Hove in the Past: Hove Recreation Ground

Judy Middleton 2002 (revised 2022)

Background

The land on which Hove Recreation Ground was later laid out was once part of the Stanford Estate and situated in the parish of West Preston. In March 1886 Mr Benett-Stanford offered Hove Commissioners 20 acres of land at a specially reduced price because it was to become a recreation ground. He stated that some land opposite the site had been sold for building purposes at a price of £1,000 an acre. However, he was willing to sell the 20 acres for £450 an acre. In addition, compensation would have to be paid to the tenant – Mr J. J. Clark – who had been using the land as a market garden. It was probable that the compensation would work out at £50 an acre, and the final cost of the land would come to £10,000.

The quest to find suitable land for a recreation ground had been a long and frustrating affair. Hove Commissioners had considered no less than thirteen possible sites with prices ranging from £600 an acre to £2,000 an acre. At one time the Commissioners considered they might have to settle for five acres, and later on for ten acres. But other Commissioners, and in particular Samuel Isger, resolved to see the matter through properly. After all, they were not seeking to create a park for the enjoyment of the wealthy classes, but a recreation ground for the children.

It was in around 1885 that Samuel Isger discovered that land offered for building purposes could be purchased for a discount, and thought it would be a good opportunity for the Commissioners to acquire such a piece of land for a recreation ground. Isger called upon Mr Spong for advice, and Spong told him that should the Commissioners be successful in securing such a piece of land, he would guarantee them the sum of £100.

The contract between Mrs Ellen Benett-Stanford and the Hove Commissioners was dated 5 March 1887 but was subject to the approval of the Court of Chancery – this was because Ellen had still been a child when she inherited the Stanford Estate, and legal niceties had to be gone through before land could be sold off.

In fact, the conveyance was not drawn up until six years later. The delay between the transactions was because Hove Commissioners did not (possibly could not) pay the balance of money owing (namely £9,000) until November 1893.

The conveyance was dated 30 December 1893 and the people named were as follows:

Henry Arthur Fane & Marmaduke Darrell Jeffreys (1^st part)

Ellen Benett-Stanford (2^nd part)

Percy Mansfield Morris, Marmaduke Robert Jeffreys, & George Henry Gordon (3^rd part)

Hove Commissioners (4^th part)

Right of Way

In April 1888 the footpath running through the south-western corner of the proposed recreation ground was the subject of a diversion order. Hove Commissioners agreed to pay £15 to the Stanford Estate toward the cost of £30. However, the path issue was not settled as simply as that because the Justices were against a diversion of this right of way. In May 1889 the town clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps in order that the path might be diverted to the western boundary, and the substituted foot path could run wholly through the ground.

In November 1889 the town clerk was instructed to give notice to the Way-warden of West Preston to convene a Vestry Meeting to discuss the matter. The busy town clerk also had to apply to the Justices for the relevant certificate.

A Long Wait

Hove parents were very pleased to think that at last there would be somewhere for children to play safely. However, they did not realise how long such a project could take. The Recreation Committee was advised that three years must elapse from the time grass was seeded before activities such as cricket and football could take place. Indeed when Mr A. J. Clark of Goldstone Cricket Club sent a letter in March 1891 with a request to utilise one of the three cricket pitches, the Commissioners replied that the state of the grass would not allow cricket to be played until the autumn of that year. In fact, the grass proved to be in such good condition that cricket actually started to be played in July 1891.

Frustration about the delayed opening was such that soon petitions were being sent to Hove Town Hall – the one with the most signatures – precisely 1,726 – arrived in July 1888, and proved to be a unique and charming document, recorded faithfully in Hove Council Minute Books. It ran as follows:

We, the undersigned Boys and Girls of the Town of Hove, hope that you will favour us by opening the Recreation Ground before long. Our holidays are rapidly approaching, and we have nowhere to play but the streets. If we play in the streets, we are interfered with by the policeman, and we have the chance of breaking the windows; we cannot play cricket or football in the streets; if we play at marbles, either carts come along and break them, or we are turned away. If we had a piece of ground we might be able to take our little brothers and sisters there and they would be safe; as it is, they run the risk of being run over by carts. We have had waste pieces of ground that we played on, but they are either dug up and cultivated, or built upon – so it is really necessary that a piece of ground should be opened for us.

