Hove in the Past: Princes Avenue, Hove.

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2024)

Background

The road was built on land once part of the Vallance Estate, and although planning permission from Hove Council was in place by 1907, house-building did not start until the 1920s.

In 1928 McKellar & Westerman agreed to undertake the construction of new street works for £1,088.

In the 1934 Directory only eight households were recorded, while in 1954 there were seven.

House Notes

Number 2 – Constance Cox (1915-1998) was a famous playwright and script-writer and lived in this house for many years. She was born in Surrey on 25 October 1915. At first she lived a conventional life as a housewife but when her fighter-pilot husband was tragically shot down in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War, she took up her pen.

Her first play was The Life of David Garrick, but her most famous play was Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime, which was a great success and continued to be performed for many years. Indeed, her writing career spanned a gratifying fifty years. In the 1950s and 1960s she became noted for her adaption of classic books for the TV screen. Her adaptions for the BBC included the following:

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Eyre

Oliver Twist

Martin Chuzzlewit

Within the space of twelve years, she had scripted no less than 39 classic serials for the BBC. The serialisation of the never-to-be-forgotten The Forsyte Saga earned her the Screenwriters Guild Award.

Constance Cox was the driving force behind the Sussex Playwrights’ Club, of which she later became secretary. She died on 7 July 1999 and her funeral was held at St Andrew’s Old Church, Hove, on 17 July. In her will she bequeathed £870,687 to a number of charities, including the following:

Actors Benevolent Fund

NSPCC

Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

RSPCA

The Tarner Home

Cox’s friend Ted McFadyen, of the Sussex Playwrights’ Club said, ‘She was a very much-loved woman for all that she did in her work to help theatre writers, encouraging young people especially’.

Miscellaneous

Dr Julius Unsdorfer – He lived in a house in Princes Avenue, and he was the Rabbi for both the Middle Street Synagogue and the New Church Road Synagogue. He died in November 1978 and his body was flown to Jerusalem. He left a widow, Ada, five children and fourteen grandchildren.

Hove Planning Approvals

1902 – Road lay-out by Clayton & Black

1907 – Clayton & Black for the Trustees of the Vallance Estate, extension to Princes Avenue

1925 – Clayton & Black for C. Marchant, eight semi-detached houses

1925 – Clayton & Black for C. Marchant, nineteen garages, south side

1926 – Clayton & Black for G. Colbourne, one detached house, south side

1926 – Clayton & Black for C. Marchant, two pairs semi-detached houses, south side

1927 – Clayton & Black for C. Marchant, two pairs semi-detached houses, south side

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Princes Crescent, Hove.

Background

The road was developed in the 1920s on land owned by the Vallance Estate.

In March 1926 Messrs Woolley & Bevis contacted Hove Council stating they had an applicant for a plot of land on the west side who wished to build a house 50-ft or 60-ft back from the pavement. However, the Estate Plans stipulated a building line of 20-ft, but in this case they were willing to contemplate a variation of the rules, although they were keen to point out that the new building would not prejudice the existing building line of any other house built thereafter.

In the 1934 Directory the houses were not numbered but were known by their individual names. Perhaps the most exotic name was ‘Estrella’ where lived Novis Rupert Stanley, a London physician and surgeon. At that time, only seven households were recorded, all being on the west side. By 1954 there were eight on the west side and nine on the east side.

Barford Court

Hove Council approved the plans for this unusual house in 1934. It was designed for millionaire Stuart Millar by Robert F. Crombie who became well known as a cinema architect. Barford Court is now numbered as 157 Kingsway, (see the Kingsway)

The Beatles Connection

David Jacobs lived in a house in Princes Crescent called Oak Court. It was his seaside bolt-hole because he had another property in London, and he kept a resident house-keeper in each one. Jack Tinker, who was a critic in the Argus, commented that although the house looked respectable enough on the outside, the interior was ‘pure Hollywood’. There were marble floors and the garden was an impressive 75-ft.

Jacobs cut an impressive figure, being 6-ft 2-in in height; he habitually wore hand-made shoes and owned a two-tone Bentley. The famous London restaurant Caprice always kept a table reserved for him in case he should drop by. The irascible Gilbert Harding, who lived at Brighton, gave Jacobs two poodles called Tio Pepe and Gilbert.

Jacobs was fortunate enough to inherit a flourishing legal practice from his father. On this foundation he built a starry client list with no less than 5,000 names on his books. To cope with the volume of business he employed six secretaries. His clients included such celebrities as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marlene Dietrich, Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, Diana Dors, Laurence Olivier, and of course the Beatles. Alan Melville felt that although Jacobs could be ruthless in court, he had a kind heart, and was willing to help people.

One of his most famous cases was when Jacobs acted for the celebrated and undeniable camp Liberace who sued the Daily Mirror and its star columnist William Connor (writing under the name Cassandra) for daring to suggest he was gay. Jacobs won the case and secured substantial damages for his client.

