Hove in the Past: Three Cornered Copse, Hove

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2023)

Background

In the 1890s there arose a dispute about the footpath through Three Cornered Copse. It was actually an ancient right of way and should therefore have been protected. But the land owner thought he could do what he wanted on his own property and decided to close it forthwith, although he did provide an alternative path. But local people were horrified, both at the loss of their customary footpath, and by the facts that the replacement path was inconvenient in wet weather while depriving the ‘public of the pleasure derived from walking under the trees’. Apparently, the legal term for the latter was the ‘amenity of the situation’.

Interested parties were soon on the case, including the Brighton & District Footpath Preservation Society – it is gratifying to learn that ‘green’ issues were a concern even in the 1890s. The correct procedure was followed in that Patcham Parish Council laid the matter before Steyning Rural Council, and it was stated that the ‘Local Government Act was very emphatic on the question of preserving footpaths’.

Even so the matter was not sorted out at once. The parties met in the copse and agreed to the line of where the footpath should be, and it was staked out on 31 December 1897. However, when the solicitor for the estate inspected it afterwards, he claimed it had been altered after he left the scene, and he had not agreed to the line as marked. Thus the wrangle rumbled on.

Pre 1900 the Three Cornered Copse was actually not in Hove. All the land north
of Old Shoreham Road up to the Dyke Road (the Brighton Boundary) and east
of Nevill Road (West Blatchington Boundary) was in the
Preston Rural Council's administration area.
The new recreation ground mentioned in the above article was to be Hove Park.

This tract of land is an extremely rare item at Hove because it is a stretch of old and natural woodland – the only other example being St Ann’s Well Gardens. Three Cornered Copse was once part of land belonging to the Marquess of Abergavenny, and Hove Council did not acquire it until the 1930s.

Before that happened, there is a lovely story about the area told by Ernie Mason who was born in Ellen Street in 1906. He wrote that an old man called Charlie used to sit on the grass bank at the north end of the copse, and beside him was a wicker basket full of oranges. It was an excellent pitch because there was plenty of passing trade from people en route to Devil’s Dyke. Sometimes, a loaded vehicle containing around twenty people would spot Charlie at his customary post; then they would raise a cheer, meanwhile raining down pennies. It was young Ernie’s job to retrieve the scattered coins and give then safely to Charlie. His reward was an orange for himself; this was a great treat because coming from a poor family, and depending on circumstances, an orange would usually only make an appearance at Christmas.

The word ‘Kops’ is used in this early 1900s photograph, was this a simple spelling mistake ? or does it have a much deeper significance ? One of the English translations of the Afrikaans’ word ‘Kop’ is a hill, the Boer War took place between years 1899 to 1902.
This scene shows the footpath near the Dyke Road, at an altitude of 125 metres, the highest point of the Three Cornered Copse. This northern section of the Dyke Road was renamed Dyke Road Avenue in the 1930s.

Purchase

Three Cornered Copse consists of eleven acres (3.8. hectares). In January 1935 it was announced that the Health Ministry had given their consent for Hove Council to borrow £1,524 in order to purchase the land, plus £711 to be expended on fencing and paths.

In February 1935 it was stated that Hove Council wanted to acquire a 10-ft strip on the west side of Three Cornered Copse, and adjoining the public right-of-way south of the copse. The Marquis of Abergavenny was willing to sell the strip for £100, but Hove Council would have to pay the legal costs as well as maintaining the fence on the west side. The vendor reserved the right to place gates in the fence at certain points. The conveyance was dated 19 October 1935.

Second World War

Around three acres was not actually woodland, and due to scarcity, it was used for food production during the war. Afterwards, the three acres became mown grassland.

The Great Gale 15/16 October 1987

It is sad to record that during that record-breaking night around 120 beech trees were blown down in Three Cornered Copse. There were other trees that were badly damaged, and had to be felled for safety reasons too.

A major re-planting scheme was undertaken; In 1988-1989 some 3,000 trees were planted, and some 2,400 were added in 1990-1991.

