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... [more]

Valiant bomber crashing

I also remember the Valiant bomber crashing. We were in the playground and the plane went overhead. It was on fire and looked like something out of war movie.
I remember the loud bang and flames as it hit the REC. I think also some of the parts landed on the railway line. I believe there was one survivor who... [more]

The REC

Living in Old Barn Way (#14) I attended Southwick Primary School in Manor Hall Road. A memorable day was in 1956 when a Valiant bomber crashed into the "rec" spewing its body parts (and sadly three of its crew) into the surrounding area including the school grounds.
How I used to love the privilege of assisting the scorers at the... [more]

Memories of a childhood in Southwick

I went to Southwick Primary School. I remember being picked as a 'flag flyer' and welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh when he opened the new lock. I think it was in about 1955. We were unable to use the locks whilst the new one was being built and we were ferried across the canal in little rowing boats when we wanted... [more]

Lock Gates

My grandfather (H.Orman) was the harbourmaster when King George IV or V visited Southwick to open the new lock gates named after him. I look forward to seeing if the plaque with his name on is still in place when I return to England in June 2007 for the first time in 50 years.

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.