Welcome to Hangleton!

Your editor for Hangleton is Ian Farrell. If you’ve got any queries about this area, or can add any information, photos or memories, please send My Brighton and Hove a message via the Comments form at the bottom of this page.

I’ve lived here for over 20 years, and my interest in the history of the area has only increased the more I have learnt about its rich past. Courtesy of Geoff Mead, here’s a brief overview of Hangleton, present and past.

The Hangleton stretch
Hangleton is a downland parish lying north of Hove. It stretches from the edge of the coastal plain near the present Old Shoreham Road, up onto the high downland south of the Devil’s Dyke.

The area today
The housing area is the usual suburban mix. There are an historic set of buildings – St Helen’s Church and Hangleton Manor – as the core, with distinct groups of classic interwar semis spreading out from the Thirties roadhouse pub, The Grenadier.

In the Sunninghill area on the eastern side of Hangleton, there is an extensive estate built from 1946 onwards, partly constructed by German ex-POW’s stranded in the UK after World War II. Much of the western area around Hangleton valley is in the form of 1950’s and 1960’s bungalow developments.

There was a big surge of building in the late 1960’s, taking the housing spread high onto the Downs, particularly along the line of the old Dyke railway line, where Hangleton ends abruptly in the gaunt flats of Buckley Close.

Encircled by the Brighton by-pass, there is little scope for an extension of the built area other than in the Toads Hall valley. Currently the land is derelict and is used unofficially as a dirt-bike track.

The area yesterday
Hangleton Manor is the oldest secular building in the city. However, along with the church, the Manor was all there was to see in the parish until development started in the inter-war period. Hangleton was a classic ‘deserted medieval village’, abandoned sometime in the 14th century. For much of the past 500 years, it consisted of little more than downland sheep walks, with extensive arable land in the valleys.

Comments about this page

  • I lived in this area for five years, before emigrating to Australia in 1970.

    By Danny Mallett (27/06/2004)
  • Hi Ian, I’ve just found your page about Hangleton at the My Brighton and Hove site. There’s very little information about Hangleton on the net so I appreciate all your info on the webpage. I had a penpal from Hangleton 10 or 12 years ago. She told me Hangleton is a peaceful and wonderful place to live. I’d really love to visit it as soon as I could.

    By Maggy Castex (13/07/2004)
  • I grew up in Hangleton and I remember there being a story about a tunnel connecting the church to the manor. Anyone know if it was true??

    By Justin Short (29/10/2004)
  • In answer to Justin Short: I too remember the story about the tunnel. I was born in 1956 in Hangleton and lived there until I married. My friends and I all believed the story and spent many a Saturday and Sunday looking for it! History books suggested to us that during Domesday times it was common for the manor house to be connected to the church – for some secret underhanded reason I’m sure! Would love to discuss this subject further with anyone who has info or who can relate. My mother and father said they used to go to great New Year dances at the Manor in the fifties and said it had very beautiful gardens. It wasn’t so much a pub but a place used for functions then I believe. As a child I remember it being a farmhouse of sorts and then it was virtually derelict (and of course haunted by the woman who threw her baby out of the window!) for many years until I guess the seventies when someone decided to bring it alive again as a pub. I know I was always fascinated with the place. Would love to know more.

    By Barb Rose (South Australia) (30/05/2005)
  • For those interested in the history of Hangleton, it’s worth visiting the Weald and Downland Museum near Chichester where there’s a reconstructed flint cottage from 13th century Hangleton!

    By Auri Millar (04/06/2005)
  • My husband’s family lived at 4 Hangleton Close between c1937 – c1960. His sister, June, had just been born in ’37 when their parents purchased the newly built bungalow and Ray was born mid-1943. He attended Junior Knowles and his Mum worked in the school cafeteria, but am not certain if she was at the one mentioned or not. He’s away at present, so I cannot ask! I recall Ray mentioning the stories about a tunnel between the Manor and the church. As a lad, Ray dug potatoes somewhere in the vicinity, but not sure if it was at the manor or a farm beside it. Currently his cousin lives on the other side, across on the opposite side of the golf course. Our children grew up hearing about their Dad’s childhood days in Hangleton, plus seeing his photos – which always have people in the foreground. Fortunately we were able to return (1989) with at least our daughter, so she could see her Dad’s childhood haunts. She loved it. We’ve been back a few times since, as well. We always make a point to visit The Grenadier which, for a time during the 1960s, Ray used as one of his locals. Lovely to see a few pages dedicated just to Hangleton. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers Ray.

    By Toni Heater (Ontario, Canada) (16/09/2005)
  • I lived at 34 West Way, Hangleton from shortly after my birth (1948) until we moved to Chichester in 1955. I attended Hangleton County Primary Infants School at the top of Dale View (1953-55), and (occasionally) went to St Helens Church. Palm Sunday was especially good there because the palms were so good! I had a friend whose parents ran the Grenadier at this time – an impressive place with a ceratin grandueur that seems to be missing now. My father tells me that West Way was intended as a by-pass through to Worthing but WWII interrupted things – hence its terrific width.

    By Keith Gompertz (29/01/2006)
  • I lived in Poinings Drive and used to visit the manor quite a lot. I remember the pigeon loft in the garden and the old rope ladder; me and a couple of mates that used to climb it. As far as I remember there is a tunnel there because it was covered up and I remember getting my foot stuck under the metal cover that covered the entrance. I also remember the old house and the burn just accros the road. I went there with my dad and there were some old cars in the burn behind the house. I would like to hear of any more stories.

    By Paul (01/05/2006)
  • I lived as a kid in Hangleton in the early 60s and remember the manor very well. We used to sneak in and walk round the place. The manor was deserted, derelict in the kitchen area but still fully furnished everywhere else. Over time the place was vandalised I guess (not by me), but when I first snuck in, I think aged about about 7 (1964) it was clean and tidy – as though it had only just closed. The kitchen was derelict however, and papers and ledgers were strewn all over the floor. They dated back to 1920 as I recall. In the kitchen area was a well and as kids we threw stones in. It was uncovered and we could have fallen in – and it was deep! There was a pig farm out the back, where houses are now. It obviously fell into disuse for a period in the early 60s and then revived as a pub. I can’t remember exactly when. It must be possible to date.

    By Pete Allan (16/05/2006)
  • This is a great site. I live in West Way, Hangleton. My son was digging in our back garden and found some Roman finds! I read in a book that there was a Roman villa in Hangleton by the church. Does anybody have any information about it?

    By Wendie (06/07/2006)
  • Hi Wendie – The Roman Villa was just off Amberley Drive, actually under the north side of the Amberley Close playing green. It can be seen on the large size HM Land Registry Maps.

    By Peter Groves (18/07/2006)
  • Hi again Wendie – As I mentioned earlier, the Roman Villa was in Amberley Drive/Close, you may be confused with the Medieval village that was just below the Downsman Public House, where the parade of shops now stand.

    By Peter Groves (18/07/2006)
  • I have come across a horse race meeting that was held between 11th and 14th December 1683 on the Hangleton Course near Bright-Hamston in Sussex. The information and the results come from the Jockeys Intelligencer, a weekly newspaper advertising horses and coaches. It was published in London but only 11 issues were published. Is there any more information about this race meeting?

    By Tim Cox (24/08/2006)
  • Does anyone remember the pig farm in the valley near the West Hove golf course? The pathway which went along on the east side of the farm eventually led to a row of cottages. It was in one of these cottages that my auntie and uncle lived together with my gran. My gran was Annie Elliott and I remember taking walks with my mother to visit her. The cottages did not have inside bathrooms and the w.c. was down the garden. Does anyone remember John and Florrie Elliott, or my mother, Evelyn Elliott (Pelham)? The Elliotts lived in the cottage sometime in the mid 1950s. Or does anyone have photographs of the farm or cottages?

