Easthill House
Easthill House - former home to the wealthy
Easthill House was built in 1848 by local farmer Edward Blaker, although it seems this house was an extension to an existing 17th century dwelling. The original building is made of flint. Similar flint work can also be seen on two other buildings in the Portslade area. The first being Foredown Hospital, which was built in 1883. The hospital has since been knocked down and replaced with a housing estate. However, the water tower and flint wall still remain. Flint was also used at 37 Trafalgar Road, which was formally known as Cemetery Lodge.
It was documented in the 1862 Post Office Directory for Sussex that Easthill House commanded extensive views over land and sea. Hard to believe now, as trees and buildings block the view.
When Edward Blaker died in 1883, his wife Emma Blaker decided she did not want to remain living at Easthill House, so the property was let. Following Emma Blaker's death in 1894, the land and buildings were sold at auction. The lot included East Hill Farm, East Hill Cottages, farm buildings, a barn, stables, three covered piggeries, root house, a back yard with open hovel, a large walled lambing yard with hovel, a wagon lodge, and a chicken house, all of which sold for £2,300.
The house continued to be used as a dwelling by the Dudney family, who now owned the local brewery. John Dudney Junior was the warden of St Nicolas Church and opened the grounds of the house (which is now the park) to raise church funds by holding fetes and bazaars.
In 1911, Mr S H Harris occupied Easthill House. By 1920, Ernest Webb and his family resided in the house and remained there until his death.
It is documented that the police took over Easthill House during the Second World War as a local base.
In 1947 the land was purchased by the council for public use and the park was created. In 1948, the house was opened as a community centre.
In 1964, the local council decided they no longer needed Easthill House and planned to demolish the building. A local by the name of Lillian Bately approached the council and asked them to review their plans. Following this, parts of the house were converted into flats with the ground floor being used for various things, such as a toy library.
Some of the tenants living in the flats bought them from the council and in January 2000 one of flats went on sale for £72,950.00. By 2017, the price of a two bedroom flat within the house was valued at £247,000.00
Written by Russell Morgan
And there's more..
The Great Storm of 1987.
During the night of October 15th, high winds reaching a peak of 120 miles per hour, tore across the park. As daylight dawned, it became apparent that 160 mature trees had been blown down, leaving just 70 trees standing.
Next stop: Manor Lodge on Locks Hill. Take a left turn as you leave the park. Once on Locks Hill, take another left, and Manor Lodge is about 60 metres down the road
Please click on the picture once you arrive or
click here
