Portslade in the Past: Portslade Town Hall

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2023)

copyright © D. Sharp
The former Portslade Town Hall in 2019, now under the control of the Brighton & Hove City Council and serves as a Council meeting venue, Housing Office, Sussex Police Community Hub and rooms for hire for local groups

Portslade was never in possession of a custom-built Town Hall, and early meetings were held at different venues, including Portslade Fire Station, and the Parish Room, popularly known as the Tin Hut, situated at the junction of St Andrew’s Road and Church Road. Later on there were quarters at 15 Station Road. In 1909 Portslade Council started to look around for another site for a Town Hall. The favoured place was in St Aubyn’s Road, and the council surveyor produced a sketch plan of how the Congregational Church Hall might be converted to a Town Hall. But the councillors must have been left aghast when they heard that the price of such a scheme was £4,500, and no more was heard about such a venture. Instead, they stayed firmly at Station Road, expanding in size when more office space was needed.

Ronuk Hall

However, the long wait for a proper Town Hall was amply rewarded in 1959 with the acquisition of the stately edifice called the Ronuk Hall. The foundation stone of Ronuk Hall and Welfare Institute, as it was originally known, was laid way back in 1927 when Miss Marion Elizabeth Chignell performed the honour on 28 July. Robert Chignell had been one of Ronuk’s original directors, and the Misses Chignall generously decided to denote the funds for the building as a fitting memorial to the memory of their father. The architect employed for the project was Gilbert M. Simpson, and the local firm of Cook’s undertook the building work. Things moved fast in those days, and the building was finished and open in 1928.

copyright © Brighton & Hove City Libraries
The workers dined in comfort in the Great Hall, with the Michell and Tyne organ in the background.

The main hall was splendid, with a balustraded gallery at the north and south sides, and there was a stage too. Above the stage, an organ was installed dating from 1885 that had been built by Michell and Tyne. The hall was used for all sorts of events from socials and dances, to billiards and badminton. It was also utilised as a dining room where both workers and managers sat down in comfort to eat their lunch. Ronuk was one of those philanthropic companies that cared about their workers, and provided all sorts of amenities and activities for them.

A Town Hall

In 1955 Captain Irvine Bately designed the
handsome badge of office worn by
Chairmen of Portslade UDC.

Portslade Urban District Council forked out £36,500 in order to purchase Ronuk Hall. It was not as bad as it sounds because they had managed to sell the old council buildings in Station Road at auction for £31,500. Bob Shields officially opened Portslade Town Hall on 2 September 1959, and a plaque was installed to commemorate the occasion.

The building behind Ronuk Hall was re-constructed at a cost of £19,640-6-9d to house council offices. There were ambitious plans too, such as the construction of a four-rink bowling green for £1,776. But it seems more likely that the old bowling green at the side from Ronuk times was retained, with another added later on. It is interesting to note that the bowling greens remained in active use until this century; in 2013 the council decided to sell off surplus land, including the second bowling green. Perhaps prospective developers considered the site too small to be viable, and both greens plus the council offices were destined for removal. By 2020 building work on new housing was well under way. However, Portslade bowlers were not forgotten, and will be able to enjoy a brand-new clubhouse and a bowling green made of artificial grass in Victoria Recreation Ground.

During the Second World War, Portslade Town Hall was pressed into patriotic use by becoming a British Restaurant. This meant that ordinary folk could afford to enjoy a reasonably-priced meal, although of course in those days, there were no luxuries, only essentials, there being stringent rationing of foodstuffs.

Portslade Town Hall was officially re-opened on 11 June 2014 by the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Brian and Mrs Fitch. There had been renovation work because the old offices had been demolished to make way for housing and thus the rooms on the west side would be shared by the Housing Department and the Neighbourhood Policing Team; the Purple Kitchen Foodbank would operate on a Friday. There were still rooms for public use, and, sensibly, the hall was now called Ronuk Hall.

Naming the Committee Rooms

After the refurbishment of Portslade Town Hall into offices for Brighton & Hove City Council, there was a ceremonial opening on 11 June 2014 by the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs Fitch. Portslade councillor Les Hamilton was somewhat concerned when he was unable to spot the plaque that recorded the original opening on 2 September 1959 by Bob Shields. Fortunately, upon making enquiries, he was told the plaque was still in the council’s hands and would be re-instated, along with the board containing a list of all the chairman of Portslade UDC. Les Hamilton stated that it was important to keep these historical links.