    By Jean Gould (05/11/2006)
  • My grandparents lived in Sherbourne Road, in the mid 40s. I recall as a very young person playing in their front garden and at the age of four my cousin’s birthday party on November 5th. It was a great celebration with a huge bonfire outside the back fence on wasteland. My grandparents moved when I was five to Silvan Hall, Brighton.  When still in my pram days, Mum walked with me and my young brother in the pram to the shops at the top of the hill, opposite Granadier Hotel. She parked the pram and popped into the store and, we don’t quite know how, but the pram started rolling down the steep hill.  A baker or milkman (cannot quite remember and Mum’s passed away now), but whoever, noticed the runaway pram and gently ran their vehicle into the pram’s path to stop a possible tragic accident.

    By Bonny Cother - Veronica Bentley (18/12/2006)
  • Can anyone give me any information about Rookery Cottages that are built along side Hangleton Manor. We have just discovered that my husband’s mother was born there in 1916, after always believing she was born in Pycombe!! we would be interested in knowing when they were built.

    By Connie Reed (05/02/2007)
  • I remember the pig farm very well. I used to live in Hangleton way until I married and moved out in 1979. The farmer was Mr Broomfield, his pigs were fenced in by electric fencing which we used to dare each other to touch. I can still feel the sensation now. All around the field there were crab apple trees which we would feed to the pigs and when we got bored we would throw them at them and make them squeal until Mr Broomfield chased us away. How embarassed was I years later when I was involved in the livestock/meat industry and came across Mr Broomfield and he recognised me straight away.

    By Neil Underhill (22/03/2007)
  • My grandparents used to live in Hangleton Gardens in the 1940s and up to the end of the 1960s. I believe it was at No. 4. I used to stay with them for 2 weeks every year as a child. I would love to see a picture of this house now…?

    By J. Chettle (23/06/2007)
  • I grew up in Hangleton as a child, and left when i was 22. I used to play in the Manor and remember the pig farm and Mr Broomfield the farmer. My friend Pat Lloyd used to live in the cottages, I remember the tiolet was accross the road with a bucket under the seat. I remember there was also a farm by St Helens church with a big bull behind some very strong bars. I have been to the manor today for a drink and decided to look it up, that is how I came accross this site. I also remember a family called Cleves, there were lots of boys I remember, Raymond was one, they also lived in the cottages on the approach road to the farm. There also used to be an air-raid shelter next to St Helens church which you could just get into.

    By Carol Smith (nee Boxall) (21/07/2007)
  • Can anyone tell me were there house where the flats in Harmsworth Crescent are? In Hangleton Park it looks as if there was a road at one time.

    By Mark Phillips (17/12/2007)
  • I lived in Hardwick Road from about 1963 to 1970 (aged 3 – 10), and Hardwick Road was a new development then. We were at 14 Hardwick Road, which was on the ground floor. The back garden for the upstairs flat (14A?) was beyond ours, but when we first moved in, the park came right up to the garden edge. I remember Harmsworth Crescent being built, and I don’t think there was anything on that site except the park.

    By Paul Robinson (03/01/2008)
  • Thanks Paul, it is just that in the prk there is a flat section with manhole covers so it looks like an old pavement area. Also the lamps in the park are from the 30s and some of the garden wall also look to pre-date the flats.

    By Mark Phillips (14/01/2008)
  • Yes the park came right up to Hardwick Road, actually in the very early 1960s (could be late 50s) houses existed only on the north side of Hardwick Road. Us kids were really disappointed when building started both on the south side of the road and then Harmsworth Crescent itself as the park size was halved. However disappointment soon turned to glee as we were able to play in the builders sand etc. at that time no sand pit existed in the park.

    By Peter Groves (06/02/2008)
  • I grew up in Hardwick Road too. When Harmsworth Crescent was being built, we used to build walls and seats and tables with the bricks after the builders had gone home. Goodness knows what they thought when they came back to a neat archaeological site every morning! The Park used to come right up to the door before the crescent was built. Before then I could watch the ships sail from Shoreham Harbour all the way across to Newhaven from our kitchen window.

    By Val (07/02/2008)
  • I also went to Knoll Infants from 1956-1960. I then went to Portland Road, and then Knoll Girls School in Old Shoreham Road. I left there in 1966.
    I had a friend, Elizabeth Stone who lived at 264 Hangleton Way in an upstairs flat. We used to go to the Grenadier pub, luckily mother didn’t know about that. We would then walk to the old forge across the golf course, back home where I lived in Hangleton Road. I now live in Cornwall but have happy memories of my school days.

    By Jan Dove, nee Cattermull (09/02/2008)
  • I used to live in Poynings Drive and we used to go over to the park before there were flats in Harmsworth Crescent.  I remember there being old wooden road blocks on this area and we used to build camps out of these.  Also I remember the policeman who came round to check on the area – if he caught us we got a clip round the ear.

    By Graham Morgan (21/02/2008)
  • I really enjoy this great website and it’s wonderful to read of people contacting one another after many years. I have been trying to locate an old friend of mine from the early 1960s for a while now, his name was  Ian Turner and he lived at No.83 Hangleton Way. He used to ride a Triumph motorcycle as I did also. I would be grateful for any help in locating him. He is about 60 years old now.

    By Alan Frost (04/05/2008)
  • In answer to Alan Frost asking about Ian Turner: Alan, Ian Turner was my dear friend. He had a brother Paul who was killed in a motorcycle accident on September 17 1963. On that day, (to please his parents), Ian sold his Triumph motor bike. He worked at Miles Engineering in Shoreham. We all went to the Hangleton Youth Club.  Aloha!

    By Jackie Collins (from Hawaii) (24/06/2008)
  • Hi Alan. Did you ever locate your friend, Ian Turner who lived at 83 Hangleton Way?
    I would be interested in hearing, since he was a dear friend of mine, too. We all attended the Hangleton Youth Club in 62-64. Aloha

    By Jackie Collins (25/06/2008)
  • Hi Jackie (Aloha), I attended Hangleton Youth Club 67 – 69. Smashing fellow Fred ran the club, he really had plenty of time for all us kids. I believe he passed away recently.

    By Peter Groves (06/07/2008)
  • A fantastic site. So many happy memories. My family moved to Hangleton from London in 1968, buying a 30s bungalow in Gleton Avenue for £2,000. Memories wise here goes: Hangleton Infants/Junior School – Mrs Cambell – Mr Aitken – Mr Vine
    The Dairy opposite the Grenadier pub ( I think on the site of the Dough Boy Bakery), Greenleas Park, the original Doctor’s Surgery on West Way, Dr Annis, Dr Sharman,
    walks to the Dyke from the Downsman Pub, views of the Shoreham Power station, Braithewaites, Trevors, Powells, Sally’s Stores, The Bon Bon, the climb aboard bread van and 70s bread shortages,the Hangleton Brass Band, Mr Osgood.So many memories. A wonderful childhood in a beautiful place

    By Mike Smith-Clare (24/08/2008)
  • You bring back memories for me,  don’t recognise any name here, but yes i know bon-bon shop, Sally’s stores, Dr Annis was my doc, Hangleton Way, West Way clinic, for those awful injections, I had a boyfriend Mervyn Brooks, he lived in Hangleton Road, many happy times were spent there.

    By Janet Dove (14/09/2008)
  • Can anyone remember what St Helens Green looked like before St Helens Drive (where I live) was built?  I was told there was an old dew pond there.