Audit 1994

It was recorded that there were mature specimens of ash, beech, elm, and sycamore, and many old hawthorn and elder bushes.

Beech trees had been planted at the edge of grassland with mixed planting carried out elsewhere; this included ash, whitebeam cherry, hawthorn, black thorn, dogwood, wayfaring tree, spindle, yew field maple, hazel and more beeches.

Dog Shocked

In June 1990 Hector, a collie-cross, was out for a walk with owner Julie Hillier, when he was suddenly dive-bombed by rooks who pulled out clumps of hair. The unfortunate canine was so shocked that he could barely stand.

Set-back

On several workdays in 2018 and 2019 the Friends of Three Cornered Copse were busily engaged in planting a great many native saplings on the bund that runs along the border with Dyke Road Avenue, and the Cityparks Ranger was there to offer help and advice.

The saplings planted included blackthorn, hawthorn, common dogwood, and guelder rose. The Friends were happy to see the hedge beginning to flourish, and also to have a confirmation that a rare brown streak butterfly had laid eggs in the blackthorn.

Then at the beginning of December 2021, along comes a team of council gardeners, and mows down the lot! Cityparks department naturally said they would make amends, but that is hardly the point.

Storm Eunice 18 / 19 February 2022

Unfortunately, this storm felled several trees in the copse, as well as scattering down a few branches.

copyright © D. Sharp
The 'flat' area of the Three Cornered Copse by the road junctions of Dyke Road Avenue and King George VI Avenue (Snakey Hill)

Storm Claudio 1 November 2022

Most people will probably remember this storm because it caused the collapse of the south-west corner of the old West Pier. The storm also brought a huge branch from a beech tree crashing down onto the grassy area. Fortunately, this happened during the night, and so nobody was injured.

Dutch Elm Disease

Brighton & Hove City Council have been very diligent in keeping this devastating disease at bay. It is remarkable that the city as a whole can boast of being home to some 17,000 elm trees. This is unique in the whole of England, and therefore a heritage that must be preserved, even when finances are tight.

Thus when the fungus appeared in several elms in the copse in July 2022, action had to be taken at once, such as an immediate removal, or ringing of the tree; in addition, near the twitten, a trench was dug across the woodland. This was to prevent the elm bark beetle from spreading the fungus through touching tree roots.

Ash Dieback

It is bad enough to have to be vigilant about precious elm trees, but in the 2020s a new threat became apparent – ash dieback. This meant that some diseased ash trees had to be removed from Three-Cornered Copse in 2022. It was heart-breaking that literally hundreds of ash trees had to be felled; their wood cannot be utilised but must be shredded and destroyed. This work had been carried out by June 2022. But it seems there were more to be dealt with in early 2023.

However, the good news is that some 1,500 whips are to be planted in the copse, starting off in February 2023.

Benches and Stones

It is well worth recording that it is possible for people to be able to sit down in the copse, and enjoy the environment, because there are four park benches plus two perch benches. However, it is a never-ending battle with Mother Nature who soon sends foliage and vegetation to cover these intruders. Keeping the benches clear is a task undertaken by the Friends.

It is somewhat odd that there should be items commemorating royal events in the copse. Probably, the ball was started rolling at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation on 2 June 1953. The official commemoration at Hove was the creation of the Floral Clock, but perhaps people living in this neck of the woods wanted their own commemoration. Then there are two slates marking the late Queen’s Jubilees but of course she had more than two, living long enough to celebrate a rare Platinum Jubilee.

Sources

Brighton Herald 25 May 1895 & 8 January 1898

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

The Hovarian (February 2022 / June 2022 / August 2022 / December 2022 / February 2023 /April 2023

Mason, Ernie, A Working Man; A Century of Hove Memories (1999) QueenSpark no 36

Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

For more information, see the website of The Friends of the Three Cornered Copse

29 May 2023

Three Cornered Copse, Hove