It seems that at the time of the petition the Commissioners did not even have full control over the ground. Consequently, orders were sent out to investigate the tenancy of twelve acres. Mr J. J. Clark agreed to relinquish his tenancy. The Commissioners then directed that the whole 20 acres should be cleared forthwith, and seeded with grass.

In September 1888 a Mr Tugwell wrote to the Commissioners asking that a pond might be included in the design ‘so that boys might swim their boats’.

Plans

In June 1889 the town surveyor, H. H. Scott, presented his ambitious plans to Hove Commissioners. He envisaged an artificial lake, 200-ft in length, varying in width from 25-ft to 55-ft, and 15-ft in depth. There would be an ornamental iron fence on the south side, and oak park paling to enclose the other three sides. The use of park paling would lower the expense, but he preferred a brick wall for all sides because he thought it probable that roads and housing would soon cover the area, and therefore a more substantial fence would be necessary. The cost of the plan came to £5,000, but if brick walls were built there would be an additional cost of £770. The Commissioners were horrified at the expense, and promptly threw out the plan.

The revised plan was simpler – out went the ornamental lake, together with all the fencing except for a dwarf brick wall on the south side. One of the items saved from the first plan was to fill in the hollow on the south-east corner. The cost of the new plan was £3,950. The Commissioners were under some pressure to get on with things because in the terms of the agreement the ground had to be enclosed, laid out and planted by March 1891.

In November 1889 the Commissioners considered the idea of having wattle fencing, which would cost a modest £80. But by June 1890 they were obliged to chose oak park fencing for the simple reason that such fencing had been itemised in the agreement with Mrs Benett-Stanford.

Eighteen tenders were received for the privilege of erecting the fencing, including one from Parsons & Sons. But their price of £445 was considered far too high: instead the contract was awarded to Edwin C. White who offered to do the work for £350.

(This fencing had been removed by August 1937, and people thought it was a great improvement because the ground could be viewed and enjoyed from outside.)

Trees

In November 1889 the Marquess of Abergavenny offered to donate some trees for the new recreation ground. But unfortunately, they did not arrive until after the west side border had been planted. The truck-load of items the Marquess sent consisted of 400 Scotch firs, 40 chestnut trees, and 500 rhododendrons.

The Scotch firs were massed together in a sheltered place at the north-west corner. The chestnut trees were planted on the north and east sides, and the rhododendrons were placed on the north bank opposite the entrance.

In February 1893 it was decided to plant a row of trees, around 30 feet apart, on either side of the south walk at an estimated cost of £10. At the same time a clump of shrubs and trees were to be planted on the ridge on the south side of the cricket ground. Later in the year a row of trees was planted on the south side of the north path.

copyright © J.Middleton
The decision to plant this avenue of trees was taken in 1893. The postcard view was sent on 29 September 1908

The Sussex Tree Book (1998) recorded some rare elm trees in Hove Recreation Ground, including a Coritanian elm and a Cornish elm. Other interesting specimens were a Golden Wych elm (two varieties) and a Belgian elm. At the south-east entrance there was a Strawberry tree. In addition the ground was surrounded by belts of elms, some of them rare.

In 1999 it was stated that the specimens of Golden Wych elm to be found at Hove Recreation Ground were u. glabra x minor var, plotti. There were also eight specimens of the Coritanian elm, a rare v. rotundifolia, a Belgian elm daveyi, and a rare Cornish elm var. cucullata.

Preparations

In July 1890 it was decided to purchase a mowing machine – not exceeding £24 in price – and a galvanized iron shed in which to store tools – the cost not to exceed £18.

A horse was used to pull the mowing machine and was clad in special boots to avoid cutting up the turf. In April 1895 George Flowers supplied seven new double soles for the horse boots, plus repairs for the same, at a cost of £1-8s. Flowers ran a saddlers and harness-making business at 64 George Street. He never knew his father who was killed in the front line of the 17^th Lancers at the charge of the Light Brigade on 25 October 1854. His wife had been with him in the Crimea and returned to England where George was born.