    By Daren Elliott (12/11/2008)
  • Hi Darren, I grew up in Hangleton Road. My parents had the house handed down to them and they moved there in 1940(?). Mum told me that St Helens Green WAS a dew pond, long before the houses were built. Apparently in the winter the pond froze and people would skate around. I have a photo of my Mum and Dad going to the fete that was held on the Green every summer, long after the dew pond had gone.  I live in Cornwall now but have happy memories. Hope this helps.

    By Janet Dove (nee Cattermull) (13/11/2008)
  • To Alan enquiring of the Turners of 83 Hangleton Way was interesting as I lived at 83 Hangleton Way from about 1968 to approx 77. The Triggs lived opposite and we used to play cricket in Greenleas. I was married in 81 in St Helen’s to Christine Gurry who lived at the top of Hangleton Way- I worked at the Manor some evenings (for Ken Crossby) and had my 18th and 21st in there . I was a cub leader at the 17th Hove as well and had been a cub, scout and venture scout and the 17th was a well supported, brilliantly run group with lots of great people who gave their time freely. Great memories. I live in Bournemouth now but had to come to St Helen’s recently for a funeral and struck up a conversation with a number of locals reminiscing about the past and talked about Dr Anniss, Dr Franks, the Knights, Knells, Smees, Warburtons, Ayles, Coopers etc etc.

    By michael bridger (17/12/2008)
  • What a wonderful site! I lived firstly in Harwick Road and then in Buckley Close in the 1970’s and attended West Blachington Infant (and then Junior) Schools. In those days the school had its own swimming pool. The number 5 bus stopped outside our house in Hardwick Road and the bus conductors would often give us a full roll of paper tickets to play with – utter joy – who needs Nintendo! I remember Dr Annis too. My dentist was Mr Cuddis. I often went to the Off Licence at the Downsman pub for Savoury-Vinegar flavoured crisps and Corona cherryade.

    By M McEwan (22/12/2008)
  • If you take the lovely old Hangleton map from this site (Hangleton_2.jpg) and overlay it onto Google Earth with the following coordinates to define its extremities (North 50° 51.770’N, South 50° 50.112’N, East 0° 10.440’W, West 0° 12.640’W) then you get a fantastic result. By sliding the transparency/opaque bar across, you can zoom between the olden, pre-development days and now. Exactly where the Dyke railway went is the most obvious thing, but even small wonders soon crop up… eg, that the caretaker’s house in Greenlees is on the site of the old Hangleton Farm house. It’s really fun to see how many of the ‘new’ streets have inherited the exact paths of old ones and of old tracks and boundaries. Warning… don’t do this unless you are ready to become addicted to zooming in and out!

    By Gareth Denyer (01/03/2009)
  • I also have heard of the tunnel between the manor and the church but whether it was true I cannot say. I lived in Sherbourne Road from 1959 up to 1960-61, we then moved to No. 65 Harmsworth Crescent then about two years later we moved on to No. 7 Midhurst Walk. I recognise the name Peter Groves, I knew two people by the name of Peter Groves – one has a brother called Tim and the other Paul. I also had a girlfriend called Sharon Murphy who lived on Hardwick Road and Monica Willis who also lived on Harmsworth Crescent. Those were days I got posted out to Germany with the Army in 1972 and now live here in Germany since 1976 as a civilian. I must say I miss my hometown (‘city’ nowadays) I wonder if anyone can remember me? (paulrickard21@hotmail.com)

    By Paul G Rickard (10/04/2009)
  • I remember the golf course before they chopped it all down to become roundabouts near to Sainsbury’s West Hove. I used to go over there a lot when I was about 14 with my cousin Colin Newstead (1970) – long summer days, cold drinks and warm breezes. How lovely it all was back then.

    By Carol Webb (formerly Knights) (10/04/2009)
  • I too spent many happy hours “exploring” the golf course, a great place for sledging was down the steep slope across the 12th fairway. In the summer we would go along the track at the bottom of the slope there and build dens in the bushes. I went to school with Colin Newstead, his name comes up on the Amberley Drive part of this area too, wonder what he is up to now?

    By Neil Underhill (26/04/2009)
  • It’s great hearing everyone’s stories. I am researching my ancestry and my cousin, Brian Beal, lived in Poynings Drive and I believe he went to Oxford. Sadly it looks like he died in 2000, although I still need to corroborate that. He was born in 1938 and I think he was a swimming champion. Does anyone remember him or know anything more about him? Thank you.

    By Mary Simmonds (13/07/2009)
  • I can remember the Manor as a working farm, with a few flint out-buildings to the side which were demolished. It was built with stone from Lewes Priory, so I was told years ago. The pond outside the church was filled in; I think it was a dew pond. I am 64 (!!) and it was in my lifetime. I remember a lime pit being dug and filled with cows during a foot and mouth outbreak, wonder if anyone else recalls it? Ever wondered why there is that lush clump of Elder trees in the big field which has been used for motorcross, to the east of Hangleton side of the bypass? There is not much history to Hangleton, as much as I would like there to be. It’s claim to fame is of course the church, which during its history was at one time derelict – black death killed a few souls off and that kinda wrapped it for the Hangletarions.

    By P Abbott (25/08/2009)
  • Neil – Colin Newstead is now living and working in the Isle of Man. He has his own business and I’m not 100% sure but I think he is a florist. I do know he was in the hair transplant industry here in Brighton and moved to the Isle of Man a good few years ago now. Does anybody remember the Hangleton Youth Club that was held at the Hangleton Junior School. It was run by Fred Tyas and I recall it was “the” place to be if you were a teenager. It was always good fun and there was lots of dancing, games and cheap cold drinks. I would be interested to hear if anybody remembers the club or even went to it.

    By Carol Webb (30/09/2009)
  • Hangleton youth club was the highlight of the week for me. I bet we know each other somehow as I went there for several years. There were 3 main rooms if my memory serves me right, a hall with a trampoline (ripped the buttons off my brand new Ben Sherman shirt once) and a couple of table tennis tables. Upstairs was a canteen with a television, pinball machines and football machines but the best was the ‘disco’ were Jim Chapman? used to play records in much reduced lighting that was a bonus to me as I learnt how to ‘chat up’ the girls from the Knoll and Nevill schools. I remember Fred, he was a person to be respected, and a blonde lady with a YoothaJoyce set of teeth who we would look up to as well, there must have been others but I don’t remember them. I’m pleased to hear about Colin Newstead. not surprised he was selling hair transplants, his hair was his pride and joy, are you in contact with him?

    By Neil Underhill (01/10/2009)
  • I live in the middle of Applesham Ave, can anyone tell me what year the houses were built? When we moved here the details said 1950s but I wonder if it was actually the 1930s? We have curved front windows and white render, were they specifically designed in the Art Deco style of the time?

    By Jane (15/10/2009)
  • Hi, can anyone tell me what Hangleton is like now? I may be moving there. All information would be welcome.

    By Danielle (27/10/2009)
  • Some really interesting stories and memories. I was born in Hangleton Way, in 1958. Moved to Harmsworth Crescent when they were built. West Blatchington Junior and Knoll School. The recollections of the park and park keeper, walks over the golf courses, massive football matches, 17th Hove cubs and scouts…yes good times.

    By Brian Towner (11/11/2009)
  • For Paul Mead: Sorry, completely off thread, but would your wife Josephine be the girl I knew as Josie Stevens of Poynings Drive, used to live opposite the Twisletons?  I would be really intrested to find out as I haven’t heard anything about her in the last 35 years or so. My email is brightonneil@msn.com

    By Neil Underhill (12/11/2009)
  • I grew up in Hangleton and I certainly remember Paul Mead (Bob & Nick), he used to live next door to the Claytons in Harmsworth. David and I were fire bugs and used to set fire to all sorts of stuff. It was a bit wild west in those days. Do you remember the Perrings, Graham Poulter, Con and the rest? Hangleton Youth Club was awesome, five a side football, disco, table tennis, pinball machine and table football upstairs. I was always getting banned for being such a bad boy. We played there all the time where if you found someone and touched them they joined you to find the others. British Bulldog was also a pastime as well as playing on those swings late into the night when my grandpa would shout from the back garden ‘STEVEN, STEVEN’ at the top of his voice. Great times - wouldn’t swap them for anything.

