Hove in the Past: Hova Villas, Hove.

18 October 2021

Hova Villas, Hove.

Judy Middleton 2002 (revised 2022)

Background

Hova Villas was part of the Upper Cliftonville development. George Gallard, William Kirkpatrick, George Hall and Richard Webb Mighell owned much of the land in Cliftonville, but in May 1852 they split up and Hall sold eighteen acres north of Church Road to the other three men. This was augmented when Gallard and Kirkpatrick purchased 14 acres from Philip Salomon. The land was developed into Upper Cliftonville, principally by Gallard and Kirkpatrick.

The original plan for Hova Villas was in two parts in a similar way to Osborne Villas – that is, with villas and semi-detached houses at the south end, and some terraced houses at the north end. The latter was a group of seven terraced houses known as Hova Terrace, situated on the south-west side of Denmark Villas, and abutting the grounds of Holy Trinity Church. In 1902 Hova Terrace was absorbed into Denmark Villas, which naturally led to those houses being re-numbered.

It seems likely that F. D. Bannister designed the houses because he did draw up a plan of Upper Cliftonville. According to the 1854 Directory, three houses had already been built. Then there must have been a spate of house-building because in the 1861 census many occupants were recorded. The following list records the professions of heads of households:

Six lodging-house keepers

Six fund-holders

Four proprietors of houses

Three people living off annuities

Three landed proprietors

Two widows of officers

One merchant’s widow

One gentlewoman

One retired tobacco manufacturer

One judicial adviser

One share-holder

One East India merchant

One brick-master

One retired Army man

One captain

One planter’s wife

Army & Navy

It was quite remarkable for such a short road that seven former military and naval personnel lived in Hova Villas in the year 1862:-

No.12 – Captain John A McDonald
No.27 – Captain William Henry Dore
No.29 – Captain Charles Thompson
No.32 – Colonel Charles Smith
No.39 – Captain James Wood R.N.
No.41 – Captain Henry Stokes
No.43 – Captain Henry Stephen Nooth

House Notes

Number 1 – In 1888 Miss Hilton ran a ladies’ school here, and also on the premises was Miss Wickens who earned her living as a dressmaker. Miss Hilton was still running her school in 1893.

Number 7 – This house had a long history as a dental practice. In 1888 R. E. Feltham was in residence, being described as a surgeon/dentist, which sounds somewhat alarming. Mr Feltham was still extracting teeth until at least 1893, but by 1927 there was another dentist with the same initial letter in his surname – he was G. V. Fennell and he was still there in 1931. By this time, another dentist was operating in Hova Villas – at number 34.

Number 16 – This house was once occupied by Dr Ernest Sexton Medcalf (1850-1899). He was born on 5 October 1850 at Ware, Hertfordshire. He was a licentiate of the Royal Society of Physicians, Edinburgh, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, and a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries. Medcalf’s first active association with Hove was in 1875 when he was to be found at the Western Branch of the Brighton and Hove Dispensary at Farm Road. He became so popular there that when he left to establish a private practice at 16 Hova Villas, he was presented with ‘a handsome timepiece and inkstand, each suitably inscribed (…) as a token of the high esteem and regard in which he was held.’

In 1881 he became a Hove Commissioner. In November 1887 he was appointed superintendent of Foredown Hospital at Portslade at a salary of £50 a year. In 1889 he was briefly Medical Officer of Health for Hove. He also found time to serve on several committees including Hove School Board; he was a treasurer of the Hospital Sunday Fund from its inception, and he took an interest in local benefit and friendly societies. He was a Freemason, being a member of Stanford Lodge.

He enjoyed a passion for sailing, taking a leading part in Brighton Sailing Club, he was one of the judges at Brighton Regatta, and president of Hove Rowing Club. He served as as surgeon and vice-president of Hove Volunteer Fire Brigade, and gave free lectures in connection with St John’s Ambulance Brigade. He died aged 48 from heart disease on 15 April 1899, no doubt worn out by such a busy and useful life. He was buried in Hove Cemetery and his tombstone inscription recorded that he ‘wrought kindness alike to rich and poor’. During the last three years of his life his average salary and fees came to £367 a year.

Number 18 – In October 1885 William George Letts, aged 22, was accused of obtaining food and lodging by false pretences. He had been staying at Thomas Church’s lodging house at 18 Hova Villas, and although the amount of money involved was ony two shillings, Letts had pretended to be a clergyman and had eaten steak and potatoes for lunch and bread and butter with ham for supper.

Number 19 –From 1874 until 1880, this house was the Pestalozzian Select School for Young Gentlemen which was run by Miss M. A. Jones and Miss Osman.

In 1888 this house boasted of two fashionable ladies; they were Madame Savignon and the Baroness de Vausconne.

Number 24 – The parents of Flying Officer William J. Tytherleigh DFC lived here. Their son was tragically killed in May 1943 during the famous Dambusters raid.

Number 28 – According to the 1887 Directory Mrs Harling ran a girls’ school here. In 1888 the school was still there, but it does not appear to have lasted for long.

Number 29 – In 1888 Hamilton H. Scott was recorded as living in this house. He was an upright, religious man who fulfilled the post of Town Surveyor of Hove for a remarkable 42 years. He and his wife had two sons, Robert and Hugh, who were educated at Hove High School in Clarendon Villas. When Hugh grew up he married Winifred Spong, daughter of the celebrated Revd Ambrose Spong, and they lived in Ventnor Villas. But their parents had to endure the heartbreak of both sons being killed in the First World War.

Number 34 – In the 1940s Mrs Mabel Knight lived in this house. She was a member of the Hove Adelphi Club, and in 1947 when she was over 50 years of age, she won the English Ladies Amateur Snooker Championship.

Number 45 – In 1888 this house was called Featherstone Lodge and Mrs Hall lived there.

Number 47 - In 1888 this house was called Peel Lodge and Miss Morris lived there.

Number 46 – In 1888 Captain H. Alex Dowell lived in this house. Although no doubt retired from the military, he took a post at Aldrington School in Portland Road, which opened in March 1889. He was Attendance Officer, and should a scholar be unexpectedly absent from school, it was his duty to enquire into the matter. The prospect of Captain Dowell arriving on the doorstep deterred youngsters from taking a day off when they felt like it, and ensured there was a good attendance at the school.

Number 70 – Revd Stanley Kirkley the former curate of All Saints and from 1922 the vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street lived in this house.

Sources

Census Returns

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

Street Directories