On this same day, a curious event took place to choose names for the committee rooms. The eventual names chosen were baffling, to say the least – they were Bernard Norris Butcher, and Novas Portas. Butcher was a First World War hero and recipient of the Military Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal. A valiant soldier indeed, but he had absolutely no connection with Portslade – he was a Hove man. Butcher was born on 23 June 1892 at Livingstone Road, Hove, he was educated at the Ellen Street Schools, Hove, his parents lived at 161 Westbourne Street, Hove, and he was buried in Hove Cemetery. Moreover, his name appears in the List of Distinctions in Hove and the Great War by H. M. Walbrook published in 1920.

It would have been more democratic to put the issue to a wider circle. A genuine Portslade-born and Portslade-bred man should have been selected and the most eminent and obvious candidate is Walter Baddeley, who was decorated for his services in both world wars, being Mentioned in Despatches (four times) he was also awarded the Military Cross (twice) and the United States Medal of Freedom with Palm – a rare distinction.

Amanda Jane Scales writing in the North Portslade Community Newspaper (October/November 2014) asserts that Butcher’s connection with Portslade was being landlord of the Battle of Trafalgar pub. But this is not backed up by facts, and indeed dipping into local Street Directories reveals that the Diplocks had a long tenancy at the pub with A. J. Diplock running the pub until the 1920s, and after that from around 1930 to the 1950s Mrs A. M. Diplock was the landlady.

It is now obvious with the latest research by another Portslade resident, that there was no link with the Portslade pub at all. Although Butcher’s wife Mrs A. L. Butcher was living at the Battle of Trafalgar Hotel at the time of her husband’s death, it was not the Portslade pub, which has never been classed as an hotel in its 150 year history, but the one in Guildford Road, Brighton. Probably the mistake arose because the Hove Cemetery Register gave the final part of the address as Portslade, Brighton. But the compiler has crossed out Brighton, when it was Portslade that should have been crossed out. In any case, Butcher was a professional soldier, having joined the colours in 1907; he was still in the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1921 and serving in the garrison at Jamaica, when he was taken ill. He returned to be treated at Plymouth Military Hospital where he died the same year.

In the newly-published book by Kevin Newman entitled A-Z of Brighton and Hove, Bernard Norris Butcher is featured under Hove (Old) Cemetery, and Amanda Jane Scales appears under acknowledgements for her research into Butcher. The Battle of Trafalgar pub is not mentioned. Newman does not seem to query why a solider buried in Hove Cemetery should have had a room named after him in Portslade Town Hall, which fact is reported in the first paragraph as if to add support to the disproved theory. Then follows a detailed description of Butcher’s heroic conduct, about which there is, of course, no quibble. In the concluding paragraph Newman writes that Butcher was deserving of the Victoria Cross, and then states ‘Portslade would have its own holder of the VC.’ Butcher’s connection with Portslade is therefore presented as fact. In addition, the book was promoted by a two-page spread in the Argus (30 July 2020).

The name of Novus Portus is also somewhat startling – what relevance does it have to Portslade? Some people might assume it is a reference to the Roman Portus Adurni, which was once believed to be at Aldrington, but this theory has long since been disproved. Perhaps some learned cove chose it to signify new beginnings, thus the Latin Novas portus pandimus et post nos occludimus (We should open new doors and close the ones behind us). But that does not mean shutting the doors on Portslade’s own local history.

Barrie Huntbach

Although strictly speaking Barrie was not born at Portslade, he arrived at the age of three months and spent the rest of his life here. His father, Francis Huntbach, was one of three young men from Nottingham who set up Shepherd’s Industries in Davigdor Road, Hove, where they stayed until 1937, and then moved to the Brewery in Portslade Old Village. Shepherd’s Industries manufactured high-class shirts at first, and Francis Huntbach’s particular skill was as an engineer for textile machinery. A fascinating fact is that the Huntbach lace-making firm in Nottingham created the lace for Princess Diana’s wedding dress in 1981. (In a strange case of synchronicity, the last sentence was typed on 29 July 2020, the anniversary of the wedding).