    By Curly (13/11/2009)
  • Jan Dove – I think you may have made a small error with the house number in Hangleton Way. Number 264 is the house my parents moved into when it was brand new, and my mother (Margaret) still lives there to this day. It’s possible that the lady in the flat to whom you were referring was just along the road from us, en route to the two children’s schools of West Blatchington. She was known to us kids as Aunty Betty (Stone), not our real aunty of course but that’s how it was then. As a lot of mothers worked, neighbours and friends would often look after kids until the parents come home, viz, most of the local grown-up women were called ‘Aunty.’ I too remember a lot of the places and names mentioned by previous posters who grew up on what was then the relatively new estate of Hangleton, which sprawled very quickly post WW2. Con, I believe, was the elder brother of the O’Neil family who lived in Hangleton Way, and I think his younger Brother, Ritchie, still lives locally. Other names I recall were, the Hodgins, Hazelwoods, Forsythes, Harris, Killicks, Elms, Stubleys, to name but a few. The old abandoned road (that lead north towards the downs) adjacent to what was then called the Downsman pub, was the original route for the old Dyke Railway track. This was a favourite place to take our old clapped out mopeds for a spin, aye great times, although a few of the lads I knew then were never to make it to middle age. Such is life. Ah, the long summer evenings of footy in the park, skate boarding everywhere, Hove Lagoon and beach in the summer, the long walks over the downs to Foxes Wood, The Hangleton and Marmion Youth Clubs, the dreadful 70’s fashion, being chased off the Blatchington school fields by the caretaker ‘Pooky’ because we used it as a golf driving range, a diet of crisps, sweets & fizzy pop, Barry Goodchild’s dad for introducing me to the delights of curry, getting lashed in the Manor Pub in the late 70’s and much, much more…..yep, glorious times they were.

    By Ady (21/11/2009)
  • Great reading through each story. I lived at 67 Clarke Ave opposite Bramber Ave where the big “green” was and all the kids would have a massive football game every Sunday morning. Billy Lane the Albion manager lived around the corner in Amberly Drive, was a great guy. My sister June and I used to skip Sunday school to slide on the dew pond until our big sister Hazel dobbed us in when all the Sunday school classes were joined together, we got a good belting off the old man. We moved from Morden, in Surrey, about June 1955 and I went to West Blatchington, The Knoll and then onto Nevill Road when it became open to accept kids. I believe the name has changed over the years. I joined the Royal Marines in May of 1961 and lost touch with all my mates, then my parents moved to Southend so I never went back . I married and came to Australia in 1970 but managed to return in 1985 when my Mother passed away and as they were living at Lancing I popped back to Clarke Ave but all the people I knew had moved away. I always think back to those great years of my life as we had to make our own entertainment and we were “out doors kids”. I was in the 5th Hove Scouts for a while then joined the 29th Boys Brigade next to the church in Holmes Ave just off the Hangleton Road. I think it was a Congregational church. Mum used to take me with her whenever she went to the shops at the Grenadier and she would talk to just about everyone and Dad would moan about how long he would have to wait for his dinner because it had taken her such a long time just to pop down the shops, those were the days. It would be great if anyone I knew back then could get intouch.

    By Stanley Brand (14/02/2010)
  • Neil – I’m guessing we must have known each other. You seem to know all the things that I knew at the time. I do remember the blonde lady at the youth club. She was always wearing jogging trousers and sporty clothes. Could her name have been Andrea or something like that? Regarding Colin, I’ve not seen him for a few years now… his Mum hasn’t seen much of him either so not much hope for me. Paul Mead – I recall Bullens and Carders and I used to work at Carders too on a Saturday morning. I can even remember how much I earned there – 17 pence per hour! I could get the bus into town, have a bite to eat, buy a new top and get the bus home and still have a little change from my 68p wages! Dave Evans used to be the delivery boy and Martine Fox also worked there on a Saturday morning. I’m so glad I bookmarked this page.

    By Carol Webb (01/07/2010)
  • Great photos of Hangleton and West Blatchington – James Gray collection. Just google it as I can’t remember the address.

    By Linda (Potter) (06/07/2010)
  • What a great site. I grew up in Poynings Drive and now live in Clarke Avenue. Hangleton was and still is a great place to live. But why did someone mention Mr Cuddis, the dentist, return of the nightmare?!

    By Mandi (31/07/2010)
  • Hey Carol, I don’t remember your name but you just came up with more names that I knew. Martine Fox used to catch the school bus with me to go to Cottesmore with her brother Gino, he now has the cafe in Hove Park, or did until recently. Now you have said it, I do remember her name was Andrea and have memories of her being the one who used to dive in when people were squaring up to each other.

    By Neil Underhll (03/08/2010)
  • I lived at 2 adressess in Hangleton Way - 227 and 286 - with my sister Hilary and brother Richard from 1956-late 80s. Then Barnet Way until 2003. I remember Fred and the Hangleton Youth Club, the building of Harmsworth Crescent, the pig farm etc. Families as well: the Hollets, Bottings, Sharpes, Berlins, Stones - far too many to keep going. Anyone remember “Click” - long wirey hair and used to play Sunday morning football in the park which went on for generations? Wow, that reminds me of many more names from my youth: John Steer and Webster, Chris Edmonds, Grant Wilcox “gentle giant” bless his soul and many more. I could write a book on Hangleton so I had better stop there.

    By Andrew Johnson / Davison (29/08/2010)
  • Yes I also remember the massive games of footy in the park, and ‘Click’ Clark!

    By Peter Groves (02/09/2010)
  • The name of the lady at the Hangleton youth club was Audrey, she was Fred’s secretary (and a real lovely lady). I think that I attended the Hangleton Youth Club between 1970 and 1976 with most of the lads from the Knoll Estate. The two things I remember the most of the youth club was watching Top of the Pops on their big colour TV upstairs and the fantastic Christmas parties. It really was a very good and well run youth club.

    By Colditz (11/10/2010)
  • Regarding the youth club, I mainly remember playing two teams of two on the table football upstairs, the trampoline and the table tennis table downstairs and the five a side. I remember that the girls had to pin their skirts on the trampoline, which for some of them was a real shame for us boys!

    By Neil Thaker (12/10/2010)
  • Does anyone remember the bingo nights at St. Helens church hall? I used to attend with my friends Carole Clark and Lynne Welstead. We use to look forward to this event all week, lovely girls and such happy days.

    By Jane Thacker ( Nee Pook ) (12/10/2010)
  • Do you remember the “disco” in the darkened hall? I think the DJ was a chap called Jim Chapman, it was where I met my first girlfriends, and eventually the girl that I almost spent the rest of my life with Sarah Twiselton. Lucky escape for both of us there then.

    By Neil Underhill (16/10/2010)
  • Yes, I remember the disco and, of course, the music of the day. Some tracks, such as “You ain’t seen nothing yet” (Bachman Turner Overdrive 1974) and “More than a Feeling” (Boston) always take me back to the youth club. Boston’s track came out in 1976, one wonderful summer of my salad days. I remember listening to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder in the darkened hall too. Let’s not forget John Miles and the anthem “Music” of 1975. Funny how songs lead to thought processes that can induce such vivid memories.