Although Messrs Parsons lost out on the contract to erect park fencing, they were entrusted with the task of building the dwarf wall on the south side, which remains to this day. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the magnificent iron gates and iron railings erected by the famous firm of C. G. Reed & Son for the significant sum of £775.

In October 1890 Mr J. B. Blaker supplied 700 yards of Coombe rock flints for making up the paths.

In December 1891 the borough surveyor was told to direct the building of urinals at the north-east, north-west, and south-west corners of the ground.

In March 1891 it was hoped that gymnastic equipment would soon be erected in the north-west part of the ground. The equipment would include a 16-ft high Giant Stride with six pendant ropes, a horizontal bar and parallel bars. Another piece of equipment would be a 15-ft high combination gymnasium with two sparred planks, a plain plank, an inclined ladder, a trapeze, a climbing rope and climbing pole, and a swinging board suspended by a chain. Unfortunately for the children of Hove, the cost of these structures came to £48-10s, and the decision to purchase was overthrown at the next board meeting.

Another decision that was overturned was to hire a Park Keeper – no doubt the authorities thought the wages would be too much. Instead, a gardener was employed for a wage of 26/- a week to take charge of the entire ground. But gardener Barker obviously thought there was too much responsibility for such a measly wage, and in 1892 he requested, and received, an increase of 2/- a week.

It was decreed that notice boards should be erected stating No dogs allowed unless led by a chain, string, or strap, or otherwise prevented from running at large.

copyright © Royal Pavilion & Museum, Brighton & Hove
1892 map showing the location of Hove Recreation Ground in a sparsely populated area of Hove

Grand Opening

On 2 May 1891 Hove Recreation Ground was formally opened. This was an occasion to be properly celebrated and the long procession heading off from Hove Town Hall included the following:

Hove Town Band

Steamer from Brighton Railway Fire Brigade

Hove Fire Brigade with manual and Kingston fire escape

Members of Court Cliftonville 2706 Ancient Order of Foresters, with banner

Members of Cliftonville Lodge of Oddfellows

Children from local elementary schools, all with banners -

Farman Street

George Street

Ellen Street

Connaught Road

Roman Catholic School

Indeed, hundreds of children were present, and each one received a tin box of sweets, a scone and an orange. Swings and roundabouts had also been provided for their enjoyment.

The processions halted once the main entrance at the south-east corner of the recreation ground had been reached. Then Mr Isger stepped forward and presented a solid silver key to Mr J. W. Howlett with which to open the gates. At the same time, a bell was rung so that the other two gates could be opened at the same time.

A temporary bandstand in the north-east corner provided the podium from which the necessary speeches were delivered. After the speeches were finished, the platform was occupied by the band of the 6^th (Inniskilling) Dragoon Guards.

There was also a fire brigade competition to amuse onlookers.

Amenities

In May 1892 Hove surveyor H. H. Scott presented plans for a shelter to be situated east of the central clump of bushes. The structure took the shape of an irregular octagon measuring 31-ft in length, and 18-ft in width, built of red brick with a tiled roof, and all exposed wood work was of oak. The estimated cost of the shelter was £250 but in the event the final cost was £284. Later in 1892 a Mr Griffith donated a clock to be placed in the south gable of the shelter, and in 1893 it was decided to make a 5-ft wide path around the shelter covered in tar paving.

(By the 1980s the pavilion had been vandalised and in January 1982 Hove councillors discussed what was to be done. Councillor Jim Marshall considered the building had been too badly damaged to be worth preserving, but planning officer Michael Ray wanted the pavilion to be saved because it had been part of the original lay-out, and his view prevailed.)

copyright © J.Middleton
This lovely postcard shows the pavilion and the rather splendid drinking fountain donated by Alderman Howlett

In July 1892 J. W. Howlett announced he would donate a drinking fountain and it was placed near the pavilion. In March 1893 Parsons & Sons fixed the granite steps, and laid on a supply of water – the work costing £24-12-3d.

