The End of an Era but Not the End of the Story. Eastbourne Society 1961- 2007
Taken from "The First
Years of the Eastbourne Civic Society, Founded 1961"
Compiled and Extended by Mavis Clack. January 2007
The Eastbourne Society was founded in October 1961 in the
name of the Eastbourne and District Preservation
Committee under its President Gilbert Foyle F.R.S.A. with
Vice Presidents M.P,Birley M.A., Headmaster of Eastbourne
College, Col. T. Sutton, O,B.E,, F.S.A. and Sir Charles
Taylor T.D., D.L., M.P. The Society's Chairman was Ronald
E, Clack, F.C.A.
It began as a committee of corporate members from about
12 societies, all concerned and anxious about the
standards of development threatening the qualities of
Eastbourne, which had gained the reputation of being one
of the most beautiful seaside resorts and earned the
title of Empress of Watering Places.
The committee's aims were similar to our present ones:-
1) To encourage high standards of architecture and town
planning in Eastbourne and neighbourhood.
2) To stimulate public interest in and care for the
beauty, history and character of the town and its
surroundings.
3) To encourage the preservation, development,
improvement and beautification of features of general
public amenity or historic interest.
4) To pursue these ends by means of meetings,
exhibitions, lectures, publications and other forms of
instruction and publicity.
It was brought into being by the concerns of many people
at the demolition of Pococks, a 15th century manor house
of Beverington, at Rodmill and the proposed erection of
the 19 storey tower block on the seafront at Meads, which
was approved amid a storm of protest.
During the great building bonanza which was sweeping the
country in the early 1960s, many amenity societies were
formed in a desperate bid to halt some of the disasters
threatened by speculative developers who were buying up
properties and demolishing them first with plans for
redevelopment submitted later. Yet, incredibly, the
general public were not allowed to inspect such plans at
that time. The properties which had been demolished were
often replaced with massive blocks of offices and flats
or huge housing estates with very little concern for
design or quality.
It was only after 1968, when the Town & Country
Planning Act was passed, that it became necessary for
plans to be published - thus allowing the interested
public to comment constructively before decisions were
taken.
The Eastbourne & District Preservation Committee was
soon changed to the Eastbourne & District
Preservation Society to allow individual membership. In
1973 this was altered to the Eastbourne Civic Society as
a more positive name. In 1999 this became the Eastbourne
Society to distance itself from connotations of local
government.
One of the early challenges the Society had to deal with,
besides Pococks and the South Cliff Tower, was Polegate
Windmill, which was for sale and likely to be demolished.
This became the subject of an all out attempt by the
Society to raise funds to buy the mill. lt was eventually
bought and many hours of voluntary effort to repair and
restore the mill followed. On 1st July 1967 this 150 year
old windmill was officially opened by His Grace, the 11th
Duke of Devonshire. To this was added the first milling
museum in Sussex in 1968. The latter has proved an
outstanding success with many visitors and school parties
finding it a source of fascination and interest over the
years. It is now run as an independent museum in its own
right.
In 1967 the Government was encouraging the setting up of
Conservation Areas nationwide to protect historical and
architecturally attractive buildings and areas. The
Society requested the Town Council to designate areas, in
particular, Old Town, the cradle of East Bourn. The Star
Brewery and the Old Court House were for sale and fears
for the future of the site were expressed. The area also
included several listed buildings and the Society felt
justified in calling for, (and obtaining) a public
enquiry. The site was sold to Birrane and Co. and three
listed buildings in the High Street were bought by the
Council and offered to the developers for demolition to
permit a larger scheme.
There was intense opposition in the area and many homes
and businesses were, as a result, suffering from planning
blight. By the end of 1969, planning applications were
available for public inspection and visits were made to
the Planning Office by members of the Executive Committee
to report matters of concern to the committee. The Star
Brewery site was top of the agenda. lt was proposed to
extend the site from High Street to Ocklynge Road and
Crown Street. The redevelopment was to consist of a
massive tower block of flats and offices and an extensive
supermarket. This plan also included 8 listed buildings
and a medieval street pattern of ancient origin, in the
heart of Old Town.
