Hove in the Past: Farm Road, Hove

Judy Middleton 2002 (revised 2023)

Background

There were no houses listed at Farm Road in the 1850 Directory, but building work started in 1851 and by 1854 there were ten houses. According to a statutory declaration made on 14 November 1853 by George Philcox Hill numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Farm Road, together with eight stables behind them, formed part of Wick or Week Farm, and the road was in fact a carriageway from Wick House to what is now Western Road. Wick Farm was sold to Isaac Lyon Goldsmid in 1830.

According to the Ordnance Survey map of 1877, Farm Road was not completely built up by then because there was some space on the north west side between the last house in Farm Road, and Mahomed’s Royal Gymnasium in Lansdowne Road. It was most probably here that the Hove Commissioners sought to have their first depot. For such a humble purpose, it is amusing to note that the signatures on the document of conveyance in September 1877 were very grand indeed, being Nathaniel Montefiore, Frederic David Mocatta and Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid – because of course the land was part of the Goldsmid Estate. The land, costs, and construction of a boundary wall came to a total of £2, 334.

Interlinked Families

With reference to the three gentlemen mentioned above, the Mocatta and Goldsmid families were closely linked by marriage for generations. For example, in 1856 Samuel Mocatta was a trustee of a settlement concerning the Goldsmid Estate, and Frederic David Mocatta of Connaught Place, Middlesex, was a trustee of the Goldsmid Estate, having been appointed by Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid. F. D. Mocatta was still a trustee when Sir Julian Goldsmid died on 7 January 1896. Then there was Moses Mocatta who lived at 122 King’s Road, Brighton, and was the brother-in-law of Sir Moses Montefiore.

The son of Moses Mocatta was the celebrated architect David Mocatta (1806-1882), best remembered today as having been frequently employed by the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, and thus designing Brighton Station, and Hove Station (not the one in current use). The Jewish Chronicle had the following to say about David Mocatta. ‘He was one of the men whom in the early struggles of Jewish emancipation Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmith took a pride in pointing out as exhibiting a predilection for other than commercial pursuits.’ This comment is of course linked to the ancient business of the families with a history going back to 1684; it eventually became known as Mocatta & Goldsmid, originally London bullion merchants. There were also family links to the Rothschilds.

Drunk Fined

In June 1897 Frank Dorey was ‘discovered lying in the roadway in Farm Road, Hove, under the influence of liquor’. He was fined one shilling, together with eight shillings costs.

The Wick Estate still in the Picture

In 1907 the following houses in Farm Road were still owned by the Wick Estate:

Numbers 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 36, 38, 40, 42, 45, 47, 57

The following properties were let at ground rent:

Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20

The stabling at the back of numbers 19 & 20 were subject to a perpetual rent charge.

Lamps

In 1900 Hove Council decided that three new gas burners should be installed in the street lamps already in position – the gas burners bore the somewhat cumbersome name of New Sunlight Jena Suspension Chimney Combination. At the same time two other lamps were to have their position altered, and two new lamps would be purchased, and the cost was expected to be £16-17s.

Jaycee Furniture

In 1918 David Cohen founded a firm making reproduction furniture in Farm Road, and in July 1978 at the age of 84 he was still working five and a half days a week. In 1947 his son, Jack Cohen founded Jaycee Furniture as a three-man effort in Farm Road. Business flourished and by 1966 there was a factory at Woodingdean with a depot up north. Another Cohen son was director of a furniture firm in Nigeria.

Lansdowne Mews

copyright © J.Middleton
Lansdowne Mews is now a tranquil backwater whereas in Victorian times
it was a busy place with horses in the stables with coachmen, and grooms
bustling around

Lansdowne Mews is situated on the west side of Farm Road, and it is the largest of the mews or courts in the same road. It was constructed with three sides, and once had a verandah all along the first storey, which is still extant in some parts.

In the 1861 census it was recorded that the following houses were unoccupied:

2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16

The rest of the houses were occupied by men following different trades, but with the majority of them working with horses:

6 coachmen

3 fly proprietors

1 one fly driver

1 greengrocer

1 Coastguard employee

There was a livery stables in Lansdowne Mews run in conjunction with the nearby pub Lansdowne Arms. In the 1890s these two businesses were split, and William Patrick, formerly the pub landlord, decided to concentrate his efforts on the stables. In the 1880s Patrick had already acquired four licences to operate his 1^st class landaus. His business then became known as the Lansdowne Mews Private and Livery Stables. By 1898 this establishment was being run by E. A. Hodgman. By around 1911 the horses were gone, and instead there was the Lansdowne Mews Motor Garage whose proprietor was A. J. Ansell.

In 1938 the first demolition order ever made at Hove became the subject of a Public Enquiry at Hove Town Hall before Mr R. W. Thorp, Inspector for the Minister of Health. The properties involved were 1, 2, 3, and 7 Lansdowne Mews, described as having been erected around 100 years ago as stables with lofts and living accommodation above. Objections to the demolition order were made by David Thomas Patrick, and his two sisters, who were the freeholders, plus Alfred Ernest Ansell, leaseholder of number 3.