Jacobs will always be remembered for his association with the Beatles. On 11 February 1965 Ringo Starr married eighteen-year old Maureen at Caxton Hall. Jacobs kindly lent the couple his Hove house so that they could enjoy a quiet honeymoon away from publicity. There is a film on-line of the couple walking in the garden.

On their way home, they stopped their car to ask a passing copper the quickest route to London. P. C. Middleton was calmly walking his beat, and was somewhat startled when the car pulled over, and there was Ringo at the window asking for directions.

It is sad to record that in 1968 Jacobs became anxious and depressed. He had not made an appearance in his Pall Mall offices for a month. He was aged 56 when he was found hanged in his garage at the Hove house, and it was headline news across the world because of his connection with the Beatles. In January 1969 the inquest into his death recorded a verdict of suicide. But this did nothing the stop the ugly rumours swirling around including one that he had sought police protection.

Perhaps there was some truth in these rumours after all because in 2024 a book was published that threw new light upon the circumstances including the fact that the fatal ligature was a silken cord. In the two-page review in the Daily Mail the headline suggested that perhaps there had been foul play.

It all went back to the time sixty years ago when the Beatles made their first visit to the United States. None of the four envisaged being a success because America was a hard nut to crack. But it turned out that America was not immune to the ‘Beatlemania’ that had swept through the United Kingdom and Europe.

Their success caught people unaware, particularly in the area of associated merchandise that fans would clamour to buy. Brian Epstein, the manager of the Beatles selected Nicky Byrne to set up a company called Seltaeb – puzzlers will soon work out that it was the ‘Fab Four’s’ name spelt backwards. When Epstein realised that the company was pocketing nearly all the profits from America, leaving a measly ten per cent for the Beatles and Epstein, a fatal decision was made. Back home in London, Epstein decided to issue manufacturing licences on his own account and without informing Byrne to sell Beatle’s merchandise.

The result was utter confusion, with retailers uncertain what to do, or what was legal, and manufacturers losing money; a lawsuit came out in favour of Byrne. Not long afterwards, 32-year old Epstein was found dead – the cause being described as an accidental overdose, and sixteen months later Jacobs died as well.

In June 1999 the Hove house was up for sale at £550,000.

Hove Council Approvals

1925 – W. Willett for F. P. Wilson, one house, east side

1926 – T. Garrett & Son for L. Hill, one detached house, east side

1926 – E. J. Love for S. G. Spoor, one detached house and garage, west side

1926 – B. James for E. Chadwell, one pair semi-detached houses, east side

1927 – W. Willett Ltd, two detached houses, west side

1928 – W. Willett Ltd, for C. E. Barrow, one detached house, west side

1928 – Clayton & Black for A. P. Wilson, one detached house, east side

1928 – E. J. Love for J. H. Worton, one detached house, west side

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Princes Square, Hove.

This square was built directly opposite to Brooker Hall (later Hove Museum) but of course by that time, none of the Vallance family occupied the property, the Vallance Estate was managed by trustees, and so there was no sensitive soul left to complain about their view being ruined.

In the 1934 Directory the houses are numbered, unlike those in Princes Crescent. In Princes Square nine households were recorded on the east side and ten on the west side, while in 1954 the number had dropped to eight on the east side and nine on the west.

House Notes

Number 4 – During the 1930s and until at least 1954 this house was occupied by William Howard G. Vokins. The surname is unusual and so it seems likely that he was related to the celebrated William Henry Vokins (1860-1955), especially since they both had Christian names with the same initials. Vokins was for over a hundred years a by-word in Brighton and Hove with an extensive store in North Road, Brighton. It started off as Leeson & Vokins but from 1925 William Henry Vokins was the man in charge. There was later a Vokins furniture shop in Blatchington Road, Hove. The Brighton Vokins closed in 1997.

In February 1995 this house was on the market at £350,000; it had the following assets:

Entrance hall measuring 14-ft 8-in by 12-ft 4-in

West-facing lounge measuring 21-ft 7-in 14-ft 9-in with a marble fireplace

Dining room measuring 19-ft 4-in by 14-ft 6-in with a marble fireplace

Breakfast room measuring 17-ft by 12-ft

Four bedrooms

Rear garden measuring 105-ft by 45-ft

Kitchen, and usual facilities

Number 7 – George Lowe Baker lived in this house. He was chairman of C. Baker & Co, and a keen racing motorist. He died in 1942.

In February 1946 it was stated that proceedings had been started against the home-owner, architect, and builders for exceeding the amount of money that the government had stipulated could be spent – it being a time of austerity. A licence had been granted for work to be done to the tune of £414, and work continued from December 1944 to July 1945. Then along came a building inspector to enquire into the amount of work done, and discovered that the total expenditure came to £678. The matter went to court where the architect explained that he had been engaged on work of much more national importance, and therefore he did not realize costs were being exceeded. The builders said they had been short-staffed. But the Bench was obviously not sympathetic, and imposed the following penalties:

Percy Thompson, owner, £10

Messrs Wilson of Brighton, £20 with £1-11-6d costs

Mr Tiltman, architect, £25 with 1-11-6d costs

Number 10 – In the 1950s Revd Isaac A. Bloom lived in this house. He was one of those Rabbis who were present at the laying of the foundation stone for the new synagogue in New Church Road, Hove, on 14 December 1958. Since then, that synagogue has been demolished and a new one is in its place. (See New Church Road).