    By Neil Thacker (17/10/2010)
  • Jane, yep, every Thursday night if I remember correctly. Mum (bingo addict) used to take my brother and I down to St Helen’s Hall for the fun, starting with the buying of the board cards with coloured plastic windows over the numbers. The callers (local dads) would start up the machine and say what the next game was – 4 corners, 1 complete line, full house (2 x jackpot games) etc. At the interval we would leg-it to the refreshment counter for crisps and pop whilst the callers would crank up an enormous loop tape player which would play old time music. Mum knew a lot of the regular old ladies there, and I remember their kindness and smiling faces even though many of them had tough lives. On the subject of bingo callers, I wonder if the PC mafia have got their tentacles into this too. I mean are they still allowed to say “2 fat ladies – 88”..etc?

    By Ady (09/11/2010)
  • My girlfriend and I are thinking to buy our first property in Hangleton. Can anyone tell me how’s life there? Be honest please. It’s a big step for us.. Thanks.

    By Andre (16/01/2011)
  • Hey Neal. I used to go to be friends with Martine Fox and I remember her little brother Gino too. My name at the time was Carol Knights – sadly I don’t recall your name from those days – maybe you can recall mine. Andre – well I still live in the area and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Which street are you thinking of moving to? Obviously it’s not ALL great but the majority of it is.

    By Carol Webb (29/01/2011)
  • Carol was that aimed at me? I used to live in Hangleton Way just opposite and below the Downsman, so usually played with freinds from that area and on the green by St Helens, with the occasional foray up to Harmsworth/ Hardwick to see freinds. I was at school with Martine but she wasn’t one of the friends I hung around with. However as I grew older I spent a lot of time up Beeding, Nuthurst Close, Burwash Rd and Poynings. If you want to take a stroll down memory lane and see if we can jog each others memories, feel free to e-mail me on brightonneil@msn.com

    By Neil Underhill (02/02/2011)
  • My first real girlfriend lived in Clayton Way, Hangleton. We dated from late ’86 to November ’90. To be honest I wasn’t the best boyfriend, she deserved better, and I deserved to dumped. But I can honestly say that my time spent with her were the happiest days of my life. They say that you never forgot your first love, and that true love never dies. I guess they’re right.

    By peter benholm (12/05/2011)
  • Lovely to recall my childhood memories with all the comments. I lived in Beeding Ave and Poynings Drive from 1948 to 1964. Does anyone remember the dog Paddy who roamed the estate? When his owner died in a shed by the dew pond several neighbours fed him and he lived to quite a good age. To this day I can remember every person’s surname that lived in Beeding Avenue, does anyone remember mine? My father used to run the bingo in West Blatchington School. Also have pictures of the street party back in 1953 and Paddy the dog.

    By Jane Thampson (17/05/2011)
  • Hi Jane, it would be nice to share the 1953 Street Party photo with us, how about posting it on the Hangleton section?

    By Peter Groves (17/05/2011)
  • To Stanley Brand and Jane, You posted your comments such a long time ago you may not be checking this page anymore. To Jane’s query re Applesham Avenue. My parents bought a new house in Poplar Ave, in 1939, and I should think that Applesham was built around the same time. To Stanley, The Boys’ Brigade used to meet at the Congregational Church Hall in Neville Avenue, not Holmes Ave as did the Girls Brigade that my two sisters, Ann and Jill, belonged.

    By Margaret Bridle nee Peters (08/06/2011)
  • To Jackie Collins, I’m new to this site, so I have only just seen your comments and Ian and Paul. I remember Paul from St Helen’s Youth Club. He used to alternate between Hangleton and St Helen’s I think. The last time I saw Paul was on a youth club night. He was killed the following morning, a terrible shock for us all. Paul was great fun and he was always taking the Mickey out of my dancing which would give me the giggles!

    By Margaret Bridle nee Peters (13/06/2011)
  • This site brings back a lot of memories. I lived in Hangleton Road from 1965 until 1979. I remember Miss Shields and Miss Wilson, does anyone remember me from school?

    By Kim Gallucci nee TYRRELL (21/09/2011)
  • To Jan Dove (nee Cattermole) – Elizabeth Stone is my niece and at a recent family gathering I told her about your mention of her name on this website and she said she would love to get in touch with you again. I would love to know if this is possible. Also as ‘Ady’ mentioned they did not live at 264 but at 281 and her Mum was really Aunty Betty to my children but I know that all of the local children called her by that name. Sadly she is no longer with us and her daughter is now a grandmother to six children.

    By Wyn Burgess (30/10/2011)
  • My parents, Bill and Audrey, moved to no 44 Poynings Drive in 1951 and stayed there for the rest of their lives. Me, my elder sister, Ann, and my younger brother, Howard, grew up there. The area was poor then following WW2 and sometimes hard, but it was a place where people stuck together and helped each other out when they could. The shops in Burwash were very busy and the main source of shopping for most people – this was before supermarkets. I used to work at Bullens, the newsagent and tobacconist, for Charlie Bullen helping him to mark up the morning papers for delivery and also for Vi and Jack Higginbotham who owned the greengrocers shop. There were many great folk living in the area and I have some happy memories of those days Charlie Bullen’s daughter, Anne, came to live with us when her mother died as Charlie suffered from severe arthritis and could hardly walk. She became part of our family and a second sister to us. She now lives in Hastings with her husband and four children. Other family names I can remember – the Whittingtons, the Oxleys, the Bennets, the Sears, two families of Pettits, the Clarkes, the Prices and probably a few more. Also the Brewsters (who lived in Clayton Way) and the Norrises (in Beeding Avenue). And my best mate, Bob Hynam of Burwash Road – I am still in touch with him to this day.

    By Michael Wade (22/11/2011)
  • Hello, I’m very interested in this site as my husband is tying to trace his late father’s, father. Ady you mentioned knowing a Hodgins? That was his name and we believe he was a baker. His mother at the time was a Mrs Harvey, she emigrated to canada with Michael and June. Thanks.

    By Vicky (03/02/2012)
  • To Vicky – The Hodgin family I refer to lived in the Harmsworth Crescent area of Hangleton in the 60’s-70’s. The 3 brothers (there may have been another younger sibling but I can’t remember – t’was a long time ago!) were Jeff, Steve and Dave, and of these I only know that Jeff is still in the Sussex area. You could try the local census or birth and death records for your research. I believe that some of the Mead tribe also knew the boys, so drop one of them a mail – ya never know!

    By Ady (09/02/2012)
  • Hi. I am living in a flat on Hardwick Road and we’ve had some decidedly spooky things happening since my partner and I moved in. Does anyone remember anyone dying violently there, or any other nasty sorts of going on? I’ve tried searching on the web but haven’t got anywhere. The activity is really starting to worry us. I was just wondering if anyone knew the property and might have a guess as to why it could be happening?

    By Spooked Girl (03/03/2012)
  • I know there was a flat round Buckley Close that one Father John (vicar of St Helens in the 90s) was called in to, in an attempt to spiritual cleanse it, back in the early 90s; but can’t even begin to know how else to help you: except to perhaps get a priest or other type of holy representative in?

    By Neil Thacker (01/04/2012)
  • Hi Niel. Thanks for your comment. I am going to contact one of the local churches to try to get a second blessing (we had one done when we moved in but it doesn’t seem to have worked). Thank you for your answer and advice.

    By Spooked Girl (22/04/2012)
  • There really should be a “like” button on here…. 🙂

    Editor’s note: There is a Facebook ‘Like this site’ at the top of this page.

    By Suzanne Mantell (06/05/2012)
  • Spooked Girl can you contact me fallfromgrace75@hotmail.co.uk

    By Mel Fern (20/05/2012)
  • Does anyone remember the Potter family of 14 Hangleton Way?

