Moulsecoomb - Bevendean History Project
Development of the Moulsecoomb estate
BRIGHTON TOWN COUNCIL
GREAT LAND PURCHASE SCHEME
MOULSECOOMB ESTATE BOUGHT FOR £42,500
GREAT LAND PURCHASE SCHEME
MOULSECOOMB ESTATE BOUGHT FOR £42,500
An agenda of quite formidable length was considered by the
Brighton Town Council at their meeting on Thursday – the last
meeting before the council take their summer vacation. The Mayor
(Alderman Herbert Carden) presided.
A full report was now presented on the important scheme for purchasing the Moulsecoomb Estate. This, the most picturesque piece of country adjacent to Brighton, is immediately to the north of the town, and extends to both sides of the Lewes Road valley. It is 424 acres in extent. On the west it is bounded by the Hollingbury copse and golf links, which already belong to the Corporation. On the north it extends almost to Stanmer Park, and on the east it joins up with the Lower Bevendean Estate, also belonging to the Corporation. The completion of the purchase will therefore place the Corporation in possession of a wide, unbroken belt of land from the sea, on the road to Rottingdean, to the Ladies Mile.
The estate includes the mansion house, known as Moulsecoomb Place, and four modern cottages, about 310 acres of arable land, meadows, plantations and agricultural homesteads, and 108 acres of rabbit Warren and down land. The tenant of Moulsecoomb Place has an option of purchase.
The price for the whole is £42,500, and the subcommittee recommended the payment of this amount is fair and reasonable. Rents will bring in about £1,100 per annum.
Just to the north of the town, on the east side of Lewes Road, there is room for the building of 900 houses, at 12 houses to the acre. North of the railway line there is room for another 75. The subcommittee, who have been considering the matter, stated that they were impressed with the suitability for recreational purposes of that portion of the estate which adjoins Hollingbury Park, consisting as it does of down land of much natural beauty, and would recommend the appropriation of the same as a public wild park, to which direct access would be obtained from Lewes Road.
The subcommittee wish to engage the services of a town planning expert to advise them as to the best way of laying out the property.
The purchase cannot be completed until after the war, and until the purchases completed the present owner, Mr Rogers Tillstone, is to remain in the enjoyment of the rents and be paid by the Corporation the sum of £500 a year. The purchase when completed, will involve an annual payment in loan charges of £2500 year, of which about half will come back to the Corporation is rent.
The Council were now asked to approve of the scheme.
Sir John Otter explain that the present tenant of Moulsecoomb place as an option of purchase. There may be a difficulty about securing immediate possession of the Warren, but that difficulty is likely to be arranged. The estate will provide excellent sites for workmen’s houses such as are required. “If we buy this land we shall be practically master of the environment of the town. We shall tend to get rid of the tyranny of the speculative builders, whose actions are disastrous to the community. The amenities of our town have been tortured by the unlimited licence granted to anyone to build whatever he likes.”
Strongly supporting the proposal, Alderman Thomas Stamford said that he was greatly in favour of Brighton purchasing as much as possible of the land around it. Such a course is highly desirable in maintaining the attractions of Brighton as a town of permanent residence. He looked upon the purchase of the East Brighton estate with undiluted satisfaction, and this new purchase would be equally advantageous. Not only would it link up existing property of the Corporation; but it would also command the land on both sides of this important entrance to the town. No other site is so suitable for the erection of the workmen’s dwellings that must be built after the war. As to the cost of the land £100 an acre in all – he, speaking from his considerable experience, thought the charge reasonable. His own independent estimate of the value of the land worked out at exactly £42,000. “That must been an accident,” said the speaker, with his quiet humour, “but it is significant.”
Alderman Colbourne was sure that the opportunity was a splendid run, to be taken advantage of with eagerness. He wished it to be understood that a difficulty had arisen in regard to the possession of the Warren, and the Council must make it clear that they would sanction the purchase only on the understanding that they do get the Warren as originally agreed upon. Alderman Colbourne emphasise the value of the ground as a wild Park. He was sure that our descendants will thank the Council of 1918 for their foresight in securing to the town the most agreeable of its many parks or open spaces.
Mr Milner Black said that the land is in an ideal situation for the building of a beautiful garden suburb. As one who is keenly interested in these matters, he was delighted with the scheme.
Mr Campbell put in a plea for the timber, which had been sold not cut. To save those trees would be most desirable.
The Mayor said that the committee had that point under consideration.
Alderman Pankhurst said that it will be no fault of the committee if any trees are cut. They will save them if they can. He emphasised the necessity of the corporation insisting upon the terms proposed when the committee recommended the purchase.
