The Old Farm
Dealings on the land on which Wilbury Grange now stands can be traced back to 1794 when the owner, Charles Collis Western, sold some land. This part of the land holding became known as Stanford Estate. In 1876 a part of the land was sold for £2,762 & 10 shillings.
In the 1860s the road was still a rough farm track leading up to the chalk pond beyond it to Preston Village. About 100 yards along the road, away from the coast, was a long cowshed. Part of this farm was worked by William Rigden Marsh. It has various names over the years including Long Barn Farm and Old Farm. Rigden’s farm was farmed for 40 years.
In 1880, the southern part of Wilbury Road up to Eaton Road was declared a public highway and in 1912 the Council decided that Wilbury Road should have five new street lamps, which together with the re-positioning of the existing eleven cost £45.00.
Eventually the cowshed was demolished and on the site was built a fine mansion, “Melrose Hall”, owned by Colonel Johnson.
Melrose Hall 1880 to 1930s
Melrose Hall, pictured above, was a large house stood, facing east, at the foot of Wilbury Road, on the site of the present Harewood Court (the Masonic homes). Built in the 1880s, its chief claim to fame was that the ground on which it was built was part of Rigden’s farm. The farmer’s house, Long Barn House, can be seen behind, facing south. Melrose Hall seems last to have been occupied in 1935/6, but we do not know the year of its demolition.
The first mention in the City Street Directories of Old Farm and Melrose Hall is in the 1931-32 edition and the first mention of The Grange is in the 1935-36 edition. Wilbury Grange as a block of flats is first mentioned in the 1937-38 edition. Twenty years were to elapse before Harewood Court was erected in the mid-1950s.
In 1936 the rest of the farm buildings were demolished to make way for Wilbury Grange. The original build reference is 9697 and the architect was Joseph Hill of Gordon Square, London WC1. The original framed ‘plan’ dated 1935 can be seen in the entrance hallway of Block 3.
The New Flats built in 1938
“Complete suites available at £110, £165, £195, £200 and £230 per annum, inclusive each with its own entrance hall, tiled bathroom with coloured porcelain bath and basin, well planned kitchens, etc.”
Wilbury Grange was first advertised in May 1937 in the local Brighton Herald newspaper as flats for rent (not for sale). Click here for images from the paper.
There was a restaurant in the space which is now the ground floor flats of blocks 2 & 3. Graves Son & Pilcher were the agents and the show flats were furnished by Chipperfield & Butler.
Lettings were obviously not going too well as the rents were reduced after a few months. The adverts stated:
“The flats have 9” walls which makes the rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. All fireplaces in the bedrooms are of a delightful modern design. All fireplaces in the bedrooms are of a delightful modern design. The fireplaces and balconies give a final note of distinction to the flats and all have delightful wind sheltered balconies, many overlooking the charming courtyard.”
At some stage, there were two uniformed doormen who lived on the premises in flats 19 and 35 and they were employed when the flats were put up for sale. Servants lived in the mansard flats on the seventh floor. It’s not exactly known when the flats were put up for sale, but it was after World War II.
Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited incorporated 2004
In 1985 the Freehold interest was acquired, for an undisclosed amount, by a Mr. M M. Fain, a client of Carlyon Property Management (thought to be the former name of Playfield Properties at the same address.) At the same the leaseholders were offered the opportunity to extend their leases from 99 to 999 years for £500 plus £80+VAT for legal costs.
In June 2003, the Residents Committee decided to change managing agents because they were very dissatisfied with the management of Wilbury Grange by Playfield Properties. Despite a well prepared case presented to the Tribunal, the case was lost on a technicality.
Not being deterred, the Resident’s Committee decided to apply to buy the freehold which had become possible due to the 1993 Leasehold Reform Housing & Urban Development Act (as amended by the Housing Act 1996 and the Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002). After a Tribunal hearing the freehold for Wilbury Grange was purchased for £236,381 on 10th January 2006 by Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited, which was originally incorporated on 12th July 2004 with company registration number 5177373.
In any one has any information to add to our History page please contact us.
Wilbury Grange (Hove) Ltd 