Bevendean History Project
Ashurst Road Self-Build Housing Scheme - Evelyn Gibbs
These
are typed up notes, written by my mother Evelyn (Ev) Gibbs for a talk
to the Falmer Ladies social group. We lived at 70 Ashurst
Road. Both Mum and Dad (Fred) lived in the house they built until
my father died in 2012 and my Mum passed away in 2015. I was born
there in 1959 my sister in 1963.
My Mum went back to work when we were old enough and was School Secretary at Moulsecoomb Junior School to the Headmistress Miss King and later to the Headmaster John Le Bar.
Typed up by Andrew Gibbs.
Before the war
Slum clearance – stopped when war broke out and nearly all building work ceased.
After the war
Men being demobbed from the Forces.
Accommodation hard to come by.
Unscrupulous landlords, hardly any regulations to govern them, all sorts of scams.
Regular complaints about shortage of accommodation.
Evening Argus
One of the journalists wrote an article pointing out that the men being demobbed were coming home with gratuities and there would also be builders coming home so why didn’t they form themselves into groups and build their own homes. The response was great. The ex-Serviceman’s Housing Association was formed in 1947? They built 40 bungalows in Plymouth Avenue, Bevendean.
Mum – “At the time I was in my teens and I had read about the scheme, the last thing on my mind was marriage and houses”
1953
Mum – “Fred and I decided that we could put up with each other for the rest of our lives and set about arranging a wedding”. “Accommodation was still hard to come by; neither of us was in a position to move in with relatives. There was a long waiting list for council houses, although Whitehawk and Queens Park had been built and also the Moulsecoomb estate which was finished after the war.
Southover Street
House on the market for £600, you had to put down a deposit of £400 because it was a very old property. However we could have a 90-95% mortgage on a new property. Houses at that time were between £1500 and £2000. Mortgages were based on the Husbands salary only.
A month before our wedding we managed to rent two unfurnished rooms in Frederick Gardens. It had a share of the kitchen, no actual bathroom it was in the 3rd bedroom and there was an outside toilet. But we were happy there.
At the time of our marriage I was working for the Brighton Health Department. I was Senior Clerk of the M&CW (Midwife and Child Welfare?) section.
August 1953 Housing Meeting arranged
This was for Housing officers, nurses, doctors, HV’s (Health Visitor), Sanitary Inspectors and Almoners? – All interested in Housing especially the lack of it.
Miss Cox a HV attended the meeting and asked that one self-build scheme had been supported so why hadn’t there been more schemes? The answer was that it was thought there would be no interest.
After the meeting Miss Cox and I were chatting and she explained about the Self-Build scheme and what it meant. Would we be interested? It seemed OK to me, I talked it over with Fred. He wanted to know more about it, so I arranged a meeting with Miss Cox.
It transpired that Miss Cox had a list of 20 interested people.
As the ex-servicemen’s scheme had been started by the Argus, Fred suggested we write to the Argus and a letter was composed and signed. The outcome was that a reporter called to see Miss Cox and promised to run an article in the Argus and further reports as and when.
Miss Cox hired Moulsecoomb Hall – The Argus gave date, time etc and anyone interested would be welcome. Miss Cox also contacted the secretary, treasurer / Chairman of the ex-servicemen’s scheme and asked them to attend. About 150 people attended the meeting. Fred was asked to open it. Miss Cox spoke and the two officers from Plymouth Avenue explained in great detail what it entailed. Those very interested were asked to leave their name and address, a further meeting would be called and they would be notified.
A second meeting was arranged at Moulsecoomb Senior School. Fred was elected Chairman. George Brooker was elected Treasurer and Robin Vening as Secretary. Another 9 were elected to the committee - Thus Brighton Self-Build Housing Association was born.
Then our troubles started
General meetings were held monthly.
Committee meetings were held monthly. I was asked to take the minutes for both meetings.
A suitable plot of land had to be found – Withdean, Natal Road, Ashurst Road.
Architects were employed to draw up plans (Two Brighton Borough architects)
Our houses were built to be rented as could receive a grant from the Government and a rate rebate (later self-build schemes didn’t get these tax breaks so it paid them to build to buy.)
It was agreed that the houses should have three bedrooms a bathroom and toilet upstairs. A lounge, dining room, kitchen and toilet downstairs. The two architects were asked to draw up designs to these specifications and after the drawings were submitted to the members for discussion. The best bits from each drawing were incorporated into one house.
