124 Old London Road

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Fjh78
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:00 pm

124 Old London Road

Postby Fjh78 » Thu Nov 18, 2021 8:00 am

Good morning everyone.

Does anyone out there have any photos or memories of the fairly substantial house which stood at 124 Old London Road. It is now the site of the petrol station. The house was the home of eminent Victorian photographer J H Blomfield. It was demolished in 1963/4.

Thank you.

Felicity

whiffler
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:18 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby whiffler » Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:33 pm

I was born behind 'Clarence Villa', but not too long before it was demolished.

ISTR the petrol station being built .... I think.

Fjh78
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:00 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby Fjh78 » Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:19 pm

Hi Whiffler.

Thank you so much for your response. Great, so the house was called Clarence Villa! That gives me more to go on! Were you too young to remember anything about it?

Felicity

whiffler
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:18 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby whiffler » Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:15 pm

Too young, yes indeed. Would have travelled up Old London Road a few times, but can certainly place being there to visit Fernbank when younger brother was born in 1962 - I was not yet 4 !.

This site will be of interest, but I found it a bit higgledy-piggledy. There are mentions of Clarence Villa and Terrace, and a boarding school sharing the house. Given that it was shoved up against a hill, it may not have been the prettiest of buildings. Hopefully one of the contributors with census access will be able to clear up where these places were. Cavendish Terrace is also a mystery to me.

There's mention of some photos sourced from a NZ branch of the family.

https://www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk/HASTINGS-Blo.htm

Fjh78
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:00 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby Fjh78 » Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:21 am

Thank you so much Whiffler! I will have a good look at the website and report back if I dig anything up.

Felicity

whiffler
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:18 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby whiffler » Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:30 pm

Sketch c1860 - Looking down from perhaps junction of Old London Rd and Priory Rd, and comparing with the 1872 map

1. Buildings rising to top left are High Wickham

2. Large building on right is Halton House?

3. Single building to left of 2. (and opp white bldg) with 2 chimneys, one with smoke is perhaps Clarence Villa

No other large building on that side of the road (surely Old London Rd).

Image

https://maps.nls.uk/view/229917225

Fjh78
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:00 pm

Re: 124 Old London Road

Postby Fjh78 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:22 pm

Hi Whiffler.

Thank you for the image and map link. Well the sketch has really got me thinking. When I first saw it I figured that the big white building on the right was the old convent building before they added the chapel. But I see now why you believe it may be Halton House and therefore the two buildings nestled under that hill could be Clarence Villas.

Bearing in mind it wasn’t demolished til 1963 and it was on a very busy thoroughfare it’s quite surprising that there are no images out there.


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