The history portal for Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England
This image is quite a find – maybe a never seen photo detail of the long lost Election Stone, shown on maps and illustrations as being set into the pavement but it disappeared when the road was realigned.
More detail: http://www.shorehambysea.com/old-market-house-election-stone/
Two years ago an enquiry came into the Shoreham Forum for permission to use photographs of Stow and Sons shipbuilding yard. The enquirer was rebuilding Tally Ho, originally built at Shoreham in 1910.
It you have an hour or two then there is a delightful set of videos documenting the progress on the build. You can find out more about the history of Stow and Sons here: http://www.shorehambysea.com/stow-suter-yachts/
These wonderful shoreham fishing photos come courtesy of Mary Gibbs. A newspaper cutting (written in a comical vein) from our own collection suggests that the fishermen were from the Maple family who appear elsewhere in articles on our website as oyster merchants at the western end of the High Street and sportsmen, mainly racing oarsmen and footballers.
One of the photos shows one fisherman wearing a jersey with the name ‘Imatra’ on it. This was one of the yachts built at Shoreham by Stow & Sons, launched in 1899 and over 100 years later is still sailing in water around New Zealand (see http://www.shorehambysea.com/stow-suter-yachts/ ) Like many other Shoreham fishermen this Maple man probably ‘double-jobbed’ as part of the crew for local yachts as and when required.
This from Roy Wood of photos from William Wood’s funeral in 1934. William lived at 5 Middle Road (later renumbered 36), Shoreham. He had joined the Royal West Kent regiment in 1892 and was finally discharged in 1917. The Army honours their own – the funeral procession was provided by the Sussex Regt. He is buried in St Julian’s graveyard.
Originally stretching all the way on both sides of the road from the suspension bridge to the flood arch, the old railings on the north side have recently been replaced by wooden ones. Whether or not they were erected at the same time as the bridge itself (1833) is uncertain although it can be seen in many late 19th and early 20th century photos. This used wooden posts with the distinctive square iron rails held in place by a metal strap. Sometime since the wooden posts were replaced with cement ones but still using the square iron railings. Some of the south side railings still survive, for now, and although they may be of little architectural importance it is sad to see yet another part of the town’s history quietly disappearing almost unnoticed.
Little bits of history in snippets here from E. R. Harmsworth’s letter to the New Shoreham Local Board in 1891 most significant of which is the instruction that the new tramway terminus must be sited at the top (western end) of Ham Road.
A period of coin shortage when the British Royal Mint almost ceased production making small change scarce prompted merchants in 1811 to produce tokens ‘for the accommodation (convenience) of the public.” These were issued by merchants with the agreement that they would be redeemed in goods to an equivalent value at the merchants’ own outlets. The transaction was therefore one of barter, with the tokens playing a role of convenience, allowing the seller to receive his goods at a rate and time convenient to himself and the merchant in order to tie the holder of the token coin to his shop.
Continue reading “1811 Clayton & Hyde Shilling Trade Token”
Super google surfer Neil De-Ville has unearthed this photo of the ship ‘Ebenezer’ (on Ebay) that turns out to be another Shoreham built ship photo that has come to light. Our ‘Ships Built or Registered in Shoreham’ listings show it to be a 177 ton brig built in 1860 by May & Thwaites of Kingston that enjoyed a very long working life as a coaster for almost sixty years. It took a German submarine to finally finish it off on 15th July 1917 when it intercepted the vessel and sunk her with explosive charges.
This is quite a find by Jacqui Hubbard in a Petworth antique shop.
The 1853 presentation rolling pin has the name James Cooper who may have been the shipwright who lived on the High Street then, near to Shoreham’s best known shipbuilder J. Britton Balley so probably worked on his ships too. It would seem Cooper also worked on the ship ‘James Douglas’ but unfortunately I can’t find that name amongst our registers of Shoreham built/registered ships – something to keep a look out for.
Having read about the V1 flying bomb that detonated near the top of Eastern Avenue (Bombing and Other Incidents http://www.shorehambysea.com/bombing-incidents-ww2/ ) Gail Underhill has asked for any wartime photos of Eastern Avenue. This one comes courtesy of Sue Vincent that shows VE Day celebrations with Eastern Avenue houses in the background and perhaps one of them showing repaired roof tile damage. Due to restrictions then wartime photos are difficult to find – does anyone have any others?