Hove in the Past: Sussex Road, Hove

05 August 2023

Sussex Road, Hove

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2023)

Sussex Road is one of those old streets south of Kingsway that were once part of the original village of Hove, together with the cottages in Hove Street. Although there was Hove Manor, and some buildings fronting the coast road, Sussex Road was probably in existence before the large developments of Brunswick Town took place, and certainly before the Cliftonville area and the West Brighton Estate were developed.

The 1861 Ordnance Survey Map identified the road south of the coast road (later called Kingsway) as being called Sussex Terrace, and south of the houses there was a saw pit and a timber yard.

In the 1861 census the road was home to a number of men associated with the brick-making or building trades. For example, there was a brick-maker living in number 12, three brick-layer’s labourers at number 13, one at number 15 and two at number 18. Also living at number 18 was a seaman of the merchant service.

Boats on the Beach

In 1874 there were seventeen registered pleasure boats on Hove beach, and it is interesting to note that four of them were owned by Mrs Elizabeth Jenner of 11 Sussex Road. Most probably she ran them in conjunction with family members, possibly her sons. Her boats were as follows:

Civility – a 15-foot rowing boat: registered boatman Frank Jenner.

Florence - a 14-ft rowing boat; registered boatman William Jenner.

Foam – a 19-ft sailing boat; registered boatmen George Jenner and Joseph Hook.

Wonder – a 14-ft rowing boat; registered boatman John Jenner.

Sussex Road's Chimney Sweep

copyright © D. Sharp
This Victorian 'advert' for Henry Marsh the chimney sweep at Number 3, has been preserved by the present day owner of the house.

The Henry T. Marsh, the chimney sweep, lived at Number 9 from the1870s until 1893 when the house was demolished and his family subsequently moved to Number 3.

The 1881 UK Census for Number 9, records, Henry Marsh (36) chimney sweep, his wife Elizabeth (35) and their children:- Henry T. (14) chimney sweep, Joseph (12) scholar, Elizabeth (10) scholar, Rose (9) scholar, Francis (7) scholar, Samuel (4) scholar and Lucy (2).

The 1901 UK Census for Number 3 records Henry T. Marsh (34) had taken over the chimney sweep business from his late father, also living in the house was his mother who had re-married and now Mrs Elizabeth Hooker (56), his sister Lucy Marsh (22), Step-Father - George Hooker (47) a general labourer, Step Grandfather - Peter Puddick (81), William Johnson (30) chimney sweep and Charles A. Banks (41) an iron fitter.

The Marsh family lived at Number 3 until 1931. In 1932 David Hooker also a chimney sweep and a relative of Henry Marsh's Step-Father, was the new resident of the house. David Hooker had previously lived at Number 13 Sussex Road.

Mundane Matters

On 30 October 1872 the Hove Commissioners were informed that the whole of Sussex Road and Albert Terrace had privies ‘without water except that thrown by bucket’. The area continued to be a headache for the Sanitary Inspector who recorded the same deficiency at the following dates:

1888 – Number 2

1889 – Number 4

Number 11

Number 14

1890 – Number 2

Number 8

1894 – Number 15

According to the 1875 Ordnance Survey Map a smithy was located at the south end of Sussex Road, while south-east of Victoria Cottages a building extended right down to the beach.

In February 1878 there were no less than 260 inhabitants living in Sussex Road and Victoria Cottages.

On 5 July 1879 it was reported that in consequence of the late gales the southern portion of Sussex Road had been carried away. The Surveyor thought that the remaining part of the bank ought to be supported by sheet-piling. By April 1880 £4 had been spent on forming a concrete wall at the east end of the passage west of Sussex Road.

In May 1880 it was reported that number 6 Sussex Road was so overcrowded as to be a danger to public health but unfortunately no figures were given. The owner was given precisely three days to sort out the matter, and reduce the number of people.

In January 1893 it was reported that fowls, rabbits and ducks were kept at the back of number 15 Sussex Road in such a state as to be a nuisance. The owner was given seven days in which to remove the animals and cleanse the yard.

On 12 January 1893 the Hove Commissioners approved a plan to divert a foot-path at the rear of houses situated on the east side of Sussex Road and Victoria Cottages; the foot-path was to commence at the rear of number 11. On the west side of Sussex Road a diversion of the foot-path was to commence at the rear of number 6 Sussex Road.

A photograph of Hove Regatta taken in 1893 reveals some old buildings extending right onto the beach with one part of the supporting wall shored up by stout timbers. One of the buildings has its upper storey covered in weather-boarding. These buildings were demolished in 1894 in order that the esplanade might be extended westwards from the area known as the Quarter Deck, opposite to Medina Terrace.

A War Hero

During the First World War Mr and Mrs Wyatt lived at 18 Sussex Road while their son Samuel and his wife lived at 2 Ethel Street. In peacetime Samuel earned his living as a boatman at Hove, but the war took him away from the familiar beaches. He became Leading Seaman Samuel Wyatt in the Nelson Battalion of the 63^rd Royal Naval Division. But instead of being at sea, he served with the military on land. This was because there were more sailors than there were ships for them, and it was common practice at that time for the surplus men to be used to bolster the army. Thus Wyatt took part in the notorious Battle of the Somme that started on the 1 July 1916. On 13 November 1916 Wyatt was killed in action at Beaumont-Hamal.

The Sussex Arms

The pub was situated at number 19 Sussex Road, being originally an ordinary house. For around fourteen years beer was sold from the premises without the place having the dignity of a name. In 1861 the house was occupied by a greengrocer, wheelwright, and an agricultural labourer. But by 1866 F. Richardson, beer retailer, was in residence. He was followed in around 1870 by A. Cannon.

In 1875 E. Parsons was behind the bar, both men being identified as beer retailers. Perhaps Mr Parsons thought it would be a good idea to have a name, at any rate he was still in charge and continued to run the pub, when in around 1880 the premises became the Sussex Arms. W. Baker followed as mine host in around 1885.

In 1896 Tamplin’s owned the pub, and the aptly-names John Malthouse was landlord. When he died, his widow Mrs A. Malthouse, continued to run the place for a few years. By 1907 Mrs Fanny Foster was behind the bar, with Fred Foster being named as the landlord in the following year.

However, in 1910 the pub is not mentioned in the Directories. By 1921 number 19 was listed as a confectioner’s, and by 1924 the lady in charge had the charming name of Lottie Greengrass.

copyright © D. Sharp
Sussex Road looking north, on the right is the substantial house built in the style of the former Medina Baths, which once stood on this site.

Sources

Census Returns

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Hove Council Minute Books

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

Middleton, J. Hove and Portslade in the Great War (2014)

Ordnance Survey Maps

Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

Street Directories