Barrie Huntbach caught diphtheria as a child, and had to be isolated in Foredown Hospital, as was the custom in those days. He also had the misfortune to lose the sight in his left eye due to an accident as a youngster. Childhood illnesses plus the difficulties imposed by wartime conditions meant that he missed out on aspects of his education. However, as a young man he enrolled in various evening classes, including those held at Sellaby House by sculptor Jenny Wigsall.

In 1971, at the age of 36, Barrie was commissioned by Portslade Council to paint a mural for Portslade Town Hall. The Council agreed to pay him the grand sum of £15 for his labours, and arranged for three block-wood panels to be delivered to his house. But before the decision was made, Portslade councillors were given the opportunity of inspecting some of his work. It must be said that some councillors did not know quite what to make of his modernistic style. Mr R. Shield could not understand it, and wanted to know what it meant, while Alfred Robinson was ‘just horrified’. But Nina Blowes thought such a painting would put Portslade on the map, and Peter Gladwin commented, ‘Mr Huntbach is obviously an artist with potential. I think we should give him a chance.’

The mural was hung in the entrance hall, but was later moved to the main hall. The theme of the painting was the Prodigal Son with local references such as St Nicolas, the name and date of Portes Ladda 1086, driftwood imagery from the beach, and a cockerel to represent Cockroost Hill and the Downs. Another of Barrie’s works in Portslade is a 25-ft mural for Emmaus, placed in the old laundry building, and which actress Dora Bryan unveiled in February 1999.

In 1976 John Armstrong, the well-known Hove artist, invited Barrie to join the Society of Catholic Artists. The group has exhibited widely, and Barrie has also exhibited his works independently.

In 1960 Barrie got married, the young couple living first at St Andrew’s Road, and then in Stonery Close. There were four children of the marriage, all Portslade-born, and educated at St Mary’s R. C. School, and Cardinal Newman School, before going on to university. It is of local interest that daughter Paula Huntbach was employed in 1991 by Hove Council to run the Countryside Centre at Foredown Tower.

Barrie died in 2006 and his funeral was held at St George’s Church, Hangleton.

See The Artwork of Barrie Huntbach to learn more about his life and art

The Theatre Organ

In 1987 David Houlgate, together with a band of enthusiastic volunteers, began work on the mammoth task of creating a theatre organ in Portslade Town Hall. It was not a simple task because the instrument was a hybrid – that is, it was made up of components from three different instruments. The purchase of these separate organs had been an act of faith because no home had yet been identified. It was stated that several churches had expressed an interest, and Councillor Baron Saunders thought the King Alfred Ballroom might be a suitable place; then he suggested Portslade Town Hall, and it turned out to be an ideal site. Councillor Saunders helped greatly in making this come about.

In the 1980s David Houlgate and Michael Maine jointly purchased a nine-rank Christie organ that had formerly been the glory of the Queen’s Cinema. Cricklewood. It had been installed in 1929 and removed in 1960. By the time Houlgate and Maine discovered it, it was ‘languishing unplayed and unloved in a church in Eastbourne’.

A year or so later, there came news of a nine-rank Compton organ for sale. This one had been installed in the Regal Cinema, Ilford, in 1937, and was originally a six-rank organ embellished with an illuminated jelly-mould surround to the console. In 1972 the instrument was removed from the cinema and installed in Finchley Methodist Church – it will come as no surprise to learn that the jelly-mould surround was not considered suitable for its new surroundings. This organ was purchased complete with all the traps and console – the latter being particularly useful because the Christie organ lacked one.

The third instrument was a ten-rank organ that was installed in 1929 in the Castle Cinema, Merthyr

Tydfil. This organ was a pioneer in its field, being the first and finest theatre organ in Wales. The console had a beautiful sun-burst surround. The celebrated organist Gene Lynn used to play this organ, and its music was often broadcast on the radio. The organ was removed in 1954 and stored, and it was still in store when it was purchased.

The original organ in Portslade Town Hall was removed, and the handsome oak case brought forward. There were three chambers for the organ – main, solo, and percussion. There were an incredible 700 wires between the console and the organ loft. But this was only a temporary measure because it was hoped that eventually all the action would be controlled electronically.