Number 12 – This house was called ‘Rhodesia’ and it was occupied by Albert William Hillman, a public-spirited man who was so popular as Mayor of Hove that he was voted in for a fifth year of office. Hillman had close connections with Portslade, and especially with Portslade Fire Brigade; he once lived at 65 St Andrew’s Road Portslade, and when he died he was buried in Portslade Cemetery.

copyright © Brighton & Hove City Libraries
Captain A.W. Hillman in front of Portslade Fire engine at a fete held in the grounds of Windlesham House, Portslade in 1927.

Hillman represented Medina Ward, and he won it in a nail-biting contest in 1931 defeating Major Philips by just two votes. In 1939 Hillman suffered a setback when he developed blood-poisoning in his left foot and was obliged to have it amputated. In 1940 Hillman, by then vice-chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, rescued it from liquidation. Hillman died suddenly in November 1940, and it came as a great shock to everyone because he had seemed to make such a good recovery from losing his foot.

copyright © Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Albert William Hillman, the Mayor of Hove
leaving All Saints Church, Hove in 1938

Hillman’s first wife, Alice Ethel, was a lady with a beautiful voice and she performed on the concert platform under the name of Avril Houston. She died in 1934, and he soon married again. The new wife became Mayoress of Hove, practically on the first anniversary of their wedding.

Number 14 – This house was built in the late 1920s for William Hill of the celebrated Hills of Hove; the house was later called Waldrons.

A. J. Knowland lived in this house in the 1940s. In February 1945 his son, Lieutenant A. G. W. Knowland died in his 35^th year after an operation. A. J. Knowland was still in residence in the 1980s when on August Bank Holiday 1985 he celebrated his 99^th birthday. Not surprisingly, he was known as the Old Man of Sussex.

Knowland championed the licensed trade for 60 years, and held the following offices:

President of Brighton & County Licensed Victuallers’ Association 1940 to 1943

President of the Licensed Victuallers’ School

President of the Licensed Victuallers’ Homes

Chairman and managing director of Knowlands Brothers’ licensed houses in London and the South

At one time Knowland had his own racing stables at Newmarket, and his horses won many prizes.

In March 1986 the house was put up for sale at £285,000. It was stated that the iron-studded front-door was made of oak, and opened into a 24-ft long hall, and there was a solid, wood-turned staircase.

The house was on the market again in March 1993, and naturally the price had risen somewhat, with £425,000 being the price-tag. It was stated that the drawing room measured 29-ft by 16-ft, had panelled walls and a Minster fireplace. There were stained-glass double doors leading into the morning room, which had a ceramic-tiled floor, and a pine-clad ceiling. There was a conservatory, study, utility room, and a 17-ft kitchen with breakfast area. Two of the seven bedrooms were en-suite. There was an indoor swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The rear garden measured 170-ft, and there were ponds, waterfalls and fountains.

Miscellaneous

In May 1983 it was stated that a six-bedroom bow-fronted house with a portico was probably the most expensive property on the market in the Brighton and Hove area. The grounds included a 34-ft heated swimming pool and a summer-house. The price was £250,000.

In December 1998 a newly refurbished four-bedroom house was on sale for £460,000.

Hove Planning Approvals

1915 – T. Barnard, one detached house (number 9) east side

1924 – W. H. Overton for L. Hess, one detached house, west side

1925 – Penty & Farrar for L. Farrar, one detached house, west side

1925 – W. Wilson for Monsieur G. Fiessinger, one detached cottage, east side

1926 – T. Garrett & Son for W. Hill, one detached house, east side

1926 – B. Kirtikar for J. S. D. Hunt, one detached house and garage, east side

1928 – A. Chadwell for C. R. Angell, one detached house, west side

1928 – A. Chadwell, one pair semi-detached houses, west side

1928 - G. M. Jay for Mrs E. Hanison, one detached house on corner of Princes Square and Princes Avenue

1928 – Spalding & Myers for C. R. Angell, one detached house

1928 - A. Chadwell, two detached houses

1928 – W. T. Cripps for C. Marchant, four detached houses in Princes Square and New Church Road

1928 – W. T. Cripps for C. Marchant, one detached house at west corner of New Church Road arranged as three flats

Sources

Argus (10/1/1969 / 11/1/1969)

Daily Mail (8/2/24)

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Harry, B. The Beatles Encyclopaedia (revised & updated 2000)

Norman, P. George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle (2024)

Hove Council Minutes

Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

Street Directories

Page layout & design by D. Sharp

29 February 2024

Princes Avenue, Hove.