Reginald Churcher, senior sanitary inspector, stated that the accommodation on the first floor was ‘reached by two staircases from the yard. Number 3 had an open back, otherwise the buildings were back to back, and there was no through ventilation. In some of the rooms the ventilation was only by sky-lights, some of which were fitted badly.’ The roofs of numbers 1, and 7 were very bad, and part of one roof was simply boarded and felted. Dr N. E. Chadwick said the premises were unfit for human habitation.

The defence contended that the properties were not unfit, and besides there was a scheme that they should only be used as business premises. Mr Ansell lived at number 3 and he was an upholsterer and cabinet-maker, carrying on his business in part of the mews not included in the demolition order. Mr Ansell said he found living at number 3 ‘infinitely comfortable’ and he had a family of three. He said he had never needed to pay a doctor’s bill until just recently when one of them needed an operation. Mr Patrick said that neither he nor his sisters worked because of poor health, and the rent he received from Mr Ansell helped him to look after his mother. He could afford to renovate the premises, but he could not afford to rebuild them should they be demolished.

The inspector adjourned the proceedings for three months to give both parties the opportunity to consult each other. If not agreement had been reached by then, he would make a decision himself.

Goldsmid Mews

copyright © J.Middleton
It is an intriguing thought that some of the buildings
in Goldsmid Mews date back to Hove’s rural past

It is thought that some of the buildings in Goldsmid Mews might date back to the time when they were part of Wick Farm.

In 1861 the houses were occupied by a gardener, a laundress, and a coachman.

In August 1897 Mr Taylor wrote a letter to Hove Council requesting that there should be more light in the mews. The council replied that if the owners paid for, and erected a lamp, then the council would provide it with gas.

In August 1998 it was advertised that a development of ‘six charming, flint-faced houses’ in the mews were ready for sale with prices starting at £84,950.

Farm Mews

copyright © J.Middleton
Weather-boaded houses might be commonplace in other parts
of Sussex but are a rarity at Hove

In 2002 at 17A Farm Road if you went through the large wooden doors you would find a quaint little close with weather-boarded houses and overhanging top storey, while in the background the evocative sound of a ringing anvil could be heard. In March 2001 the Farm Road Ironwork Cooperative was set up by three blacksmiths – Paul Wells, Mark Willis, and Nick Whitely – all aged 35. The three men had followed different careers before deciding to take up blacksmithing; they met through the National School for Blacksmithing and Equine Studies in Hereford. They had individual styles of working but could undertake any sort of blacksmithing work from creating jewellery to making a spiral staircase. In fact, at the time they were busily engaged on a spiral staircase for David Power, of Indie band James.

A Murder

The murder did not take place in Farm Mews but at 112 Western Road, Hove, in February 1954. The reason it is mentioned here was because the man involved in the crime lodged in Farm Road with Mrs D. M. Hewetson from July 1952 to September 1953. He was an artist known as William Hepper, but his full name was William Sanchez de Piner Hepper. He strangled an eleven-year old girl, and was hanged in August 1954. (For more details, please see under Western Road, Shop Notes, number 112)

House Notes

Number 3 – The pub was originally known as the Lansdowne Arms but has been re-named the Cooper’s Cask.

Number 4 – In 1853 this house was purchased by Samson Ricardo from Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, and in 1859 it became the western branch of the Brighton Dispensary (later known as the Brighton, Hove and Preston Dispensary). The Dispensary was established in Brighton in 1809, and was intended as a place where poor people could go to seek medical advice. Naturally, Hove also wanted the benefit of such an institution, and a petition was got up ‘numerously signed from the inhabitants of Hove and Cliftonville’. The Dispensary relied for its financing on subscriptions, donations and legacies, plus money donated by such diverse people as members of the royal family and railway workers. Money was also provided through church collections. For example, in 1859 St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, contributed £177-19-5d, while St Andrew’s Old Church, Hove, stumped up £207-19-3d. At Farm Road Mr Cooper was the resident surgeon and dispenser. In 1859 the average attendance was 88, but by 1961 the number had risen to 130.

In 1863 the property was sold, and then again sold in 1867 to G. W. Willett, who in turn transferred it to a group of men. These men were in fact governors of the Dispensary. The conveyance recorded the names as follows:

George Walter Willett (1^st part)

Revd Thomas Trocke (2^nd part)

John Geddes Cockburn (2^nd part)

Rt Hon Henry Thomas, Earl of Chichester (2^nd part)

Henry Michell Wagner (2^nd part)

Revd John Nelson Goulty (2^nd part)

Sir Francis Goldsmid (2^nd part)

Somers Clarke (3^rd part)

When a new western branch of the Dispensary was built in Sackville Road in 1888 (later known as Hove Hospital) the Farm Road premises became surplus to requirements, and were sold at auction on 18 December 1888 by order of the governors of the Dispensary. Number 4 was purchased for £555 by Mrs Georgina Parker, a general dealer.

Number 5 – This house was purchased sometime after 1827 by Thomas Read Kemp from Thomas Scutt. It too became part of the Dispensary establishment, which also occupied number 4 next door. On 18 December 1888 the house was sold at auction for £555 and purchased by William Finnemore of 20 Brunswick Street West.