In February 1895 H. H. Scott presented plans for a lodge to be situated close against the east boundary and around 80-ft north of the main entrance. The lodge would contain principally a lavatory for ladies, but there would also be a sitting room, scullery and kitchen on the ground floor plus three bedrooms upstairs. The cost was put at £600 but a full meeting on 15 March 1895 threw out the plans on the grounds of cost. Naturally, this decision did not go down well with the ladies. Indeed, they soon responded by drawing up a petition with 453 signatures appended asking for the decision to be re-considered.

By July 1895 it had been decided to erect a ladies’ lavatory after all although the scale of the building was much reduced because there would only be one room for the use of a female attendant. Mr Young’s tender to construct the building for a cost of £247-18s was accepted.

At first, it was intended that a female attendant should be on site every day, then it was decided that she would only be there during the summer months. The attendant earned 10/- a week, but was at liberty to supply soap and towels and make a relevant charge for her own benefit. In July 1897 a Mrs Galloway was employed as an attendant.

In July 1900 there were discussions about the possibility of a new park being provided in Hove, which was to become Hove Park. It is amusing to note that the Brighton Herald had this to say about Hove Recreation Ground:

It is all very well for a playground, but we believe we are correct in saying that there is not a flower bed … to be found in it, while the bordering of shrubs cropped to a deadly dull uniformity is positively depressing.

In 1906 a corrugated, galvanised iron shed was provided at the north-east corner as a changing room for players of football and cricket. Another one was erected in 1899. But it was not until later on in the same year that a supply of water was laid on to both, together with an enamelled iron basin.

The Dell

This was part of the original design, and was in the centre of the recreation ground, The Dell was accessed by two sloping paths, and plenty of seating was provided. It was a delightful, secluded spot, which was especially popular when it was windy. In recent times the ground has been levelled up, and the only trace of The Dell is the circular path that once surrounded it.

Cricket and Football

Cricket was played at Hove Recreation Ground from July 1891, and there were three pitches. At that time there were only two local cricket clubs – namely the Early Risers and the Workmen’s Club but by 1895 there was an overwhelming demand to be allowed to use the pitches. Applications came from the following:

Albion CC

Alliance CC

Clarendon Hall CC

Goldstone CC

Selborne CC

Stroller’s CC

Vulcan CC

Western Star CC

A private school later known as Hove High School also put in a request but were turned down because there was just not enough space.

During the summer of 1898 there were several grumbles from players concerning the ‘unsatisfactory nature of cricket pitches’. This was because Hove Council had given permission for Volunteers to carry out their drills there. Perhaps it was not a good idea because in November of that year it was decided that some new turf would have to be laid in four places.

By 1906 there were no less than 24 different clubs playing on the ground.

In 1907 it was decided that in order for the cricket pitches to be maintained properly, football would be banished to the south-west section. Previously, football had been allowed in the winter where there were supposed to be cricket pitches in the summer.

By the 1990s there were four football pitches, and a cricket pitch.

Hockey

In 1895 a request was made to the Commissioners requesting that hockey should be allowed to be played. This put the relevant committee on the spot because it seemed they did not know anything about hockey. Sensibly, they decided to issue a provisional permission in order to give committee members the opportunity to attend matches and see the game being played. Obviously, they were not impressed because when in 1899 Miss Mansfield asked for her girls to be allowed to play hockey, she was told there was no space available.

Tennis

In 1895 there was a request from the principals of Addiscombe College, a select ladies’ college, that tennis courts should be provided. But the committee decided that there was no space available.

In June 1899 a petition with 89 signatures appended was received by the Commissioners requesting that lawn tennis courts should be provided. The matter went back and forth between the committee and full council until 1 June 1900 when a decision was finally made to provide four tennis courts. The players were to be charged two pence per person per hour. The courts must have been created straight away because in 1901 the revenue from the tennis season amounted to £26-19-2d.

However, tennis playing at the ground proved to be of short duration. In 1907 the decision was taken that in order for the cricket pitches to be maintained properly, football was to be banished to the south-west section of the ground, thus displacing the tennis courts. But it was also the case that new tennis courts were soon to be provided at Hove Park.