The Council dictated what bricks were to be used, all local such as Southdown or Multi-coloured Keymers, roof and bay tiles. Plans also included an outbuilding, wide enough to be a garage but not deep enough to fit a car in, otherwise it would be rateable. Members could extend the outbuilding into a garage as and when, at their own expense.
The council were lending £48,000 to the association (40 x £1,200 per house) this would be paid in six instalments as the houses were built.
The association was a Limited company and as we were building to rent each couple owned a 40th share in the company, but we did not own our own house.
Each member paid in £50 which gave us £2000 working capital; this was repaid when the forty houses were built.
The money was collected at the Members Meeting one evening. The Police were advised and a Policeman stood in the classroom, another in the playground plus two in a Police car. When the money was collected it was taken to the bank by Fred and George on George’s motorbike, with a police escort. Arrangements had been made with the Bank manager to meet them at the bank at 9 p.m. which was opened especially.
Allocation of houses
This was done by the Senior Welfare housing officer, strictly on the conditions the members were living in. She visited the home of every member, i.e. A couple with children living in two rooms would get preference over a childless couple.
Employees
As the site of Ashurst Road was off the beaten track and to try and stop any pilfering, it was agreed that two members should be employed to work on the site during the day. They were also there to accept deliveries and help unload.
Frank Coulson, the tiler, and John Putt (as labourer) were employed. Both men still had to do work during the evenings and weekends.
Each man had to put in at least 22 hours per week during the evenings and weekends over and above their normal full time jobs.
Insurance
All 40 members were covered by insurance while they were on site at evenings and weekends. The two full time employees were covered separately.
E.D. Butts the timber merchants were pulling down one of their large wooden storage sheds. Anyone who wanted the timber could have it for nothing as long as they took it away. One member knew someone with a lorry which was hired and everyone who could go went and helped load the lorry. The timber was used for shuttering and to build a shed and toilet.
I remember Dad saying that when the air raid shelter at Conway Street bus garage was being demolished there was a lot of rebar available. Dad did a deal with the Manager and bought the whole lot for £5? Provided he arranged for it to be collected.
There was enough for all the reinforced lintels, washing line posts etc and everything else, so much so that that there was enough left over for Eggington Road.
Concrete mixer
Hours were spent discussing the merits of buying a petrol or a diesel mixer.
The petrol mixer was cheaper than the diesel one but diesel fuel was cheaper than petrol, (and men say women can talk!!!) The mixer was shunted up and down the road as when it was need. It was very noisy.
Building finally started on Good Friday 2/4/1955. It was agreed that 2 men would sleep in the shed on site acting as night watchmen until the first house was complete and occupied.
Tea
A large urn was acquired. One of the men would build a fire and the urn put on it to boil. When the water was boiling a ¼ pound packet of tea was poured into it together with a pint of milk (I think). A whistle was blown and the men queued for their tea. Later a gas stove was used which made making the tea easier.
When building started one of the wives would get to the site about 8pm and make the tea. Ursula and I did a night each. Weekends we used to make the tea in the afternoons and afterwards Ursula and I would wash and dry all the mugs.
During the summer months especially, a lot of the wives (with their children) came to the site. It was a good way to get to know each other. They would discuss colour schemes, types of curtains and decorating etc. I think there was quite a bit of ‘swank’ about what was going to be spent.
Time off
Either Saturday or Sunday evenings starting from 5.30 p.m. For every weeks summer holiday they were also entitled to a day off.
Loan stock
A record of the total number of hours each man worked over the two years was kept; this was used as a deposit when eventually we bought our houses. Each man had to sign on and off.
Waiting list
There was a waiting list of 20 names, we called a meeting and suggested they start their own scheme these became Lucraft and Eggington roads.
A great deal of help and support was received from Brighton Council especially, one local councillor Mrs Hider?
There were no serious fall outs between members; any disagreements were sorted out by the committee.
Building finished on 13/6/57 taking two years and two months to complete.
The £50’s were paid back soon afterwards.
Not without humour and trauma
Dougie Stickland – wife died so left the scheme. Another left due to ill health.
John Putt had blackouts; wife put paper down on the carpet so that he could be carried into the house without leaving any dirt.
There were two accidents. Edie Faulker pillion on her brother in laws motorbike hit a pothole, she broke her leg.
