[hooplop]

I was put in touch with this site recently by a neighbour. To be honest I had never heard of, or imagined a 'Shoreham by sea' site existed. A while after I was told about it I had a little look and was amazed to see how active it is. I am a resident of Victoria Road, for 5 years now but originally come from Brighton. How different Shoreham is to Brighton, different in a positive way I must add - still has a village feel to it in the centre which I love. My grandparents, have lived in Church street for 40 years, at the bottom of the road . Every christmas as a child was spent there, so magical, in a house with so much history, now my children enjoy family celebrations there with their great grandparents, with the beautiful church at the top of the street and the river to the south. My brother and I also spent our school summer holidays there - when Somerfield was 'Keymarkets' and the old bridge was still in place. We used to walk along the footbridge and look out for those little holes you see on the floor, like little 5p coins and look through them to see the water below - I recently read that some people see this footbridge as an eyesore! This upsets me as it is part of my childhood. Walking along the river by the houseboats was also part of my childhood, such fond memories. My grandparents used to run an antique shop in Western Road and ran an antiques market in Arundel for 30 years. My Father, who now runs the Storrington Gallery ( a beautiful gift shop on Storrington high street), is Brighton born , my mother is a Shoreham 'Gal', born actually in Southlands when the maternity unit still existed but moved 'east' to Brighton, suffolk and eventually settling in hove (actually!!!!!). In fact we are all East Sussex'ers, and beyond, and have all moved to West sussex and west in general. My father, and Uncle, both born in Brighton (Colborne Rd off 7 dials) have moved West, Lancing, worthing, angmering. My brother, Brighton born, now resides in Chichester. I moved from Brighton (Victoria Rd Brighton in fact, real coincidence, as Victoria is something of a theme for me) to Portsmouth for my degree, back to Brighton then on to Shoreham, felt like coming home in some respects. grandparents round the corner etc, however so, so different to brighton. Talking of Victoria Road, Eddie the local Historian lives here, have a chat whenever we meet, interesting chap and my grandparents know him well.
Just one thing that annoyed me and I will never mention it again afterwards - discussion about ropetakle and social housing. Just annoyed me, plain and simple. read the discussions and you will see why. Anyway a bientot!

[JC]

Welcome to the site, glad you found it! Seems quite a few residents of Victoria Road post on here (me included). Not heard of Eddie the local historian though.

[hooplop]

Yes, Eddie is just literally past the bridge in Victoria Road (maybe should not say too much!!). I believe he is published and has much to do with the Marlipins, He gave me an invitation to an exhibition there recently but was unable to attend. I wonder if anyone knows about the tunnels that run under the old parts of Shoreham. My grandparents have told me, over the years, some fascinating stories about sailors and smuggling that took place in their street in past centuries (Church Street).

[idontbelieveit!!]

JC, on Sep 4 2007, 10:41 PM, said:

Welcome to the site, glad you found it! Seems quite a few residents of Victoria Road post on here (me included). Not heard of Eddie the local historian though.

hooploop means Eddie Colquhoun.

Nice chap met him at the Marlipins museum this years at his photo exhibition.

He was part of the duo that did the Shoreham by Sea - Past and Present book and Around old and new Shoreham was also one of his

hooplop, on Sep 4 2007, 10:53 PM, said:

Yes, Eddie is just literally past the bridge in Victoria Road (maybe should not say too much!!). I believe he is published and has much to do with the Marlipins, He gave me an invitation to an exhibition there recently but was unable to attend. I wonder if anyone knows about the tunnels that run under the old parts of Shoreham. My grandparents have told me, over the years, some fascinating stories about sailors and smuggling that took place in their street in past centuries (Church Street).

Nice memories hooploop.

I've heard about the sailors and smugglers before but do tell more about the old tunnels!!

[hooplop]

My Grandparents live in one of the old cottages (with flint stones) in Church Street and My grandfather told me the street level used to me much lower (he had found this out from studying old paintings/drawings and talking to people over the years). Their house has a cellar which I believe is sealed off from the underground passages which lead down to the river and along to the Marlipins. I have been told that Marlipins have access to these tunnels but most have been filled in or blocked. I know that my grandparents house was once a used by sailors and a lot of smuggling went on in these secret passages that run under the roads from the river upwards. That is all I know really, I will pop round and chat with my Grandfather and try to find out more as I am curious.

