In the late 1920s poor old Mr W. S. Galloway from Seaford had very bad feet, but rather than complain about his ailments he decided to do something about it. He began to experiment with various solutions in order to relieve and remove his corns. Some accounts (possibly libellous) say that he used as a…
Was an Eastbourne man bitten by a lion?
My grandmother Bessie Gordon was born in Eastbourne in 1901 and lived in Taddington Road. (one of the many Eastbourne roads named after a Derbyshire village by the Dukes of Devonshire whose family seat was Chatsworth in that county) In 1911 my grandma became friends with a four-year old girl who lived two doors away….
The Sussex Cyclist and his lasting legacy
Overlooking the Cuckmere Valley between Alfriston and Seaford is a viewing point provided by the Rees Jeffrey Fund. Rees Jeffrey was a cyclist who did more then most people to ensure our roads are safe. William Rees Jeffreys was born in Paddington, London in 1872 but lived in Sussex. He was a keen cyclist…
X-IT the Lewes Dwarf
Today we realise that we should not discriminate a person because of their physical appearance but this has not always been the case. It is clear that in the past, dwarves were used for entertainment particularly amongst the royal families of Europe. One of them possibly had a local connection. His name was XIT and…
Kitchen Tongs of Eastbourne
My great great Auntie was Mercy Bennett and she was married to Oliver Ephraim Mitchell. Oliver was born in Eastbourne in 1880. His father was Ephraim Mitchell (born in West Dean in 1852) When Oliver was born his father’s occupation is shown as a ‘Farm Bailiff’ however he was apparently also a poet and…
When my Grandma met a Prime Minister
When I visit Parliament I regularly pass the statue of the former Prime-Minister David Lloyd-George. The sculpture shows the great Liberal politician in an animated pose. Lloyd George is remembered for his many reforms including those responsible for welfare and women’s suffrage. As a young lady my Grandmother, Bessie Gordon, was a keen photographer. In…
Look out for a man with Spatterdashes
I am always interested in early reports of crime and disorder especially in the early 19th century when the Police were still in their infancy. Sussex had no uniformed force to deter and arrest criminals. There were parish constables of course, but they were used by the parish vestry (a form of early local government)…
Why is Charlie-Joe upside down?
The web-site of the La Trobe University in Australia reports that “Charles La Trobe is much better known in England than he is in Australia” This I doubt, even though he is buried in the delightful riverside churchyard at Litlington, East Sussex. Charles Joseph La Trobe was born in London on 20th March 1801 and…
Beacons for the Queen (and the French!)
Next week beacons will be lit all over Sussex, and indeed the whole country, to commemorate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. Beacons have been used for many years for celebration and also as a means of communication. This was particularly the case to warn us good Sussex folk from invasion against the…
Accidentally Shot
Last week I gave a talk to a Church Group in Crawley and bought a copy of the parish magazine. I was interested to read about a grave at Worth Church for an unfortunate woman who was shot. Yesterday I travelled back up to Crawley to visit Worth Church which, in my opinion is one…
Quirky Sussex History by Kevin Gordon 