Alas, the wheels of officialdom grind slowly and the
Public Enquiry was not held until 1972. Because a major
road widening scheme for Church Street had been proposed
years before, neglect for many of the properties had gone
too far. The original plan was never realised and new
plans were submitted by another developer. Ironically,
the Old Town Conservation Area which the Society had been
pressing for was only designated after planning approval
had been given for an undesirable maior redevelopment.
The major A27 road widening scheme was thankfully
abandoned, but the Old Town had lost its heart.
With the setting up of Conservation Area Advisory
Committees in 1975 (the Society having had a
representative from the start), there has been much
greater opportunity for co-operation and understanding
between authorities, amenity groups and the public.
However, this is being transformed at the time of writing
and its future operation is not yet clear.
In addition to Old Town, other Conservation Areas were
set up in Meads, Town Centre, Seafront and Willingdon. As
an advisory body to the Planning Committee, we encourage
schemes for enhancement and extensions to existing
Conservation Areas, which the Society feels are one of
the best safeguards for protecting the unique character
of certain parts of Eastbourne. Also a number of listed
buildings have been added to those already designated.
In conjunction with the Society's aims, we provided funds
for four Morris lamp standards erected in Trinif Trees
and restored to their original condition with lantern
tops to celebrate the European Architectural Heritage
Year in 1975. Ebenezer Morris was the local iron founder
and manufacturer of many of the town's iron railings and
other street furniture. Then in 1977, the Society
provided two flagpoles to top the Congress Theatre in
honour of Queen Elizabeth ll's Silver Jubilee.
A Project Group of volunteers was started in 1978 and
carried out tree planting in various parts of the town,
including Lushington Road, Lottbridge Drove, Wish Hill
and the Avenue. Volunteers also cleaned and repaired a
dewpond at Black Robin Farm, Beachy Head with the help of
the Eastbourne Rambling Club and cut steps on the Jubilee
Walk under the leadership of George Collier. The V.R.
cyphers on old letterboxes in the town were picked out in
black paint by Richard Crook and Michael Ockenden with
the co-operation and approval of the Head Postmaster.
A Heritage Centre was opened in 1985 in the attractive
Tower House at 2, Carlisle Road, then under threat of
demolition with the disused Devonshire Baths site. The
Council granted us a 20 year lease on the building. After
major conversion and restoration, mostly by Richard Crook
R.|.B.A, and a team of hard working volunteers and a
generous grant of funds from the Carnegie U.K. Trust, we
provided the town with a Local Heritage Exhibition to be
proud of. lt showed the development of the town from four
small hamlets to the town it is today and thanks to
members and local businesses that have supported us, this
has proved a very worthwhile achievement, Besides telling
the history of the town, we have held special exhibitions
on a wide range of subjects, including Eastbourne
Schools, Oldest Businesses, Eastbourne's Boatmen, 150
years of Eastbourne Railway, and Famous People of
Eastbourne.
The Civic Trust (our parent body) very aptly describes an
Amenity Society thus:- "lt tries conscientiously to serve
the interests of the whole community and s concerned with
a wide range of environmental issues, including
architecture, planning, transport and conservation ...
campaigning for the protection of existing buildings and
areas of interest and belief in the social value of
community landmarks and is not afraid to speak up in the
public interest ..." "The movement can no longer be
dismissed as a fringe affair... some significant
victories have been won, national policies have changed
significantly and dramatically in favour of some of its
most cherished ideals. But experience has taught us that
ignorance often underlies apathy or ill-judged plans. Its
very existence and interventions are a continual reminder
that there is more to life than money, mobility and
material progress."
However, there is much for our Society to do and our
vigilance and expertise are often exercised to the full.
Pressures are still put upon sensitive areas of our town;
new opportunities d challenges arise. We have made great
strides in the past years and hope our influence has
benefited the town, not only for today but also for
future generations. The Society now looks forward with
renewed confidence.
Dedicated to the memory of Ronald E.
Clack, Founder of the Society.