Before the bungalows arrived the chemical works, cholera hospital, coastguard station, and a few boat and fishermen’s huts were about the only buildings on the beach. The location of the earliest bungalows can be seen on the 1898 Ordnance Survey map. Matching this to the 1930’s Bungalow Town map and lists shows that these first bungalows were named, from west to east, Kittiwake, Arcadia, Struan Lee, Rhodesia, Lazyland, Sea View, Sea Spray, Coronation, Shoreham Dene, Waterville and Canaan (the empty rectangles were plots for later bungalow to be built on them but some don’t seem to have materialised.
For centuries Shoreham folk have earned a living from the sea and one hundred years or so ago the fishing families of Ratcliffe, Page, Laker and Maple were prominent. Perhaps the best known of them were the Maples who sold their fish and oysters from their shop at the west end of the High Street in one of the ancient cottages that once stood alongside the King’s Head pub. Continue reading “A Fisherman’s Tale – the Maple Family”
Alexander Duff Robertson, the son of a Scottish industrialist, began business as the proprietor of a laundry in London. He later became predominantly involved in property development both in London and Shoreham. During WW1 he was a captain in the RFC/RAF and afterwards served on Shoreham‘s Urban Council.
Alexander purchased land on Shoreham Beach and went on to build a number of bungalows there for himself, his family and to let out. During their time in Bungalow Town the building work and subsequent residency in their homes was uniquely recorded in a collection of photographs and ephemera that have been generously donated by a descendant who bears the self same names of his forbear.
A fascinating collection of images from the O’Neill family album that gives us a taste of life in Bungalow Town and the homes they lived in. These have been donated by Tim O’Neill of Dublin, grandson of the couple that set up home on the Beach during the early part of the last century. Tim has also provided an informative background of the family and their life that we can do no better than to include here in his own words:-
“My grandparents were Vincent O’Neill (1875 – 1960) and Olivia Graves-Flood (1877-1955).Vincent was a barrister, and had the rare distinction of being called to the Bar both in Ireland (at the Kings Inns in Dublin) and in England and Wales (at the Middle Temple in London). Olivia was from a military family, and most of her family were either high-ranking officers in the British Army in India from the earliest days of the East India Company, or were Church of Ireland (Anglican) bishops. (Her cousin was Robert Graves, the poet and writer).
I have known Peggy for many years now and first made her acquaintance through my neighbours in Church Street. It was then I discovered Peggy’s interest in Shoreham’s history and learned of her lifelong association with Bungalow Town on Shoreham Beach where, apart from a break during the war, she had always lived. Listening to her stories it was evident that here was an opportunity to record a meaningful record of the town’s, her’s and her mother’s past and this culminated in the fascinating story of ‘Bungalow Town & The Beach Between the Wars’ on this website. Images from Peggy’s family album and postcard collection were far too numerous to include them all with the article but she has kindly allowed us to present them in the following gallery.
Roger Bateman
March 2010
Each image has a title and description. You can search for specific image content by using CTRL+F on your keyboard, (CMD+F on a Mac) and then mouse-over the resulting images to reveal the title.
A long standing friend and neighbour in Church Street, Doris Steers, possessed a wonderful collection of postcards that she had put together over the previous forty years that I would often enjoy looking through during our discussions on Shoreham’s history. Sadly she is no longer with us but Doris has left us an enduring record of her interests through her collection.
Roger Bateman January 2010
Searching: Each image has a title and description. You can search for specific image content by using CTRL+F on your keyboard, (CMD+F on a Mac) and then mouse-over the resulting images to reveal the title.
1901 and 1912 to 1914 Properties on the Beach (from Census Returns)
Bungalow Town was then under the control of Lancing Council – no road names are mentioned. The bungalow details are listed in the same order as shown in the census and from the names of some of the properties that survived to the 1930’s it would appear that the list works generally (with some exceptions) from the east to the west. Where the names did survive or locations are known through other research (e.g., ‘Along the Beach at Bungalow Town ‘article) these have been included using the 1935 street names – if they appear on the 1935 property list the numbers are also included. Un-named bungalows appear as ‘bungalow’ and ‘bungalow buildings’ may perhaps be brick built as opposed to all wood construction. The census was carried out in March of 1901 out of the holiday season which is why very few residents are shown. The few residents’ names that are mentioned have been included:-
A set of audio recordings and a BBC radio programme that captures the anecdotes and memories of those residents of Shoreham.
Introduction – Shoreham’s Past Recalled – BBC Local Radio interview with David Tait of the Shoreham Society in 1994:
Bert and Peg Taylor recall their time in 1920’s/30’s Ship Street, Gordon Road and Bert’s wartime experiences during the retreat from Dunkirk (part 1):
Bert and Peg Taylor recall their time in 1920’s/30’s Ship Street, Gordon Road and Bert’s wartime experiences during the retreat from Dunkirk (part 2):
“Shoreham Memories” BBC Radio programme about Bungalow Town
Listen to Fred Clarke’s delightful Sussex accent as he describes his time at work in the boatyard and Bungalow Town during WW2:
‘When milk was a penny a pint’ – more on Bungalow Town in the early years with Doris Roberts(part 1):
‘When milk was a penny a pint’ – more on Bungalow Town in the early years with Doris Roberts (part 2):
Bungalow Town residents Helen Larman & Arthur Godfrey:
Sunday School at St.Julian’s Hall and life in Kingston and Southwick in the 1930’s:
Sam Youles, the Harbour and Kingston (part 1):
Sam Youles, the Harbour and Kingston (part 2):
Bessie Bailey remembers Bungalow Town life between the Wars:
More Sussex accents with the Burchell family of Horsham:
A Village Afloat – The Riverbank – A radio programme (from 1988):
Long time Shoreham resident Bill Gebbett kindly allowed us to record some of his reminiscences from a diverse life in Sussex ranging from his exploits on the farm at Holmbush, driving tractors at 12 years old, becoming a bee expert, amateur film-making, and earning his living as a roofing contractor. Recorded in interview with Mike Riddiford in 2022. The recording is around 47 minutes.
