There was always much rivalry between Southwick and Shoreham for many years and particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This often developed into serious fights between men of both towns, usually on Saturday nights at Kingston Bridge when both sides were doubtless fuelled by quantities of beer previously imbibed. Even into the 1960’s fights occurred between rival gangs from both towns. Continue reading “The Southwick Cat and Shoreham Musselman”
Richard Steers – 1930s Racing Cyclist
Shoreham has something of a history of racing cyclists. The first ones we know of were A.F.W. Eade, the 20 year-old son of the Eade’s Stores owner; Fred Read and George Hedgecock, a 26 year old bootmaker, who came first, second and third respectively in a 10 miles race organized by the Shoreham YMCA Cycling Club on the 10th July 1888.
Rhodesia – a special ‘bungalow’
The 1901 census shows Agnes E. Rhodes at ‘Rhodesia’ in Bungalow Town with her three children, Ellen (stepdaughter), Eva and Winifred. Agnes was the daughter of William Sherman a Stepney, London, mariner. At the age of 18 she married widower John Richard Rhodes in 1889. Continue reading “Rhodesia – a special ‘bungalow’”
The Miown Rescue
The centenary of a brave rescue in stormy seas has been marked by the grandson of the man whose life was saved.
Walter Jones, the captain, was the sole survivor of the SS Miown, which had foundered one-and-a-half miles off Shoreham Harbour. Continue reading “The Miown Rescue”
The Saving of Marlipins
The Marlipins building is generally accepted as a monument of considerable historic importance. It is hard to believe now that during the early 1920’s it was in danger of being demolished and only saved due to the generosity of donors, the co-operation of the owner and the efforts of many individuals. Of the latter there were two men in particular who provided the impetus not only to preserve the building but also to set it up as the town’s own museum.
Continue reading “The Saving of Marlipins”Bungalow Town and the Beach at Shoreham between the Wars
The reminiscences of Bessie Bailey and her daughter Peggy.
Foreword: – In the early 1920’s much of the Beach was still undeveloped and the bungalows and houses that were there were spread along the seafront with little or nothing behind except in Ferry Road. There was no electricity, gas, or mains drainage; water was brought from the mainland in a large zinc cistern and sold at 2p a bucket to supplement the rainwater collected in storage tanks. The houses were given bizarre names rather than numbers.
Continue reading “Bungalow Town and the Beach at Shoreham between the Wars”Shoreham Football Club
Early football in Shoreham and the ‘Glory Years’
Today’s Shoreham Football Club was founded in 1892 playing competitive matches in the West Sussex Football League as from 1896, the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup competition that had been run since 1882 and the Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup (originally the Royal Irish Rifles Challenge Cup) a competition that was begun in 1897.
Continue reading “Shoreham Football Club”The Shoreham Ferrymen’s Treat
Before the footbridge was built access to the beach was gained either by a long walk through town and over the Norfolk suspension bridge or, for a penny, a short ride across the river in one of the rowing boats operated by a group of ferrymen between Dolphin Hard (the eastern end of Coronation Green) and the south side of the river. In 1901 the Shoreham Workhouse was moved to new premises at Southlands and the original building at Ham Road became the St. Wilfrid’s children’s home. The children there were either from families who could no longer care for them or came from a deprived background – a situation that was recognised with sympathy by many in the town.
Continue reading “The Shoreham Ferrymen’s Treat”Farmers, Millers and Bakers
From sowing the seed and harvesting then milling the flour to baking the bread, one Shoreham family provided the full service.
Henry Adams was born on the 22nd October 1798 at Barcombe, Sussex and came from a long line of farming folk in and around mid Sussex. He married Phoebe Avery from another ancient mid Sussex family, ten years his junior and born in Plumpton. Henry was a master miller and baker and owned a fine farmhouse in Plumpton Lane. He married Phoebe at Plumpton on 21st April 1829 and their first child, also Henry, was born there on 9th March 1830.
CHALK – A History of Shoreham (Beeding) Cement Works
During the 1950’s cycle rides to Bramber castle were a regular outing for us kids but mostly via the Coombes/Botolphs route. It was far more interesting that way with its winding road and steep hills, each hard climb being rewarded with an exhilarating race down the other side – this in the days when there was little traffic about, particularly on that road.
Continue reading “CHALK – A History of Shoreham (Beeding) Cement Works”