Other Recreation Ground Users

In the summer of 1895 permission was given to Hove Brass Band, and the West Brighton Christian Workers’ Band, to play alternately on one weekday evening for no fee.

In 1898 permission was given to the 1^st Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment to hold battalion drills on 21 May and 4 June. The Volunteers continued to use the ground in the following years.

Also in 1898 the St Patrick’s Lads Brigade was permitted to drill, and to practice their bugle calls.

Celebrations and Events

copyright © J.Middleton
The coronation of George V in June 1911 was celebrated with huge crowds in the recreation ground

The Recreation Ground was often in use as a public open space in which to celebrate special occasions or to stage events. The following list provides some examples:

5 September 1905 – Hove Fire Brigade staged their combined drill competition and sports day. Spectators were able to purchase fruit from Mr W. Colwell, or tea, cakes and mineral water from Mr G. T. Stone.

17 July 1909 – The Southern District Fire Brigade Union held their annual competition.

June 1911 – The coronation of King George V was celebrated.

copyright © J.Middleton
The coronation celebrations included a tableau of HMS Dreadnought – the pride of the British fleet – launched in 1906, she was the largest, fastest and most powerful battleship in the world. The tableau, together with its complement of young sailors and marines, received loud cheers along the route to the recreation ground

25 May 1912 – The Boy Scouts celebrated Empire Day with a parade in the south-east part of the ground.

17 & 18 July 1912 – The Sussex County Agricultural Show was held.

24 May 1913 – There was a combined Naval and Military Display.

31 July 1913 – The 2^nd Royal Irish Rifles gave a promenade concert.

2 & 3 September 1914 – The Southern Counties Canine Association held their Championship Dog Show.

Empire Day

Another photograph taken on the same occasion and showing a neat line of well-behaved children

In 1904 Empire Day was instituted as an annual event to be celebrated on 24 May – it was also the date of Queen Victoria’s birthday. At Hove, Empire Day was marked with great gusto. Individual schools held their own festivities, but there was also a public celebration in Hove Recreation Ground.

copyright © R. Jeeves
This photograph shows Hove Police smartly turned out, and wearing white gloves, to celebrate Empire Day in 1910. The view also includes the magnificent gates and railings.

copyright © Brighton & Hove City Libraries
There was also a Drumhead Service at the recreation ground for Empire Day 1910. In this photograph Alderman J. W. Howlett , known popularly as ‘the Father of Hove’ arrives in a carriage. He was a stalwart campaigner for Hove’s independence, and was successful in thwarting Brighton’s first attempt to take over Hove in 1873.

copyright © J.Middleton
Another scene from Empire Day celebrations in 1910 showing the Mayor of Hove, Canon Flynn, Vicar of Hove, on the small podium, and Pastor Spurgeon. Also present on this occasion was the Hove heroine, Mrs Caroline Hughes, who had rescued two children from a house fire and suffered such severe injuries that later her left arm had to be amputated. Her bravery was championed by Home Secretary Winston Churchill, and on 21 June 1910 she received the Albert Medal from George V.

copyright © D. Sharp
A close-up of the prestigious Albert Medal
awarded to Hove's
Mrs Caroline Hughes in 1910

First World War

The outbreak of war meant that the recreation ground was more heavily used for drill than it had been in peace-time. For instance, in December 1914 the Yeomanry drilled there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until 1 p.m. while the Royal Fleet Auxiliary drilled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Indeed, for a short time in 1915 the Army took over the ground completely. In May 1915 Colonel T. H. Burrows, commanding officer of the 106^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, wrote to Hove Council asking that while his brigade was camped at the ground, it ought to be closed to the public. He wrote, ‘There is but little available space for recreation and the influx of the public is calculated to interrupt the men’s duties.’ Moreover, there was a certain amount of risk attached to the presence of children in the vicinity of horse lines. A suggested opening time was from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays but otherwise sentries would be posted at the gates. The brigade did not stay long, and fortunately the War Office agreed to pay for any damage.

