Portslade in the Past: Portslade Motor Racing Track

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2019)

copyright © Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Brighton's association with motor racing dates back to 1905 when the first speed trials were held in Madeira Drive. This annual event, organised by the Brighton & Hove Motor Club became an important meeting in the British motor racing calendar.

The scheme for a motor racing track on the Downs at Portslade was first mooted in 1926 when Brighton Corporation endeavoured to lease land for that purpose. It would of course have affected Mile Oak Farm, but they owned that already.

The above text is a copy of an article that appeared
in Motor Sport (magazine) in January 1927

At first there was only to be one approach to the motor racing track from Portslade. But at a later stage the promoters opened negotiations with owners of land on the north side of the proposed track for permission to construct a road in the neighbourhood of Devil’s Dyke. It is interesting to note that the owners of this land were the Commissioners of Crown Lands.

Both schemes were dropped, but revived again the following year. The matter was considered to be of such importance as to be mentioned in The Times (27 July 1928). Apparently, Brighton Council proposed to build not just a motor racing track, but an aerodrome as well.

It is pleasant to record that even in those days there were people keen to preserve the beauty of the Downs for future generations. In this case it was the Society of Sussex Downsmen who resisted Brighton’s grandiose scheme, and the powerful Alderman Carden was very annoyed at their opposition. He grumbled that really it was going too far. Alderman Carden could not understand the lack of enthusiasm for the scheme because as he noted ‘Brooklands is a flat track while this winds in and out and up and down with hairpin bends.’ The scheme would require capital of £175,000 of which at least £80,000 would be spent locally on the construction of the track. It was hoped that the track would be open by the following Easter. An amendment to refer the scheme back was defeated by 40 votes to sixteen.

Meanwhile, Portslade Council had gone ahead with its Town Planning Scheme, which had been started before there was any suggestion of a motor racing track. This meant that the promoters had to apply to Portslade Council for an Interim Development Order before they could proceed. Once again, all the plans came to nothing.

copyright © D. Sharp
In the plans of the Brighton & Hove Racing Club Ltd this ancient trackway crossing Foredown Hill and Mount Zion would have become a two lane highway for access to the Motor Racing Circuit with two separate spectator car-parks and an aerodrome on the north side of Mount Zion.

In 1933 the Society of Sussex Downsmen were horrified to learn that plans for a motor racing track had been revived. It seems that, fearing opposition, the matter had been kept quiet. By the time the Society had got wind of what was going on, and written their objections to Brighton Council, negotiations had been in progress for some time already. These negotiations were with the Waterworks Committee in order to secure a 42-year lease on some 1,000 acres of Downland, of which 450 acres would be enclosed for a track and buildings. In addition there would be a continuous 6-ft high fence, some three miles in length – the greater part to consist of close-mesh wire but a mile of it would be solid oak fencing. About two miles of fence would run alongside existing rights of way across two spurs of the Downs – along Mount Zion and Benfield Hill.

The racing track was envisaged as an ordinary metalled road, and it would be available to members of the public learning to drive. There was to be no racing between October and March, and only six meetings in the remaining months.

The Dyke Hotel would be north of the track, and Foredown Isolation Hospital at the south end. There would be a grandstand, and if a small clubhouse were to be erected, the roof was to be of rustic tiles, or thatched. The racing track was regarded as a potential asset, increasing the rateable value of the land as well as providing local employment. Sir Harry Preston was a whole-hearted supporter of the scheme.

The Sussex Daily News (27 October 1933) commented that the ‘beautiful hill known as Cock Roost’ did not come into the area the promoters contemplated acquiring. The newspaper also stated that ‘any desecration of the Downs has been done already’ by the installation of electricity pylons. The pylons are still a sore point to this day. Every so often there is talk about burying the vital cables instead but since the costs would be prohibitive, this solution is unlikely to take place any time soon.

In January 1934 there was a meeting of Portslade ratepayers when Mr L. A. Blackbourne, solicitor to the Motor Track Company, explained their proposals.

In February 1934 there was a public meeting held at Portslade at which a resolution was made to be passed on to Portslade Council. The resolution stated ‘that the proposed Motor Racing Track is detrimental to the general interests of the district and they request their representatives … to use every possible endeavour to prevent the construction of the Track.’

Albert Broomfield farmed land in Mile Oak and was also a Tory councillor on Portslade Council. Mr Broomfield was in favour of the racing track because he thought it would bring in all sorts of business to the area. But people who lived in the Benfield area were horrified at the prospect of a racing track, and told Mr Broomfield that if he continued to support the scheme, they would no longer vote for him. From then on Mr Broomfield was obliged to stand as an independent councillor.

On 2 March 1934 the General Purposes Committee of Portslade Council received a combined deputation from the promoters and Brighton Council.

On 6 March 1934 an extraordinary meeting of Portslade Council was held at which it was proposed that the application for interim permission to develop the motor racing track should not be granted. Nine councillors – including Andrew Melville, and Harry Parker – voted in favour of turning the scheme down. In fact there were only three Portslade councillors who were in favour of the track – they were A. J. Broomfield, A. Packham, and W. E. Phillips.

copyright © J. Middleton
In the plans of the Brighton & Hove Racing Club Ltd a two lane highway would have brought thousands of spectators close by the Foredown Isolation Hospital, which was purposely built in 1884 in this remote location, to quarantine infectious diseases. (The photograph shows Foredown Water Tower, the only building to survive the demolition of the hospital complex in 1989)

However, the matter went before Parliament, and the House of Lords gave their approval for the construction of a motor racing track, providing suitable restrictions were enforced.

The Society of Sussex Downsmen battled on, but it seemed their cause was hopeless. In January 1935 an agreement was signed between the promoters of the track – Brighton Road Racing Company – and Brighton & Hove Motor Club, which had 260 members.

In March 1935 the secretary of the company wrote to Shoreham Labour Exchange to inform them that 200 men would be required to start work in around three weeks time. This news must have caused something of a rumpus among the working men of Portslade because a short while afterwards it was stated that Portslade men would be given preference.

The Sussex Daily News (30 March 1935) reported that work had started on the track, and the contractors were Melville, Dunstan & Whitson. What then happened is something of a mystery, although it seems certain the track was never completed, but presumably a short stretch might have been laid out.

copyright © D. Sharp
‘This is the beautiful stretch of countryside that the Society of Sussex Downsmen and Portslade Council

fought to preserve from development.’

It is ironic in remembering the fight to save the Downs from development in the 1930s that only four years later the country was at war with Germany. The Government had no qualms in taking over the Downs at a time of grave national need. The Downs came under the control of the military, and were used as an Army training ground. Ordinary folk found their freedom to roam the Downs was abruptly curtailed, and since live ammunition was in use, it was a necessary precaution. It is interesting to note that these restrictions did not end with the declaration of peace but persisted until the 1950s. Even when ordinary people were once more able to walk upon the Downs, they were strongly advised to keep to footpaths. At Mile Oak Farm, the bomb disposal squad were frequent visitors because when ploughing got under way again, bombs or live ammunition would sometimes turn up.

Sources

Middleton J, Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade
Motor Sport (magazine) January 1927
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

Sussex Daily News (27 October 1933 / 30 March 1935)

The Times (27 July 1928)

The Keep

DO/A35/27 – Portslade Urban District Council Minutes 1932-1933

DO/A35/28 – Portslade Urban District Council Minutes 1933

DO/A35/29 – Portslade Urban District Council Minutes 1934

DO/A35/30 – Portslade Urban District Council Minutes 1934

DO/A35/31 – Portslade Urban District Council Minutes 1934-1935

27 July 2019

Portslade Motor Racing Track