3,000 residents in 1935

This was taken on the roof of a half built house in Baranscraig Avenue in 1933, and from top to bottom the men are: "Goldy" or "Blondy"aka Goldsmith, Cowley, and George Hole.
From the private collection of Georgie Hole

Semi-detached house for £550

The wages for most of the workforce were 1s 1d per hour. Mr Ferguson’s chauffeur earned £4 per week. There was even a messenger boy in a suit with silver badges and a pill box hat. Although the wages were considered by some to be good for the times, families still struggled to pay the mortgage of £3. 2s. 2d per month, plus yearly rates of £10. 4s. 0d, on a semi-detached house costing £550, and make ends meet. The initial deposit/down payment on the purchase of the house was £25. 0s 0d, which must have been a nightmare for a young couple just starting out in life, to find.

Impression of tartan?

Water costs were included in the rates, and came to 9s 4d a year. The carpenters (chippies) were allowed to take home any bit of scrap wood under 6” in length, for firewood, at the end of the working week. This probably resulted in frantic sawing activity just before they went home.T here were at least six different designs of houses and bungalows, and a rumour persists to this day that the different coloured roofs were to simulate an impression of tartan.

All electric estate

Dr. Rosario bought 1 Mackie Avenue, and as there was no Catholic church nearer than Surrenden Road, his house was used by the local Catholics as the venue for their services. He was also one of the first to have gas connected – being an “all electric” estate meant that it was many years before gas was laid on for everybody. By 1935, 3,000 people were settled on the estate.

Comments about this page

  • Wow, what an amazing photo.  I came on here just to see if there was any photos of the Ladies Mile/Mackie estate and not only do I find one of Baranscraig Avenue but our Grandad up on the roof building the houses – incredible to see ! (Percy Goldsmith – Goldy) Made my day that has.

    Gav.

    By Gav Cherriman (11/05/2018)
  • Gav, that’s great to identify one of the chaps on the roof.  There is another photo of all the Ladies Mile workers, if you’d like to get in touch.  Georgie.

    By Georgie Hole (17/05/2018)
  • Hi Georgie, yeah that would be great. I had meant to try and get in touch to see if we were able to get a copy of the photo. We have all been amazed to see it. Are you able to see my email address from this message? Thanks, Gav

    [Hello, Gav. Your email address isn’t visible to others. The only way would be for you to put the address in a new post and we will make it publicly available. that way we have your consent. Comments Editors]

    By Gav Cherriman (01/06/2018)
  • By Gav Cherriman (04/06/2018)
  • My late parents, as “newly weds”, bought a 3 bed Semi detached house in Mayfield Crescent, Patcham about 1935. A pleasant place with adjacent shops and a large pub (The Wilmington). Infant, Junior and Senior school in Warmdene Road with a large playing field. Lots of “Twittens”. A great bus service like the 5, 15b, 35 (later 46 trolley) , 19 and there were Southdown buses to places like Hassocks that you could catch near Patcham Place. When I was quite young I evidently used to get “the Shivers” on the No 35 as it struggled to climb the top stretch of Braybon Avenue when the poor driver had to change down into 1st gear on the steepest bit with a horrible crunch as he tried to double de-clutch. The 46 trolleys had no problems and they had the benefit of using their “coasting brake” when descending Braybon, which actually generated current back into the wires at the same time regulating the speed of descent. I did a paper round for “Walkers” in Wilmington Parade which took me to the top of Braybon and included crescents like Mayfield and Greenfield, I must have been very fit in those days!, and all for half-a-crown a week! I would love to know who created all the “Twittens” that were so useful to go places in Patcham without using the roads. Presumably shepherds. Our neighbours in Mayfield Crescent (if I can mention them) Were, Allrights; Griffins; Williams; Turners, Potts, Testers, Dunsters, Marmories) Mowbrays . There was another family whose name I fail to remember but they had son (older than me) who became a famous architect (Geoffrey will probably know the name).

    By John Snelling (03/10/2022)

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