    By Linda Franz (Potter) (26/06/2012)
  • Can anyone tell me when the Knoll County Secondary School for Girls changed to Hove Park? I went there when Miss Shields was headmistress in the ’70s.

    By Linda Franz (nee Potter) (09/07/2012)
  • Neil Thacker, it’s Kevin Jackson here. We connected up again on facebook a while back but I had to close down my page and re-open and could not find you again? Here’s my link, please friend me again and anyone else on here that may remember me http://www.facebook.com/kevin.jackson.5855  These stories are fantastic and many memories are flooding back. I remember Curly and the Claytons and the O’Neils, was good friends with Gary Fox bless him, the youth club Fred and Audrey, the Killicks (especially Julie, prettiest girl I’ve ever seen), the green chip shop van that came round once a week, the long hot summer of 1976, the green playing fields of West Blatchington Infants and Junior Schools and being chased off by Mr Pooke on his moped, the lovely path up to the downs before the bypass cut through it, the old air raid siren tucked away just off Harmsworth Crescent, Bingo Thursday evenings at St Helen’s Hall after watching Top of the Pops, burning of the fields summer evenings, the combine harvesters, the old tree outside St Helen’s Church, Parky, the old barn fire, the greengrocer van (can’t remember the man’s name?), rag and bone man, riding on a book on a skate down the hill from the end of Chichester Close down to the Downsman Pub car park, the new number 8 green bus, Mr Kilner the (“no such fare” ) number 5 bus conductor that lived up my road Chichester Close, the fantastic views of the downs looking north and the sea looking south from my back garden. Hangleton has a very special place in my heart. This is a great site. Thanks

    By Kevin Jackson (30/01/2013)
  • Hi Kevin. Far fetched memory you’ve got. I’m not on Facebook anymore but my email is nelly110@hotmail.co.uk I’d forgotten Fred and Audrey’s names and Julie Killick was mates with Annette Dorrington as I recall. Riding on a book and skate and risking life and limb! Nutters weren’t we! I wonder how Lee Bryan is? Pookey on his moped! “No such fare!”  I remember Mr Kilner and his son Steve. Kilner senior could tell you exactly what time every bus was leaving from any stop in Brighton & Hove, they don’t make them like him anymore! The new number 8 buses were Leyland Nationals which used to really tilt to the side around Hangleton Valley Drive on the way to Hove Lagoon in summer. Drinking barley wines and then going on the trampoline at the youth club; me, you and Garry. Chat again soon. God bless and such fond memories. Email me any time.

    By Neil Thacker (02/02/2013)
  • Hi all. I remember so many names on here and the memories all come flooding back. The Hangleton Youth Club was a great place to go. I lived at 41 Amberley Drive and have a sister Tracy and a brother Lee. Love this site.

    By Louise Jordan (21/04/2013)
  • What a great page. I grew up in Hangleton from 1953 to 1968. My family lived in Sherbourne Road. I loved the church and spent my childhood roaming the downs. I used to explore the derelict Manor grounds and remember the well and also the pig farm. My dad helped to rebuild the dovecote in the ’80s, I think. I also went to Hangleton infants and juniors, and the youth club – but don’t remember names. I was in the guide company. I wonder if anyone remembers me? My maiden name was Evans.

    By Jean Honour (28/06/2013)
  • Spooked Girl,  Did you ever get your questions answered? I’m remembering a very sad story of a young girl that was killed in some way in that area & I’m thinking it was either the late 80s or early 90s. I am almost certain the house was on the corner of Hangleton Way & Hardwick Way though – the corner nearest to the school. I just remember it being such a very sad case.

    By Rick (08/12/2013)
  • I noticed that Margaret Bridle made a  couple of comments. I am sure from the details that you married Tony Bridle who was a colleague from MB Metals in the 60s. I often wondered how you were both doing.  

    By Rodger Olive (26/03/2014)
  • I came across this site by accident but it brought back so many memories about Hangleton, the youth club on Thursdays, Hangleton park at weekends and names like Neil Thacker. I remember him and his brother Mark, a friend of mine, Gary Fox in my year at the Knoll School, Julie and Jackie Killick, Louise and Tracey Jordon, the Claytons – Steve (Sooty) one of my best mates at the time.  I lived on the Knoll estate but spent much of my time in Hangleton. Curious to know if anyone remembers me – it’s been a long time email me at dave.dicker111@gmail.com.  Glad I found this.

    By Dave Dicker (08/08/2014)
  • I am trying to trace any relatives of John William Turner and Christine Susan Turner (maiden name Spencer) who got married on 6th June 1984. They lived at 43 Hangleton Valley Drive but tragically they were killed in a road accident in 1988.  Can anybody remember anything about them?  I would be so grateful for any information.

    By Sheree Sainson (06/01/2015)
  • Hi, I grew up on Hangelton Way opp West Blatchington Junior school from 1981-1990 and recently moved to Beeding Ave 2012. I know Mark Thacker and his lovely family they still live locally. My family (Greed) still live locally. The Stone family from Hangleton Way and Beeding Ave are still local. I live next to Mr Culver and I think he has been here since his house was built (lovely man). I remember the junior school being haunted. The summer building the swimming pool and the following teachers (Mrs Trainer, Mrs Butcher, Mrs Standing and Mr Holland). The fields behind downland drive having winding pathways to the bottom and the triangle of trees in the wheat field. The path that lead all the way to the golf course putting green (now has the bypass through it). Hangleton community centre I think it was newly built and the park behind Lark Hill and the flats. Spooked girl, did you find out anything about your flat? I can ask about for you? 

    By Marie Knox (was Greed) (11/01/2015)
  • Mary S. As a 16 year old I knew of a Brian Beal, swimmer from the King Alfred. He and his mother moved to Chrisdory Road, Mile Oak. He dated my friend Carol Dean. Sadly he passed away around the late 50s early 60s. Don’t know if this is the Brian Beal you queried?

    By Bonny Cother (12/01/2015)
  • I know Mr Culver (Charlie), he didn’t live in Beeding Ave since the houses were built c.1946. Prior to Beeding Ave he lived at the top of Amberley Drive circa 1960. I worked with him in Hollingbury in the 1980s

    By Peter Groves (13/01/2015)
  • Charlie Culver was our neighbour for over forty years. He still lives in Beeding Avenue.

    By Wendy Stone (31/01/2015)
  • I am moving to the Hangleton area later in the year probably the Hardwick Road area, and I read with interest what a nice place it was to live in the 60s, 70s and 80s but what is it like now in 2015?

    By Alan M (25/06/2015)
  • Rodger Olive, having a somewhat unusual surname Rodger and having worked at MB Metals in the 1960s, I assume you are the brother of Keith, with whom I worked in the Drawing Office. I haven’t seen or heard of Keith since I left MBM in April 1970. I hope he’s doing well, and please give him my best wishes.

    By Alan Phillips (25/06/2015)
  • Rick, the little girl who died who lived on the corner of Hangleton Way / Hardwick Road was Jessica. She was only 3 or 4 and was killed by her mother. I know because I lived opposite her on Hangleton Way and she was best friends with a little group of us who were growing up together. I would only have been about 2 and obviously it wasn’t explained to me what had happened to her until I was old enough to understand.

    By Amy (15/07/2015)
  • Message for Jean Honour (ne Evans): Hi Jean, I think I knew you at Hangleton and I think you were good friends with Diane Sweetapple? I lost touch with her a number of years ago as I moved to Dorset when I got married. Would love to hear any news of her. I lived in Hangleton Way, lovely memories brought back by reading other peoples comments. My maiden name was Marion Upton. 

    By Marion Thomas (11/10/2015)
  • Hi Marion, such a long time since ‘the gang’ use to play in the park!!!