The South Coast Theatre Organ Society was formed in February 1988 as a vehicle for promoting organ concerts. The first concert was held in May 1988. By 2002 the 14^th season of concerts was under way. It is sad to report that gradually the concerts were being staged at a loss, and Houlgate nobly stepped in to subsidise them for a while but of course such a situation could not continue. The organ was finally removed in 2016.

But all was not lost, and Portslade’s loss was Ditchling’s gain. It is now housed in bespoke surroundings, and is currently being fitted with a prestigious console that came from a Compton organ in Wimbledon Town Hall. It is also not on its own because nearby are two other organs – a small two-manual organ designed for use in domestic surroundings for the organ-building Hill family, formerly resident in a chapel at Chailey Heritage; the other instrument being a Father Willis organ rescued from St Patrick’s Church, Hove. Also to be found are some lovely railings designed by W. Bainbridge Reynolds, and salvaged from St Anne’s Church, Brighton. All these are in a privately-owned building constructed in the style of a mediaeval barn, and designed by Joe Thompson of the Weald & Downland Museum. (Many thanks to Revd Michael Maine for supplying these fascinating details).

Michael Maine is well-known in musical circles. He was born in Cornwall, and music has long been a vital part of his life, starting off as a choral scholar at Truro Cathedral. By coincidence, Truro Cathedral was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, the same architect who designed All Saints Church, Hove, at which Maine became organist and choirmaster at the early age of 23.

He had moved to the Brighton area in 1976, and was previously to be found at St Paul’s Church, West Street, Brighton. It was quite a feat to land the post at All Saints because there were 30 other applicants. Maine revelled in playing the famous William Hill organ at All Saints, regarded as one of the firm’s greatest instruments. There were no less than 63 stops and 3,000 pipes. He also became Head of the Lower School and Musical Director at St Christopher’s School in Church Road, Hove. Later on, he began to study for the priesthood, and became a deacon in 2011 and a priest in 2012; on 26 February 2015 he was inducted to Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield.

New Buildings

The ground to the west of the Town Hall, which formerly was home to council offices and Portslade Bowls Club, is to be used for much-needed social housing. The Bowls Club has been adequately provided for because they have a new artificial green in Victoria Park not to mention a new sports pavilion. Now it is the turn of new housing.

This new housing scheme is ticking all the right boxes in terms of up-to-date technology. For example, it could not come at a better time with the cost of heating homes set to soar because of the energy crisis, to learn that the fortunate inhabitants of the flats would have low energy bills. This is because there are to be ground-source heat-pumps – a first in the city’s housing history. Council officials will be undertaking a full carbon assessment of the scheme so that lessons can be learned, and will go towards the council’s carbon neutral targets for 2030.

Another fascinating detail is that there will be six ‘living walls’ on the flats with re-cycled rain water keeping them green. Trees will also be planted in the new civic outdoor space with grass and seating.

There will be 42 affordable homes, ranging, from one and two bedrooms flats to some flats having three bedrooms. These flats will only be let to people who are already on the council’s housing register.

It was in early 2021 that building work started, and it is scheduled to be completed by the Autumn of 2023. Meanwhile, in December 2021 an old-fashioned topping out ceremony was held to celebrate the final beam being laid on top of the structure by Councillor David Gibson and Councillor Sirol Hugh-Jones, the co-chairs of the housing committee. (Argus 10/12/21)

Jay Court and Perching Court are built on the site of the former Portslade Housing Department Offices and Portslade Bowls Club. ‘Perching’ is the name of the lost medieval village situated on the Downs, north of Mile Oak in the Parish of Edburton. Photograph taken on 3 March 2023.

In March 2023 it was reported that the first residents would be able to move in later that month. The names of the new flats are Jay Court and Perching Court. Another interesting feature of the new development besides ‘living walls’ is the inclusion of bee bricks and bat boxes. All very green indeed. The house-building is a joint venture between Brighton & Hove City Council and developers Morgan Sindall – Guy Hannell, area director of the latter, commented ‘It is an exciting moment for everyone involved in the Victoria Road project.’ (Argus 20/3/23)

Sources

Brighton & Hove City Libraries
Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

North Portslade Community Newspaper (April/May 2013 / August/September 2014 / October/November 2014)

01 September 2020

Portslade Town Hall