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1950s photograph

I recently found this photo in my collection and have posted it wondering if any of your readers can date it, or have any local knowledge regarding the surrounding area of Hove Lagoon.

I`m thinking maybe very early 1950s. Hartley and Midgley Ltd and Caffyns Ltd can clearly be seen on the north side of the Kingsway with four shops between. I remember one being a newsagent and another a café.

The Adur Public House is on the south side, but I am not sure what the single-story buildings were next door to The Adur. The Lagoons were separated by a pathway and a number of canoes can be seen using the front pool. Any memories would be appreciated.

Click on image to open a larger version in a new window  

Hove Lagoon undated photograph
From the personal collection of Michael Clark

Comments about this page

  • The buildings next to The Adur Inn were the local offices of Shellmex-BP.

    By Alan Phillips (15/04/2018)
  • This was possibly about 1954. I remember that about this time there were sailing boats for hire on the large lagoon, each with a single sail carrying an emblem of a playing card ace (spade, club, etc.)  probably then, 4 boats.

    By Geoff Stoner (15/04/2018)
  • I cannot date this photo, although the old fairground style train-ride is still in place, to the north side of the large pool, inside the white fenced area (see also: http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8930.aspx?path=0p115p207p1378p). From memory the train-ride was still there into the late 1950’s / early 1960’s. However, halfway along the pathway between the two pools, on the area that juts out into the smaller pool, there used to be a large (Victorian?) brown stone drinking fountain when I was a child in the 1950’s. It is not there in this photo, but unfortunately I’m not sure exactly when it was removed. On the larger pool, as well as the sailing boats, it was also possible to hire a number of motor boats that used to chug their way around.

    By Alan Phillips (19/04/2018)
  • The train ride was still there circa 1968, as a mate of mine from HGS had a part time job running it. The canoes were still there in the smaller pool and motor boats in the large one.

    By Mick Wright (13/04/2020)

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