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Eastbourne, Wish Tower and Terriss Memorial 1899
Eastbourne, Wish Tower and Terriss Memorial 1899 Ref: 43945
Memories of Eastbourne, Wish Tower and Terriss Memorial
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Eastbourne & local memories
Read and share memories of Eastbourne and East Sussex inspired by Frith photos
This memory is about the 1960s. Eastbourne was always my favourite seaside resort and I never wanted to go home to Croydon at the end of the day. I told my mum that I lived there a long time ago. Of course I got told "Don't be silly". It was only when I was doing my family history in the 1990s that I found that my ancestors came from the old town in Eastbourne. In fact I had a famous one, the artist John Hamilton Mortimer (my grandad also had this name) through Mr Wtevens (local historian) talking about JHM on Sussex Radio. My mum was also listening to him and suggested that I write to Mr Stevens to see if there was a connection, and wow, did he open up a lot of news about the Mortimers. Through him we traced my Mortimer line back to 1650, and he also put me in touch with my great- grandfather's first marriage descendants in Australia. My Australian relatives visited here in 1994 and met Mr Stevens and saw all the Mortimers buried in the churchyard. It was a day to be proud of. Now I know why I never wanted to go home to Croydon. Eastbourne old town is still my favourite place to go, to sit in the churchyard under the trees and remember my ancestors. I go to Beachy Head as it's where JHM based his art work on, and feel like I really belong. "Be still and know that I am God" springs to mind when I am up there. Eastbourne is a lovely place, full of history (and my family of Mortimers).
Shared on 31 January 2010
Does anybody remember Birbecks Engineering? and 6" Shell Fuse Bases? If anybody reads this would love to hear from you. Names I recall are :- Nancy, Rose, Rita, Fred Laker, Bert Irvrin, Ted Colley, Ernie Lidyard, Mr Bodkin, Miss Birbeck.
Shared on 13 February 2009
Eastbourne, All Souls Church 1890
Ref: 25320
In September 2007 my partner Alan and I moved into a first floor flat on Tideswell Road directly opposite the church. The fact that the lounge windows overlook the church was the clincher for me when I was viewing the flat for rental. I love the fact that we are not overlooked by other properties which is very unusual for a town centre property. The church itself is a very attractive building and a great piece of architecture. The gardens are smart and well maintained, although small boys sometimes get told off for playing football on the grass. There are now some trees on the pavement around the church which were really pretty when we moved in, dark green and covered in berries (a bit bare at the mo though as its March).
As I am typing this I can see the church out of my window and it hardly looks any different to the photo. Although the picture doesn't relay the size of the building, it is huge! It's only the road that looks different as it's covered with numerous cars now and has been blocked off at the end.
I haven't heard the bell this morning, sometimes it rings for ages on a Sunday morning and is loud and droning..just one dong after the other. Oh for some pretty church bells!
It has just occurred to me that neither of us has ever stepped foot inside, maybe one day....
Shared on 09 March 2008
Eastbourne, from the Wish Tower 1901
Ref: 48061
This is where Alan asked me to marry him on a beautiful moonlit evening in January. The weather was mild and the moonlight was shining on the sea making it all silvery. There weren't many people around, just the odd jogger and dog walker as it was a Monday night.
I guessed what was happening as he was so nervous, but due to some advice from my friend Simone I kept quiet for once. He took my hands in his and gave a lovely speech about the year we have spent together and then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.. and of course I said yes. The mischievous side of me was dying to mess around though and pretend otherwise, but I decided that would be too naughty.
Afterwards we walked home, which is close to the seafront and shared a bottle of champagne whilst we called and texted our family and friends with our news. Everyone was very happy for us and we celebrated with our families at a meal the following Sunday.
We are marrying in Easter 2009 at the Manor Barn in Bexhill. Lots of planning to do now!
Shared on 09 March 2008
My Grandad was foreman of the Carpet Gardens on Eastbourne seafront. He took over from his elder brother who had taken over from their father. They had, as a family, looked after the Carpet Gardens for over a century.
The family name was Cottington. Grampy always told us that when digging over the flower beds they uncovered Roman mosaics. As a tribute to them they copied the design in the flowers.
Just a simple family memory from long ago.
Shared on 28 June 2006