Number 7 – The house was built in 1851. In 1880 Nathaniel Montefiore, one of the trustees of the Goldsmid Estate, leased it for the sum of £9-4s a year.

copyright © J.Middleton
In 1914 Mr Woolley kept seven noisy greyhounds at this house,
to the great annoyance of his neighbours

There is a fascinating detail from June 1914 when the occupant, William Thomas Vallance Woolley, was summoned for keeping seven noisy greyhounds, which disturbed the neighbours. He was given time to find new homes for them outside the borough of Hove.

Numbers 8, 9, 10, and 11 – The houses were built in 1853. In 1880 Nathaniel Montefiore, one of the trustees of the Goldsmid Estate, leased the four houses for £6-10s a year each.

On 30 July 1880 number 8 was leased to Emma Montefiore for the same sum.

On 20 October 1911 Claude Joseph Goldsmid Montefiore of 12 Portman Square, leased number 8 to Hedley George Morton of 128 Western Road, Brighton, for £6-10s a year. Morton earned a living as a ladies’ tailor.

On 13 September 1917 H. G. Morton, by this time described as a gentleman of 17 Carlton Terrace, Portslade, sold the lease of number 8 for £200 to Sydney Herbert Morton of 13 Farm Road, licensed victualler (Farm Tavern).

On 31 May 1922 S. H. Morton, of 1 Devonshire Place, Brighton, sold the lease for £280 to Clara Rosetta Gorringe of Glenroy, 10 Ditchling Rise. She died on 13 January 1941, and her executors sold the residue of the lease (originally 99 years) to the landlord Sir H. J. d’Avigdor Montefiore for £70.

Number 12 – The house was built in 1853. This was obviously a more expensive house than the previous four because in 1880 Nathaniel Montefiore leased it for £12-5s a year.

Numbers 13 & 14 – The houses were built in 1852, and by 1859 number 13 had been turned into a pub called the Farm Tavern. It was an unusual pub because there was no cellar, and indeed it is claimed that the premises were used as a dairy before it became a pub. In 1880 Thomas Dunhill leased both houses for £9-4s a year.

Number 15A – It was in around 1929 that Hove-born famous artist Juliet Pannett (1911-2005) had her own studio on the premises. She remembered going through the arch, and climbing the rickety stairs to her studio for which she paid a rent of four shillings a week.

In the 1930s William Thomas Woolley and his wife ran a stables at the premises. In May 1935 the couple sought damages through the courts because their black horse had been killed on the road. The horse had been hired by Miss Helen Ethel Kathleen Beatty of Brunswick Square. She was the niece of Earl Beatty (1871-1936) who was active during the First World War, sinking the Blücher, and taking part in the Battle of Jutland. In 1916 Beatty became Commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, and 1^st Sea Lord the following year. Miss Beatty claimed that she was a competent rider but unfortunately the horse bolted and was killed. The claim failed, and the judge awarded Miss Beatty costs. However, the judge found in favour of the Woolleys when Miss Beatty counter-claimed for personal injuries.

Numbers 19 & 20 – The houses were built in 1855; in 1880 Nathaniel Montefiore leased them for £5-4s a year each.

Number 47 – In September 1905 Hove Council approved plans drawn up my Mr A. Carden on behalf of Mr J. J. Abell to convert the stables into flats.

Miscellaneous

In the Argus (21 September 1999) there was a story about 14-year old Madeleine Salvage who lived with her family in Farm Road, and was a pupil at the Priory School, Lewes. Her actor-father Neil had appeared in the TV series The Bill and Casualty. Apparently, when she was 10 years old with long blonde hair and long legs she was spotted at a wedding party playing in a nearby stream by Helen Oxenbury, the famous illustrator of children’s books. Miss Oxenbury said she knew at once that here was the inspiration for a new edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The book was published by Walker Books in October 1999, and it was printed in Italy on good quality paper with coloured illustrations as well as monochrome drawings. The dust jacket has a lovely, large illustration of Alice in a blue dress and waist-length long hair while the White Rabbit whispers in her ear. Miss Oxenbury said she had enjoyed the story as a child, and now she wanted to make it more accessible for modern children.

Farm Road's Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club Mural

In March/April 2023, the Brighton based artist Sinna One was commissioned by Dogma, a Brighton & Hove Albion fan group, to paint a 'Pride of the South Coast' mural at the southern end of Farm Road. The Albion players featured in the mural, from left to right:- Solly March, Robert Sanchez, Lewis Dunk, Tariq Lamptey and Pascal Groß.

Sources

Directories

Dispensary Reports 1837-1947 (In 1978 these were kept at Hove Hospital, together with other documents, and a book of newspaper clippings)

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Middleton, J. A History of Hove (1979)
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

Sussex Daily News (26 July 1938)

The Keep

ACC 4982/68/26 – Leaseholds of 8 Farm Road

ACC 4982/68/35 – Abstract of title to the Goldsmid Estate 1879

HOW 41/7-8 – Re. 4 Farm Road 1889

05 August 2020

Farm Road, Hove