The next threat to the ground was the serious shortage of food and the need to grow as many crops locally as possible. The south part of the ground was considered too rough to plant potatoes in 1917. But in 1918 around three acres in the north-west part was taken over for allotments, and the tenancies were not terminated until 31 December 1920.

The children of Hove did not have their own peace celebrations until 30 July 1919 when a special event was laid on for them at the recreation ground. It started off with a grand procession consisting of around 3,000 children from Hove’s elementary schools, led by the band of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. At the ground a number of races were organised, including the following:

Potato race

Obstacle race

Hoop race

Topsy-turvy sack race

Balloon race

Tug-of-war

Lastly, for intrepid souls, there was a ‘climbing the greasy pole’ contest.

A Claim for Compensation

On 16 November 1918 James Pellett, gardener, of 44 Ellen Street, was carrying out his duties in the recreation ground when he was struck in the eye by a stone, and unhappily the injury resulted in his eye being removed. The insurance company offered him £300, which was a considerable sum in those days. But Pellett refused, and instead, he put in a claim for £800.

The case rumbled on until March 1920 when a county court judge dismissed Pellett’s action because medical evidence showed he was still capable of undertaking light work. When Hove Council offered to provide him with light work, Pellett refused, stating that he was incapable of working. Instead, Hove Council decided to make him an ex-gratia payment of £100.

The 1920s

During the 1920s A. E. L. Nash of 83 Livingstone Road was permitted to sell refreshments from a stall in the ground on weekdays.

In 1925 councillors recommended buying a 30-in Atco mowing machine for £81-4s.

On 21 May 1927 Brighton & Hove Motor Club staged a Motor Gymkhana in aid of Hove Hospital Week.

The Second World War

There was a hazard in using Hove Recreation Ground during wartime because you never knew when there might be a surprise day-light German raid, and there was no air-raid shelter.

The Misses Mildred and Muriel Anderson ran a small, private school at Wilbury Villas. The younger sister, Muriel, was a very athletic lady – for ten years she was in the Sussex badminton team, and was a doubles champion with Nancy Pigott, also of Hove; Muriel played tennis, which she kept up until she was in her seventies; she won a bronze medal for ice skating; she was a strong swimmer, regularly diving off the end of the West Pier; she owned her own rowing boat, and she kept on pedalling her old-fashioned bicycle with wicker basket until she was in her eighties.

In May 1943 Muriel Anderson had just finished giving a sports lesson to fifteen children in Hove Recreation Ground when they heard the sound of approaching aircraft. Fortunately, they were at the foot of Shirley Drive where there was a nearby pill-box. They quickly scrambled inside, and listened to the bullets rattling on the roof.

During the war the intrepid Muriel went raspberry picking on part of the Downs, which was strictly out-of-bounds to the public. A soldier soon discovered her presence, but instead of sending her packing with a severe reprimand, he helped her by picking some raspberries too.

Hove Rugby Club and Controversial Plans

In August 1993 Hove Rugby Club wanted to move from its base in Hove Park to Hove Recreation Ground. The club was popular and needed more space. Indeed, the club envisaged four full-sized pitches, plus four junior pitches, and the leisure services committee supported the plans. The Club also wanted to make a new entrance from Shirley Drive, which unfortunately, would mean the removal of trees, including some planted in the aftermath of the Great Storm of 1987. However, the Club would need to come up with at least £350,000 in order to pay for the levelling of the ground and the erection of a club-house.

The disclosure of the plans aroused a storm of controversy – not least the fact they were released in August when many people were away on holiday, which aroused grave suspicions. Residents felt the Club was taking over the ground completely. The newly-formed Friends of Hove Recreation Ground resolved to fight the issue, and children were photographed with banners proclaiming Save Our Rec and Why Wreck the Rec?’ Celebrities such as Chris Eubank, Chris Ellison, and Michael Jayston joined in the campaign.