John Reeves fell off the roof of the last house taking two breeze blocks with him and landed in a metal wheelbarrow. He broke a couple of fingers.
A social club was formed which organised parties for the children, socials for the whole family and friends plus a summer outing(s) which needed 4 coaches.
My Mum went back to work when we were old enough and was School Secretary at Moulsecoomb Junior School to the Headmistress Miss King and later to the Headmaster John Le Bar.
Typed up by Andrew Gibbs.
Before the war
Slum clearance – stopped when war broke out and nearly all building work ceased.
After the war
Men being demobbed from the Forces.
Accommodation hard to come by.
Unscrupulous landlords, hardly any regulations to govern them, all sorts of scams.
Regular complaints about shortage of accommodation.
Evening Argus
One of the journalists wrote an article pointing out that the men being demobbed were coming home with gratuities and there would also be builders coming home so why didn’t they form themselves into groups and build their own homes. The response was great. The ex-Serviceman’s Housing Association was formed in 1947? They built 40 bungalows in Plymouth Avenue, Bevendean.
Mum – “At the time I was in my teens and I had read about the scheme, the last thing on my mind was marriage and houses”
1953
Mum – “Fred and I decided that we could put up with each other for the rest of our lives and set about arranging a wedding”. “Accommodation was still hard to come by; neither of us was in a position to move in with relatives. There was a long waiting list for council houses, although Whitehawk and Queens Park had been built and also the Moulsecoomb estate which was finished after the war.
Southover Street
House on the market for £600, you had to put down a deposit of £400 because it was a very old property. However we could have a 90-95% mortgage on a new property. Houses at that time were between £1500 and £2000. Mortgages were based on the Husbands salary only.
A month before our wedding we managed to rent two unfurnished rooms in Frederick Gardens. It had a share of the kitchen, no actual bathroom it was in the 3rd bedroom and there was an outside toilet. But we were happy there.
At the time of our marriage I was working for the Brighton Health Department. I was Senior Clerk of the M&CW (Midwife and Child Welfare?) section.
August 1953 Housing Meeting arranged
This was for Housing officers, nurses, doctors, HV’s (Health Visitor), Sanitary Inspectors and Almoners? – All interested in Housing especially the lack of it.
Miss Cox a HV attended the meeting and asked that one self-build scheme had been supported so why hadn’t there been more schemes? The answer was that it was thought there would be no interest.
After the meeting Miss Cox and I were chatting and she explained about the Self-Build scheme and what it meant. Would we be interested? It seemed OK to me, I talked it over with Fred. He wanted to know more about it, so I arranged a meeting with Miss Cox.
It transpired that Miss Cox had a list of 20 interested people.
As the ex-servicemen’s scheme had been started by the Argus, Fred suggested we write to the Argus and a letter was composed and signed. The outcome was that a reporter called to see Miss Cox and promised to run an article in the Argus and further reports as and when.
Miss Cox hired Moulsecoomb Hall – The Argus gave date, time etc and anyone interested would be welcome. Miss Cox also contacted the secretary, treasurer / Chairman of the ex-servicemen’s scheme and asked them to attend. About 150 people attended the meeting. Fred was asked to open it. Miss Cox spoke and the two officers from Plymouth Avenue explained in great detail what it entailed. Those very interested were asked to leave their name and address, a further meeting would be called and they would be notified.
A second meeting was arranged at Moulsecoomb Senior School. Fred was elected Chairman. George Brooker was elected Treasurer and Robin Vening as Secretary. Another 9 were elected to the committee - Thus Brighton Self-Build Housing Association was born.
Then our troubles started
General meetings were held monthly.
Committee meetings were held monthly. I was asked to take the minutes for both meetings.
A suitable plot of land had to be found – Withdean, Natal Road, Ashurst Road.
Architects were employed to draw up plans (Two Brighton Borough architects)
Our houses were built to be rented as could receive a grant from the Government and a rate rebate (later self-build schemes didn’t get these tax breaks so it paid them to build to buy.)
It was agreed that the houses should have three bedrooms a bathroom and toilet upstairs. A lounge, dining room, kitchen and toilet downstairs. The two architects were asked to draw up designs to these specifications and after the drawings were submitted to the members for discussion. The best bits from each drawing were incorporated into one house.
The Council dictated what bricks were to be used, all local such as Southdown or Multi-coloured Keymers, roof and bay tiles. Plans also included an outbuilding, wide enough to be a garage but not deep enough to fit a car in, otherwise it would be rateable. Members could extend the outbuilding into a garage as and when, at their own expense.
