Moulsecoomb - Bevendean History Project
Development of the Moulsecoomb estate
The Moulsecoomb Estate
In July 1918 Brighton Corporation agreed to
purchase land from the Moulsecoomb estate, an area of 424½
acres. At this time the Downland was outside the Brighton boundary and
therefore part of East Sussex. The purchase was completed after the end
of the First World War.
Moulsecoomb was Brighton’s first large scale housing estate and the initial development commenced in 1920 when work started on the roads and drainage of the area known as South Moulsecoomb. The building of 478 houses began with 6 sites reserved for shops.
Development of Moulsecoomb in the 1920s
In February 1922 the question of schools for Moulsecoomb was raised. As Moulsecoomb was outside the Brighton Borough boundary, the Brighton education authority refused to build schools on the estate. The Corporation argued that the East Sussex authorities should provide them and that Moulsecoomb children could not attend Brighton schools.
However in December 1923 East Sussex County Council agreed that Moulsecoomb should be transferred to become part of Brighton; Brighton would then be responsible for the school accommodation.
The Wild Park at Moulsecoomb was officially opened on 30th June 1925 and comprised some 670 acres of open space.
Moulsecoomb ‘junior mixed’ school for boys and girls aged 5 - 11 was opened by Lord Burnham on Monday, 25th April 1927.
The remainder of the Moulsecoomb Estate was taken within the boundaries of the Brighton Corporation during 1928. In December 1929 a library opened in Moulsecoomb Place.
The North Moulsecoomb estate of 390 houses, followed in 1926 - 30, on 46 acres acquired in October 1925, but was developed to a higher density than South Moulsecoomb.
The Moulsecoomb Senior School was opened on Friday 17th October 1930.
Further Developments in the 1930s, 40s and 50s
In the early 1930s, the corporation extended its housing along the Bevendean valley with 85 - 123 and 110 - 120 The Avenue and Manton Rd. As this was on land previously belonging to Lower Bevendean Farm, these new houses were known as the Bevendean estate.
The East Moulsecoomb housing estate from Hodshrove Rd and Birdham Rd to Moulsecoomb Way was built by the Brighton Corporation on part of a 300-acre estate, which was purchased in December 1935 and was opened in 1937.
Moulsecoomb was completed in the late 1940s and the 1950s with the Halland Road area and the flats of the West Moulsecoomb or Bates Estate, on the site of the Bates Nursery being built.
Moulsecoomb was Brighton’s first large scale housing estate and the initial development commenced in 1920 when work started on the roads and drainage of the area known as South Moulsecoomb. The building of 478 houses began with 6 sites reserved for shops.
Development of Moulsecoomb in the 1920s
In February 1922 the question of schools for Moulsecoomb was raised. As Moulsecoomb was outside the Brighton Borough boundary, the Brighton education authority refused to build schools on the estate. The Corporation argued that the East Sussex authorities should provide them and that Moulsecoomb children could not attend Brighton schools.
However in December 1923 East Sussex County Council agreed that Moulsecoomb should be transferred to become part of Brighton; Brighton would then be responsible for the school accommodation.
The Wild Park at Moulsecoomb was officially opened on 30th June 1925 and comprised some 670 acres of open space.
Moulsecoomb ‘junior mixed’ school for boys and girls aged 5 - 11 was opened by Lord Burnham on Monday, 25th April 1927.
The remainder of the Moulsecoomb Estate was taken within the boundaries of the Brighton Corporation during 1928. In December 1929 a library opened in Moulsecoomb Place.
The North Moulsecoomb estate of 390 houses, followed in 1926 - 30, on 46 acres acquired in October 1925, but was developed to a higher density than South Moulsecoomb.
The Moulsecoomb Senior School was opened on Friday 17th October 1930.
Further Developments in the 1930s, 40s and 50s
In the early 1930s, the corporation extended its housing along the Bevendean valley with 85 - 123 and 110 - 120 The Avenue and Manton Rd. As this was on land previously belonging to Lower Bevendean Farm, these new houses were known as the Bevendean estate.
The East Moulsecoomb housing estate from Hodshrove Rd and Birdham Rd to Moulsecoomb Way was built by the Brighton Corporation on part of a 300-acre estate, which was purchased in December 1935 and was opened in 1937.
Moulsecoomb was completed in the late 1940s and the 1950s with the Halland Road area and the flats of the West Moulsecoomb or Bates Estate, on the site of the Bates Nursery being built.
More on the development of the Moulsecoomb Housing Estate