By the time Hove Council met on 21 September 1993 there had been 1,000 objections, including 444 individual letters, while there had only been 46 letters of support for the Club’s plans. Councillor Margaret Adams, former Mayor of Hove, was strongly against the proposals. But Labour councillor Ivor Caplin accused objectors of beings NIMBYS (not in my back yard). Michael Ray, planning officer, recommended a refusal, and English Heritage also expressed disapproval. The proposals were defeated by just one vote, but the Club was given the go-ahead to return with modified plans.

In December 1993 Hove Council received a petition against the Club’s proposals signed by 1,436 objectors. But in January 1994 at a full council meeting Hove Rugby Club was given the green light. There were two abstentions but there was a majority in favour of the plans of 19 to 17. This decision was taken against the advice of Michael Ray, and also the planning committee, which had twice turned down the scheme.

Chris Ellison, former star of TV’s The Bill, commented ‘the Council has granted permission for a minority interest to dominate a facility enjoyed by thousands of people.’ However, Hove Council, mindful of the opposition, did impose fifteen conditions, including the Club having to pay for creating parking lay-bys in Shirley Drive.

In February 1994 campaigners against the plans were still active, claiming that two restrictive covenants dating from the time the land was sold, supported their cause. The first covenant bound the council ‘to maintain the land as a public recreation ground and keep the same and the fences thereof and any buildings, which may be erected therein, in good and sufficient order, repair and condition.’ The second covenant forbade the council ‘to use or suffer to be used said land for any purpose, which may become a nuisance to adjoining land’. However, council lawyers stated the covenants had no relevance to the current proposals.

In November 1994 it appeared that the Club was unwilling to pay around £60,000 in order to provide some 39 parking spaces on the west side of Shirley Drive. Hove Council delivered an ultimatum – either the Club signed an agreement to provide the parking spaces, or planning permission would be withdrawn.

In May 1996 it transpired that the council was permitting the Club to change some of the conditions imposed in January 1994. The main concession was regarding the extension of club-house opening hours from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. with midnight closing on twelve occasions a year, plus a late night extension on 31 December and 1 January. Friends of Hove Recreation Ground were unhappy about the concessions.

In September 1998 it was stated that the Club was pressing ahead with its plans because earlier in the year it had been awarded a grant of £309,94 from the National Lottery Sports Fund. There was to be a separate grant from the Foundation for Sport.

In 1998 the council (now no longer Hove Council but Brighton & Hove Council) proposed to lease a small area in order that the new club-house could be built upon it, and in October of that year it said it would soon ask for public comments on the plan. It seems that this was merely a public relations exercise, and the powers-that-be had no intention of taking any notice of what the majority of people thought. For example, there were 932 objections to the council’s plans to lease 580 square metres for 99 years, while 252 people were in favour.

In January 1999 there was a stormy meeting of the leisure committee, which voted in favour of granting the lease. Councillor Leslie Hamilton, junior, said he was surprised that Councillor Brian Rowe was opposed to the plan because he was the person who had suggested the Club’s move in the first place. Councillor Rowe responded that when the old Hove Council gave the Club permission for new rugby pitches, it did not intend that a large-scale building development should take place.

The proposal to level the ground had to be ratified by the environmental committee, which voted 7 to 5 against granting the Club a 99-year lease on 30,000 square metres needed to create four rugby pitches and the club-house. However, that decision meant that the Club might lose its lottery money because security of tenure was one of the necessary conditions when the Sports Council granted the money.

In February 1999 the policy and resources committee overturned the environmental committee’s decision. But there was some confusion over whether the 99-year lease related to the 580 square metres (club-house) or the 30,000 square metres (four rugby pitches).

Work started at the recreation ground on 21 March 2000 with neighbours and residents staging a protest. It was stated that one pitch would be levelled, the surface of another improved, with two more pitches being upgraded in the summer – the new pavilion would be built in 2001. Hove Rugby Club had 250 juniors, five men’s teams, a women’s side, and a senior squad.

Sources

Argus

Brighton Herald

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Hove Council Minute Books

Johnson, O. Sussex Tree Book (1998)

Middleton, J. A History of Women’s Lives in Hove and Portslade (2018)

Middleton, J. Tales of the Old Hove Schools (1991)

13 May 2019

Hove Recreation Ground