    By Peter Groves (13/10/2015)
  • Hi Alan Phillips.  Yes, Keith is my little brother.  He now lives in Wolverhampton and is still drawing. Now he is working with large steel structures not bomb racks!  He is still in a group playing 60s music. I will pass on your regards.

    By Rodger Olive (29/10/2015)
  • I lived in the cottages belonging to the Manor in the late thirties, now 80 next birthday! Yes, they were made of flint, and yes, the toilet was just a bucket under a wooden bench in a little purpose-built flint out-house. The cottage had once been one house, but was divided into two, the postal address was Ivy Cottage, Hangleton. The family next door were Mr and Mrs Cleeves, and they were Welsh. I remember the Manor was inhabited by a family called Bogle Smith. Six or seven families lived in similar cottages, names – Stevens and Pritchard. I remember a boy my age called David Pritchard. I left when the war started, so many of the men were called up. There was a search-light battery stationed next to our cottage. I have been back, and saw the last remaining cottage in total ruin. I have a few photos of these people who lived there, myself aged about one with my Mother. I do remember quite a lot of my few short years there. My mother kept in touch with the Cleeves until they died.

    By Bentley (nee Topp ) (14/01/2016)
  • I lived at Ivy Cottages from 1945 until I moved to Canada in the early 1970s. Lizzie and John Robert Cleeves were my grandparents and they had 2 sons, Trevor and Garfield. Trevor Cleeves was my father. 

    By Ivor Cleeves (23/02/2016)
  • I lived in Ivy Cottage next to Mr and Mrs Cleeves, I know of their two sons Trevor and Garfield and they had a spatial dog called  Bizzie. I have photos of myself with them outside of the cottage.
    I am interested in the last comment from Ivor Cleeves. Your grandparents lived next door to me at Ivy Cottage. I have photos of them at that time.

    By Sylvia Bentley (nee Topp) (07/03/2016)
  • My brother and I grew up in Hangleton from 1969 until 1990’ish. We lived in Powell’s hardware shop during the 80s.  We went to Hangleton Infant and Junior School, then Blatchington Mill School until 1985.  I used to keep my pony at the old pig farm when I was little and they had another where the new bypass has been built.  Often went to the Hangleton Manor and had my 21st there.  Remember many long walks along the old railway, chalky path to Devil’s Dyke.  It’s been lovely reading all these stories although I don’t recognise many names apart from the DR Annis’s and maybe the Knight’s if they are the ones who lived next to Greenleaves park in which case they were my parents’ friends.

    By Mandy Wallis (nee Powell) (08/03/2016)
  • Hi. We lived at 29, Bramber Avenue for 58 years. My parents were Den & Bet Boniface and there was us three girls. Linda, Sue & Julie. We all went to West Blatchington Juniors followed by Nevill Secondary. Remember the parade of shops at Burwash – Bullens, the chemist; Carders, the wool shop; the Butchers, Alan ? And lastly the greengrocers – Mrs Higginbottom! We spent most of our playing days on the green at Amberly Close. Used to play with Pat Ashton, Phil Porrit, Steve Page, Ceavers, Greests & loads others – great times! Mr Gorringe used to come out and tell us all off! Loved reading all the stories on here – brings back a lot of memories!

    By Sue Deacon nee Boniface (21/03/2016)
  • In the early 1960s, I used to go around with Melvyn Davies who lived on the right-hand side going up, towards the top end of Beeding Avenue (number 41 or 45?). Norman Gall, the B&H Albion centre-half of the era, used to lodge with Melvyn’s mother and step-father. If anyone is in touch with Melvyn at any time, please ask him to contact me on alme.phillips@gmail.com Many thanks.

    By Alan Phillips (23/03/2016)
  • Hello to Alan Phillips! I believe Mel Davis is my brother-in-law. He married my older sister Pat. We were the Fellinghams who lived at 29, Clarke Avenue. My mum lived there till about 4 years ago. Then she moved to sheltered accommodation off the Portland Rd. Pat & Mel now live in Warenne Rd. I will let Mel know that you are looking for him. Wonderful memories brought to life by this site. I recognise many of the names featured here and was in the same year at primary school as Neil Thacker, Julie Killick, Kevin Jackson & Jane Twiselton. I live in Singapore now but visit Hove frequently throughout the year to visit my elderly mum. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.

    By Lesley Fellingham (25/03/2016)
  • I would be interested in contacting Sylvia Bentley who lived next door to my grandparents at Ivy Cottage. My email address is scleeves@rogers.com.

    By Ivor Cleeves (28/03/2016)
  • My sincere thanks to Lesley Fellingham. Within two days of my post regarding Mel Davis in the early 1960s, he had contacted me via e-mail. Now he has also called me and we have made plans to meet for a beer next Tuesday. That will probably be the first time we’ll have seen each other in about 52 or 53 years! Thanks again Lesley – I owe you a drink next time you are in the UK.

    By Alan Phillips (03/04/2016)
  • This is a message for Wyn Burgess, yes i would love to get in touch with Elizabeth nee Stone. I now live in Cornwall but do have a facebook page too. I think I remember you too, have you two children, Peter and Susan? and did Elizabeth have a brother Reg and a younger sister and Christine? Please get in touch, my e-mail is:jrd-is@hotmail.co.uk

    By Janet Dove (24/07/2016)
  • Were you involved in Guiding in Hangleton, by any chance? My beloved Grandma was commissioner for the area and they owned The Bob Bon. My Mum, Mary Hobden still lives in Rowan Avenue. My name is Jackie Wells (nee Hobden).  

    By Jackie Wells (25/11/2016)
  • Oh my god, just going through sites because I have just lost a very dear friend, and trying to find history on our past. I lived at no 55 Poynings Drive, and my best friend was Josie Stevens.  I also had a very dear friend called Carol.  Gosh after reading this sites, how many happy memories come flooding back. Most of the names are familiar, and I remember when Josie started seeing Paul Mead.  I also remember Carders, and the sweet shop with Mr Bullen, oh what happy days, shame we have to get older, and rise to the life of adult hood lol.  Happy days. I remember Hangleton Youth club, and of course Neil Underhill, thought you and I were the forever story. Well I guess you can say we are in a roundabout way, I’m glad we are still in touch.  Anyway as I said happy days, hope everyone has had a good life, and happy memories.  Sarah Leadbetter nee Twiselton

    By Sarah (07/05/2017)
  • We lived in Beeding Avenue from 1969-1997, the family name was Mahoney then. Yvonne, David and Nicholas are my offspring. I remember Bullens, also the butcher and greengrocer shops. 

     

    By Janet Wilkinson (11/09/2017)
  • I grew up at the top of Hangleton Way from 1988. I remember my mum telling me that my great grandad Bert (Albert Allwright) was part of the house building up there in the 50/60’s. I left in 2005 and moved back home a few times before emigrating to Australia in 2013. My parents still live there now, not the place it once was unfortunately, such a shame. So many fond childhood memories growing up there. 

    By Charlotte Hoad (Charlie) (10/03/2018)
  • Wow! What memories! I remember the pig farm so well. I too had my first pony there in the late 60s and lived right next to the Manor from 62-74. So many  families spring to mind – Knells, Ayles, Carrs, Smees, Kites etc.  I remember the day they came and demolished the flint wall in Hangleton Manor Close to make way for building houses in the grounds. My dear mother cried. We used to have bonfire parties in the cul de sac up until then. Boys would throw jumping jacks at our feet! No health & safety then!

    By Sally (nee Hoyles) (24/06/2018)
  • I was the grocer’s boy. My family moved to 71 Amberley Drive when the houses were first built by Coombers in 1948. Many happy memories. You people have done so well who grew up there.

