcham it was always immaculate. For 1 year I attended the Old Patcham School which later became the HQ of (I think) 225 Squadron Air Training Corps of which I was a member. I wonder what it is now?

    By John Snelling (06/10/2022)

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