Southwick, East Sussex

Many years ago

My grandfather Kennedy Larbey and his family came and lived in Southwick in 1896 where he was a blacksmith. My grandmother sold fresh fish at her kitchen door. My father Victor was born there in 1897 and done most of his schooling there untill they came back to Fernhurst in 1910.

Brighton bypass

I can remember going up onto Southwick Hill with my son Gary and his friend Ben the day before the opening of the Brighton bypass. I told them that it would never again be as quiet as it was now!!
Dave Smith.

Kingston Beach

This picture with the distinctive lighthouse is of Kingston Beach, behind it and a little to the left was a church hall where the 5th Shoreham Scouts met. I believe it is demolished now......the church hall that is.

Vickers Valiant Crash

As a pupil at Manor Hall Secondary School I also remember the Valiant crashing and the plume of smoke with the explosion as it hit the railway line by Southwick Recreation Ground. As it was lunch time no members of the public were hurt.
A locally run Website 'This is Findon' by Valerie Martin has more information on that day from other people. There is included, an extract of the crash investigation report
which concludes the fire and crash was caused by a civil scientist aboard the plane who overrode an electrical trip switch during an experiment on board the Valiant.

Sussex Revisited Photographic Memories

For years the harbour and sea have provided employment for many of Southwick's inhabitants, and in 1871 the increase in population at Southwick and Fishersgate was attributed to oyster-dredgers and other seafarers who resided there. The large shingle bank on the southern side of the harbour, formerly part of the parish of Lancing, became part of Southwick in c1900.

Sussex Revisited Photographic Memories

To the south of the harbour stood the power stations and gas works, the main users of coal, which represented over half of the port's total commodities by the end of the 1950s. Following the closure of these buildings, the trade in coal significantly diminished, but an increase in other commodities, like timber imports, redressed the balance.

Brighton and Hove Photographic Memories

Courtenay Terrace is the only group of houses which had gardens backing onto the beach. The built-up prom today extends westwards past the houses, but miraculously they and their gardens survive.