Aldwick and the 'Sussex Riviera'

This graphic description referred to the area called the Victoria Park Estate, something that never came to full fruition when it was first planned in the 1870s.

The main result of this plan was Victoria Drive and the establishment of a post office in Charlwood Street, both of which still stand today.

Part of this dream comprised setting up a 'pleasant residential area and a shopping centre for West Bognor'.

In 1896 there were only two shops on the north side of Aldwick Road.

The main work commenced at the start of the 1900s on the north side of Aldwick Road between Charlwood Street and Nyewood Lane.

Early shops consisted of the Thomas Tregear, Nyewood Supply Stores and Mr C J West's fish and poultry shop. The first shop to be built on the south side of Aldwick Road was the dairy and tearooms of Cox's Dairy, on the corner of Park Road.

Mr Edward Cox already had a business in the High Street and opened his Aldwick shop in 1905.

In 1909, the Delmonico Tea Rooms were opened but, by 1912, this had become a chemist shop which was coupled with the Swiss Caf.

These two were housed under one roof and known as Le Chalet.

Principally, it was in 1910 that development really started in this area, when the land between Aldwick Road and the sea was auctioned off in 58 freehold plots. The first 13 plots were sold for 100 each, with the commencement of the parade in 1912.

It was in the 1850s that Bognor races was the fashionable place to be. The racecourse was on a field which was used for many sporting events, including cricket.

The area was in fact from Marine Parade to Nyewood Lane, with another boundary being Aldwick Road.

The owner of this land was Dr Alonzo Henry Stocker, from Craigweil House.

Today, the area is built over, principally by Stocker Road, which is now situated in an area once occupied by the grandstand.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures available (unless you know different) of the racecourse.

Between the 1840s and 1850s, during the summer months, horse racing took place on the beach and a race card still exists providing information on the various races, held on October 9, 1855.

Refreshment tents included the names of local caterers, one of which was Charles Pace, who at that time was the landlord of the Elephant and Castle in Steyne Street.

Another was John Edward Mant of The Wheatsheaf in West Street, which is today The Berkeley.

The race day would start at 9.30am with a regatta held before the main event of the day.

Residents would have much enjoyment in those days.

By the 1920s, more developments were taking place, as can be seen in the photo, showing just some of the shops and the post office on the corner of Charlwood Street.

By the early 1920s, much of the rest of the area remained as undeveloped agricultural fields between Bognor and Aldwick.

The area between the two villages then supported grazing cattle, as it had done for generations.

This, however, was soon to change as the Lord of the Manor of Aldwick, William H B Fletcher, started to sell parts of his estate. In 1927, he sold a 575-acre site, which was part of the Pagham Farm Estate, and this raised the sum of 29,000.

This sale also included a 100-acre site which today forms the Aldwick Bay Estate.

In 1928 a Bloomsbury development company commenced the creation of the modern Bay Estate, as we know it today.

Captain Allaway, the company owner, described the areas as '˜an outstanding example of land development'.

As you can imagine, with such a large development, there was a range of advertising literature available to encourage people to buy these new homes.

On offer was '˜The Aldwick Bay Estate which caters definitely for the town dweller who desires a nice type of seaside residence and for the retired wishing to reside in a peaceful neighbourhood, not invaded by trippers and charabanc parties, free from bands, pierott parties and the noise and hustle only too commonly associated with many seaside resorts in this country'.

Each house was designed to be elegant, individual and comfortable, combining many '˜labour saving features'.

Many of the new homes included large garages, partial central heating and south-facing verandas.

When the telephone cables were laid, unlike elsewhere, these were laid underground, to help maintain the appeal of the area.

The estate, which originally contained grass tennis courts and all-weather courts, combined with its location near to Goodwood, was also advertised as an ideal location for shooting.

The availability of Lord Leconfield's foxhounds which met nearby was another important aspect of the advertising that was sent to prospective owners.

The area also boasted that residents had access to their own safe and very quiet bathing beach.

Central to the estate from 1932 to 1972 was the Tithe Barn. Members were able to join in the riding school, partake in floodlit bathing, and play bridge. Regular dances were held on Saturday evenings and bank holidays.

During the second world war, RAF officers from Tangmere were made welcome at the numerous social activities held within the estate.

Sadly, in 1972, the Tithe Barn was sold with the tennis courts and bowling green for further development.

To many people, the Bay Estate has always been seen as a place for the rich to live and visit.

Over the years, many notable people have visited the estate, including film stars Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Jack Hawkins.

Royal visitors have also frequented the Bay Estate in recent years including the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Earl Spencer, father of Diana, Princess of Wales, who owned two homes on the estate.

The Bay Estate has developed and changed over the years, but still retains much of the original aims and aspirations of those early developers of this prestigious seaside estate, known originally as '˜The Sussex Riviera'.

The area we know today as Aldwick has had many faces over the years.