Portslade in the Past: The Stonery, Portslade

31 March 2022

The Stonery, Portslade

Judy Middleton (2002 revised 2022)

copyright © Brighton & Hove City Libraries
Samuel Godsmark was responsible for building this house known as Stone Hall or Stone House and as The Stonery in later years.

The Stonery was a small farm and market garden situated north east of where North Lane is today. It was most probably named after an area called Stoney Field mentioned in 1759 when a pauper was set to work there picking up stones; the stones being the ubiquitous flints that had the strange habit of working themselves up to the surface, thus giving some old-timers the notion that they grew, like a crop.

Samuel Godsmark (1773-1829) was a man of unusual strength and stature and rented some land at Portslade that he farmed. His residence was more than a mere cottage because he built his own house, which according to his son James Godsmark was called Stone Hall (or Stone House).

James Godsmark, who went on to become a fiery preacher and the author, also states the house was ‘near the pleasant little village of Portslade’ rather than in the village. The house later became known as the Stonery.

By 1841 John Borrer owned Stonery, which was rented to 60-year old Reuben Reed who lived in Stonery Cottage with his 40-year old wife Ann, their son Thomas, a 24-year old market gardener, and Edward Peters, a 25-year old agricultural labourer.

By 1851 it was clear there were two residences with the main one upgraded to Stonery House while the labourers lived at Stonery. Reuben Reed was still in charge in 1851 and he employed eight men including Thomas Dunstable who lived with his wife, two sons and a daughter plus a lodger at Stonery. It appears that Reuben’s son Thomas had met with an accident or an illness because he was described in the census as an invalid living with his parents.

In 1861 the census enumerator placed both residences under one heading. By then 80-year old Reuben Reed had retired from his labours and had saved enough to be able to live on his own means with his wife. It was 39-year old William Peters who was running the place. He was described as a farmer employing three men and three boys. He lived with his wife Maria, aged 39, and their children Ruth 15, Frank 6, Annie 4, and one-year old Georgina. Edward Peters a 46-year old gardener also lived there with his wife Ann aged 30 and their children Stephen 19, Edward 17, Eli 13, David 12 and 11-month old Agnes plus James Standen and his family and Henry Hills and his family, the men being identified as agricultural labourers.

By 1871 William and Ruth Reed were the proud parents of four sons and three daughters and the married agricultural labourers occupying Stonery were James Standing, John Stone, Thomas Olliver and Mr Reed.

copyright © J.Middleton
North House Farmhouse is set amongst trees while the Stonery is the building facing south amidst its market gardens. Foredown Hospital is on the hill above these buildings.

The 1881 census provides additional information in that Stonery consisted of 60 acres. William Reed now employed eight men and two boys and he was assisted by two of his sons 25-year old Frank and 14-year old Albert Edward. But William George, aged 16, was a carpenter while 21-year old Georgina and 19-year old Hariette were unmarried and still living at home; there is no mention of the rest of the brood.

British Bee Journal 1 August 1885

By 1891 market gardener William Reed was a 69-year old widower sharing his home with his daughter Georgina and his 14-year old grand-daughter Kitty Berry. The Reeds were associated with Stonery from at least 1841 until 1901. When William Reed retired, he went to live in his daughter’s house at Hove and died aged 82 in 1905.

John Broomfield (1868-1942) acquired the tenancy and moved into the house at Stonery in around 1905; in 1922 the Broomfields made some alterations to the property. By 1960 John Broomfield’s son A.J. Broomfield was the occupant. The house was demolished in around 1968.

Sources

Census returns

J.Middleton Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade
Mr G. Osborne
Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Information from Ken Broomfield and the late John Broomfield.

Copyright © J.Middleton 2022
page layout and additional research by D. Sharp