    By David Evans (17/09/2018)
  • Hi, it’s the grocers boy again. I was one of seven born on the stairs in 1955. Mum and dad had met during the war – they lived at Lorna Road, Hove before Amberley with my grandad Nina who was the oldest. She worked at Woolworths in Boundary Road. Lynn was next and he had a Saturday job at the chemist next to Bullens before getting a full time job at the greengrocers at the Grenadier. Philip left home at fifteen joined the Coldstream Guards. Bridget worked at Lloyds Chemists, Grenadier. Arlene me and Sue attended the Neville School. Carders was a Saturday job for me. 71 was open house for friends. Lynn had a red and white Dansette record player and a snooker table so he became very popular. Lynn’s best friend was Bob Pomphrey who was courting Vicky Sayer. Bridgets was Linda Bunker and Tereasa Baker is a Caring Lady now.

    By David Evans (17/09/2018)
  • Neighbours we lived next door to were the Halford’s. John joined the Royal Marines and was posted to the Falklands. Chris And Nicky used to take me walking over Devils Dyke every summer. My mum’s friend Bridey, Mrs Betridge, Robert Webster, Mrs Heinham worked at the Grenadier Pub. Bob worked at Louis G Fords. The Otways Jenny and Jill were very popular. Peter and Steven had a stall at the market. The Kearys, the Ashton’s, Mr Ashton was a Formula One mechanic and married lovely Sharon Keith who worked for the Gas board. Micky took the surname Weaver, don’t ask. He had a clothes. Chris Ridge started his own sign company, Seven Dials. The Frasers who lived with mar and pa Murphy. Janet married Vic Squibb. Bakers Dozen Deb was my sister Sue’s best friend. She married Brad Stamp,a lovely guy. Steve Squibb married Elizabeth Nathan. Linda Chandler lived above the rent office and married Dick Pettit. The Millers Jean worked in the fish shop. Danny was an Artic driver. Deb married Ed Blythe and had three fabulous daughters. I married Tracey and we had Jamie and Deb, fantastic.   James Lytle worked with Frankie Fraser at some point and now has a pub in Portslade, the Stanley, his own building company, another Hangleton success.

    By David Evans (18/09/2018)
  • Hello editor, a couple of things. Caring Lady is a funeral service which Tereasa Baker started. Steve Bennett worked for James Lytle insurance broker and worked with Frankie Fraser who between you and me is mad Frankie’s son and is the land lord of the Stanley Arms pub. He started the building business with his son, the rest is great thank you

    By David Evans (20/09/2018)
  • Hi, I live at 244 Hangleton Way. Does anyone know the date it was built and also who has lived in my flat previously? I’d be thrilled to hear from you.

    By Gemma Louise Winsor (17/07/2019)
  • The houses at the top of nearby Amberley Drive were built in 1946, I think that yours was built close to, but after this date, so I suggest very late 1940s or early 1950s.

    By Mr Peter Groves (18/07/2019)
  • Hello Kim,
    (Kim Gallucci nee TYRRELL (21/09/2011)
    I remember you ,Hope you remember me , Adele Sparkes at school, Hope your well and life has been good 4u. x

    By Adele (18/12/2019)
  • LOL, everyone knew Gino Fox and his family, Harry, Franca and Martine, next door were Norah and Peter Cootes, The Bishops, the Cooks and the Taylor’s on Midhurst Walk, I lived at 35 Bramber Avenue, The Kerr’s (I’m Ian) Hello. Hangleton was such a great place to grow up, I miss it. My mum worked in Bullen’s then after Charlie Mr Silk ran it.

    By Ian Kerr (11/02/2020)
  • I lived at 79 Hangleton Road (born 1970 to 1976), remember rag & bone man + view from top of house over golf course. Went to Knoll Infants, walked up with Mum into Martin Rd – house on corner had two Great Danes which jumped up on fence as passed by. Neighbour was Mrs Godwin (no.81). My brothers are Tim + Peter & sister Naomi.

    Moved away with parents in 1976, but came back in 1984 (no.205 Hangleton Road), they are still there now. Recall the green grocers (now Gary Sanders pet supplies shop). Dad remembers butchers shop (now Dean & Co).

    I went to Blatchington Mill (84-87), friends with Daniel Griffiths (his mum still lives in Orchard Gardens,Hove) + Dennis Daly (his family lived in Rowan Avenue).

    My first job was working in newsagents next to Dean & Co (now Sunkissed in The Parade) for Mr Gordon White & family. Delivered newspapers all around Hangleton in all weathers, including the morning of The Great Storm 1987!!

    By Andrew Ellis (24/04/2020)
  • I have enjoyed reading the comments on this page. I grew up in Hangleton from 1965 until we moved to Portslade in 1986. I lived in Ashlings Way, between Poplar Avenue and Applesham Avenue, and have fond memories of the Grenadier shopping area. I went to Hangleton Infants and Junior School. In fact we are looking for any pupils who joined the school in Sept 72 and left in July 76 – and were born between 1st Sept 64 and 31st Aug 65, for a 50th reunion. If you are amongst those, or if you know of someone who was at the school during this time and born Sept 1964 – August 1965, please do contact me on janebutcher@hotmail.co.uk.

    By Jane Butcher (nee McDonald) (01/07/2020)
  • Hello,
    I have just discovered this page! I grew up in Hangleton (Ashlings Way) 1960-1980. My parents bought the house in the early 50’s and only left in late 80’s early 90’s. So many names (particularly shops) are familiar to me. I attended Hangleton infants and junior schools, then Nevill Secondary, Miss Corderoy was Head.

    By Sally Gosling (nee Theelke) (14/09/2021)
  • The Pig Farmer was “Des” Broomfield who was a greyhound racing enthusiast.
    He kept my Dad’s greyhound puppies there in 1962.
    They were housed in one of his pig pens before going to the Dog Track in Neville Road for racing training.

    By tony hall (26/01/2022)
  • Desmond Broomfield had the pig farm to the north of Benfield Cottages. His half-brother Harold Broomfield had the pig farm on the south side of the cottages and which lay between the fairways of the fifth hole and the fifteenth hole of the West Hove Golf Course. The short fifteenth had its tee at the back of Benfield Cottages’ gardens and players had to play a six or seven iron off the tee and over the then unmade-up Hangleton Lane on to the green. The longish grass around the wire fences on each side of the lane hid many a golf ball that had pitched short and knowing where to look enabled me to find plenty of lost balls in my young days.

    By Tony Betteridge (20/02/2022)
  • My dad is Ivor Cleeves. He lived at Ivy cottage with my uncles, Raymond and Derek. My Nana Florence and grandad Trevor as well and their family cat Tibbs. I have some pictures of them there. Thank you to all who are mentioning our family. I’ve learned a lot about my families history. Sadly, the one typing as my father, was my stepmother, Susan. She has passed away on Feb 28th, 2020. Dad moved to Canada in 1971 after he married my mother, Monica Cleeves. They had my sisters in 1974 and me in 1978. If anyone had anything about my grandparents, Florence and Trevor Cleeves, it would be appreciated. You can contact me at marienmarioneo@gmail.com

    By Marie Neophytou nee Cleeves (14/01/2023)
  • Just realized my email address was typed with an extra period inbetween gmail.com. my email is: marienmarioneo@gmail.com

    By Marie Neophytou nee Cleeves (05/11/2023)
  • Hello all
    This is a longshot but as part of trying to keep the developers from putting 100 houses on the Benfield Valley site we need photographic evidence of the wall in situ at the top of Sylvester Way POST 1973. It is listed and as such should be fully reinstated.
    richardkemble333@gmail.com

    By Richard Kemble (09/02/2024)

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