[Spinalman]

hooplop, on Sep 4 2007, 10:53 PM, said:

Yes, Eddie is just literally past the bridge in Victoria Road (maybe should not say too much!!). I believe he is published and has much to do with the Marlipins, He gave me an invitation to an exhibition there recently but was unable to attend. I wonder if anyone knows about the tunnels that run under the old parts of Shoreham. My grandparents have told me, over the years, some fascinating stories about sailors and smuggling that took place in their street in past centuries (Church Street).

Hi Hooploop, welcome and thanks for the great memories...


There was a general discussion about tunnels in the History Forum:

http://www.shorehamb...p?showtopic=214

also you are not the only one to recall the footbridge drain holes!

http://www.shorehamb.......p;f=14&t=11

[hooplop]

thanks for the links SPINALMAN, very interesting - would love to solve the mysteries of the underground passages so will certainly pop round to my Grandparents V soon and try to find out more. As for the footbridge, as a child I too used to look through the holes and see sand at the start then water flowing as you get further along. The middle part is always the best. Recently the footbridge was opened in the middle to let a boat (possibly a new houseboat arriving) through, my mother was just coming along the High Street and rushed up to tell my Grandfather who said in 40 years of living in Church Street he had never seen the bridge open, it must be so, so rare. I know a few people living in the Houseboats and have visited one in particular many times, it is so spacious with 2 floors and a proper staircase - such a wonderful way of life, it is my dream to live on one but I know there is so much work involved, maintenance etc as you really are exposed to the elements out there!

[Ferryman]

hooplop, on Sep 5 2007, 10:51 AM, said:

thanks for the links SPINALMAN, very interesting - would love to solve the mysteries of the underground passages so will certainly pop round to my Grandparents V soon and try to find out more. As for the footbridge, as a child I too used to look through the holes and see sand at the start then water flowing as you get further along. The middle part is always the best. Recently the footbridge was opened in the middle to let a boat (possibly a new houseboat arriving) through, my mother was just coming along the High Street and rushed up to tell my Grandfather who said in 40 years of living in Church Street he had never seen the bridge open, it must be so, so rare. I know a few people living in the Houseboats and have visited one in particular many times, it is so spacious with 2 floors and a proper staircase - such a wonderful way of life, it is my dream to live on one but I know there is so much work involved, maintenance etc as you really are exposed to the elements out there!

Hey hooplop and welcome.

Please try and use paragraphs etc. as your posts are very hard work to read. To be honest I didn't even try.

Cheers

[hooplop]

see what you mean, will try to use paragraphs next time.

[SHM]

JC, on Sep 4 2007, 10:41 PM, said:

Welcome to the site, glad you found it! Seems quite a few residents of Victoria Road post on here (me included). Not heard of Eddie the local historian though.

Welcome to the Victoria Road fold Hooplop!

JC- Eddie was the one dueling with another pensioner with his walking stick late one evening down VR.

Very tho

[old bat]

SHM, on Sep 5 2007, 02:37 PM, said:

Welcome to the Victoria Road fold Hooplop!

JC- Eddie was the one dueling with another pensioner with his walking stick late one evening down VR.

Very tho

What's this? A forum for Victoria Road residents only? Always thought it was a bit cliquey down there!

[hooplop]

Hi there OLD BAT, where do you reside in Shoreham?

[old bat]

hooplop, on Sep 5 2007, 09:57 PM, said:

Hi there OLD BAT, where do you reside in Shoreham?

Can't you guess? I'll be one of those living in that most salubrius of address of Shoreham sur Mare - Victoria Road!!!! Not telling you what number tho' I like to keep people guessing

[hooplop]

I'll tell you if you tell me!

[SHM]

hooplop, on Sep 5 2007, 10:22 PM, said:

I'll tell you if you tell me!

I think old bat is @ 69

[old bat]

SHM, on Sep 5 2007, 10:37 PM, said:

I think old bat is @ 69

A little bit on the cheeky side SHM - I'll tell my husband!! Back to you Hooplop - Not telling - my identity is top secret and, in the words of the late and lamented Renee Artois, "I weel 'ave to kill you"

[hooplop]

Its so funny Old Bat, I only stumbled across the site a while ago after chatting with my neighbour (and only posted yesterday for the first time) who comes on the site from time to time and I had no idea so many Victoria Road residents post here.

I would guess that after all the responses I have had at least 8 residents post here, I probably pass them in the street daily! Will ignore the post that said number 69, nicer to not know in some ways!

[JC]

Are you north or south of the bridge??

[hooplop]

SOUTH

[JC]

well I expect we know each other then!