The council were lending £48,000 to the association (40 x £1,200 per house) this would be paid in six instalments as the houses were built.
The association was a Limited company and as we were building to rent each couple owned a 40th share in the company, but we did not own our own house.
Each member paid in £50 which gave us £2000 working capital; this was repaid when the forty houses were built.
The money was collected at the Members Meeting one evening. The Police were advised and a Policeman stood in the classroom, another in the playground plus two in a Police car. When the money was collected it was taken to the bank by Fred and George on George’s motorbike, with a police escort. Arrangements had been made with the Bank manager to meet them at the bank at 9 p.m. which was opened especially.
Allocation of houses
This was done by the Senior Welfare housing officer, strictly on the conditions the members were living in. She visited the home of every member, i.e. A couple with children living in two rooms would get preference over a childless couple.
Employees
As the site of Ashurst Road was off the beaten track and to try and stop any pilfering, it was agreed that two members should be employed to work on the site during the day. They were also there to accept deliveries and help unload.
Frank Coulson, the tiler, and John Putt (as labourer) were employed. Both men still had to do work during the evenings and weekends.
Each man had to put in at least 22 hours per week during the evenings and weekends over and above their normal full time jobs.
Insurance
All 40 members were covered by insurance while they were on site at evenings and weekends. The two full time employees were covered separately.
E.D. Butts the timber merchants were pulling down one of their large wooden storage sheds. Anyone who wanted the timber could have it for nothing as long as they took it away. One member knew someone with a lorry which was hired and everyone who could go went and helped load the lorry. The timber was used for shuttering and to build a shed and toilet.
I remember Dad saying that when the air raid shelter at Conway Street bus garage was being demolished there was a lot of rebar available. Dad did a deal with the Manager and bought the whole lot for £5? Provided he arranged for it to be collected.
There was enough for all the reinforced lintels, washing line posts etc and everything else, so much so that that there was enough left over for Eggington Road.
Concrete mixer
Hours were spent discussing the merits of buying a petrol or a diesel mixer.
The petrol mixer was cheaper than the diesel one but diesel fuel was cheaper than petrol, (and men say women can talk!!!) The mixer was shunted up and down the road as when it was need. It was very noisy.
Building finally started on Good Friday 2/4/1955. It was agreed that 2 men would sleep in the shed on site acting as night watchmen until the first house was complete and occupied.
Tea
A large urn was acquired. One of the men would build a fire and the urn put on it to boil. When the water was boiling a ¼ pound packet of tea was poured into it together with a pint of milk (I think). A whistle was blown and the men queued for their tea. Later a gas stove was used which made making the tea easier.
When building started one of the wives would get to the site about 8pm and make the tea. Ursula and I did a night each. Weekends we used to make the tea in the afternoons and afterwards Ursula and I would wash and dry all the mugs.
During the summer months especially, a lot of the wives (with their children) came to the site. It was a good way to get to know each other. They would discuss colour schemes, types of curtains and decorating etc. I think there was quite a bit of ‘swank’ about what was going to be spent.
Time off
Either Saturday or Sunday evenings starting from 5.30 p.m. For every weeks summer holiday they were also entitled to a day off.
Loan stock
A record of the total number of hours each man worked over the two years was kept; this was used as a deposit when eventually we bought our houses. Each man had to sign on and off.
Waiting list
There was a waiting list of 20 names, we called a meeting and suggested they start their own scheme these became Lucraft and Eggington roads.
A great deal of help and support was received from Brighton Council especially, one local councillor Mrs Hider?
There were no serious fall outs between members; any disagreements were sorted out by the committee.
Building finished on 13/6/57 taking two years and two months to complete.
The £50’s were paid back soon afterwards.
Not without humour and trauma
Dougie Stickland – wife died so left the scheme. Another left due to ill health.
John Putt had blackouts; wife put paper down on the carpet so that he could be carried into the house without leaving any dirt.
There were two accidents. Edie Faulker pillion on her brother in laws motorbike hit a pothole, she broke her leg.
John Reeves fell off the roof of the last house taking two breeze blocks with him and landed in a metal wheelbarrow. He broke a couple of fingers.
A social club was formed which organised parties for the children, socials for the whole family and friends plus a summer outing(s) which needed 4 coaches.