Several other speakers made it clear that they would not agree to the purchase unless they could get the Warren. It is the picturesque part of the ground.
The council passed the report unanimously, including an addendum making it clear that the original conditions for securing the warrant are insisted upon.
A full report was now presented on the important scheme for purchasing the Moulsecoomb Estate. This, the most picturesque piece of country adjacent to Brighton, is immediately to the north of the town, and extends to both sides of the Lewes Road valley. It is 424 acres in extent. On the west it is bounded by the Hollingbury copse and golf links, which already belong to the Corporation. On the north it extends almost to Stanmer Park, and on the east it joins up with the Lower Bevendean Estate, also belonging to the Corporation. The completion of the purchase will therefore place the Corporation in possession of a wide, unbroken belt of land from the sea, on the road to Rottingdean, to the Ladies Mile.
The estate includes the mansion house, known as Moulsecoomb Place, and four modern cottages, about 310 acres of arable land, meadows, plantations and agricultural homesteads, and 108 acres of rabbit Warren and down land. The tenant of Moulsecoomb Place has an option of purchase.
The price for the whole is £42,500, and the subcommittee recommended the payment of this amount is fair and reasonable. Rents will bring in about £1,100 per annum.
Just to the north of the town, on the east side of Lewes Road, there is room for the building of 900 houses, at 12 houses to the acre. North of the railway line there is room for another 75. The subcommittee, who have been considering the matter, stated that they were impressed with the suitability for recreational purposes of that portion of the estate which adjoins Hollingbury Park, consisting as it does of down land of much natural beauty, and would recommend the appropriation of the same as a public wild park, to which direct access would be obtained from Lewes Road.
The subcommittee wish to engage the services of a town planning expert to advise them as to the best way of laying out the property.
The purchase cannot be completed until after the war, and until the purchases completed the present owner, Mr Rogers Tillstone, is to remain in the enjoyment of the rents and be paid by the Corporation the sum of £500 a year. The purchase when completed, will involve an annual payment in loan charges of £2500 year, of which about half will come back to the Corporation is rent.
The Council were now asked to approve of the scheme.
Sir John Otter explain that the present tenant of Moulsecoomb place as an option of purchase. There may be a difficulty about securing immediate possession of the Warren, but that difficulty is likely to be arranged. The estate will provide excellent sites for workmen’s houses such as are required. “If we buy this land we shall be practically master of the environment of the town. We shall tend to get rid of the tyranny of the speculative builders, whose actions are disastrous to the community. The amenities of our town have been tortured by the unlimited licence granted to anyone to build whatever he likes.”
Strongly supporting the proposal, Alderman Thomas Stamford said that he was greatly in favour of Brighton purchasing as much as possible of the land around it. Such a course is highly desirable in maintaining the attractions of Brighton as a town of permanent residence. He looked upon the purchase of the East Brighton estate with undiluted satisfaction, and this new purchase would be equally advantageous. Not only would it link up existing property of the Corporation; but it would also command the land on both sides of this important entrance to the town. No other site is so suitable for the erection of the workmen’s dwellings that must be built after the war. As to the cost of the land £100 an acre in all – he, speaking from his considerable experience, thought the charge reasonable. His own independent estimate of the value of the land worked out at exactly £42,000. “That must been an accident,” said the speaker, with his quiet humour, “but it is significant.”
Alderman Colbourne was sure that the opportunity was a splendid run, to be taken advantage of with eagerness. He wished it to be understood that a difficulty had arisen in regard to the possession of the Warren, and the Council must make it clear that they would sanction the purchase only on the understanding that they do get the Warren as originally agreed upon. Alderman Colbourne emphasise the value of the ground as a wild Park. He was sure that our descendants will thank the Council of 1918 for their foresight in securing to the town the most agreeable of its many parks or open spaces.
Mr Milner Black said that the land is in an ideal situation for the building of a beautiful garden suburb. As one who is keenly interested in these matters, he was delighted with the scheme.
Mr Campbell put in a plea for the timber, which had been sold not cut. To save those trees would be most desirable.
The Mayor said that the committee had that point under consideration.
Alderman Pankhurst said that it will be no fault of the committee if any trees are cut. They will save them if they can. He emphasised the necessity of the corporation insisting upon the terms proposed when the committee recommended the purchase.
Several other speakers made it clear that they would not agree to the purchase unless they could get the Warren. It is the picturesque part of the ground.
The council passed the report unanimously, including an addendum making it clear that the original conditions for securing the warrant are insisted upon.
From the Brighton & Hove Herald on 27 July 1918.
