Bevendean History Project
Upper Bevendean Farm
The
1838 tithe map showed Bevendean Farm as a farm of 693 acres, but there
was no sign of Upper Bevendean Farm or any other farms in the area.
An 1873 map shows Bevendean Farm (Lower), Upper Bevendean Farm with farmhouse, garden and buildings in a yard, the map also shows Hill Cottage with house, buildings and yard. This suggests that the farmhouse at Upper Bevendean was built between 1838 and 1873, possibly about 1860, which fits with a description that it is a Victorian building.
An 1873 map shows Bevendean Farm (Lower), Upper Bevendean Farm with farmhouse, garden and buildings in a yard, the map also shows Hill Cottage with house, buildings and yard. This suggests that the farmhouse at Upper Bevendean was built between 1838 and 1873, possibly about 1860, which fits with a description that it is a Victorian building.
Upper Bevendean Farm unknown date
By 1898 the farms shown on a map of the area include Bevendean Farm,
Upper Bevendean Farm, Heath Hill Farm and Hill Cottage, later called
Cambridgeshire farm.
The 1891 census placed Albert West and his wife on Upper Norton farm with Albert’s father Thomas and mother Sarah. At the outbreak of the last war, during the occupation of the South Downs by the military all the Buildings at Balsdean and Norton Farms were destroyed.
In 1901 the farmer at Upper Bevendean Farm was Albert West aged 36 years with his wife Ellen, two sons and three daughters.
In 1911 the census lists Albert West aged 45, farmer, his wife Ellen aged 45, a son Frederick working on the farm plus two more sons and three daughters at school. The household also contained a female servant living in a house with 8 rooms. The youngest son Harold eventually took over the farm.
In another house with three rooms lived James Sullivan aged 48, Cowman on the farm, his wife Kate and a lodger Charles Vigars aged 60 a widower also a Cowman on the farm.
Purchase of Upper Bevendean Farm
Albert West bought Upper Bevendean Farm in 1913 from the estate of the late Steyning Beard, Squire of Rottingdean.
Upper Bevendean Farm as described in the Auction sale catalogue in 1912.
UPPER BEVENDEAN FARMThe 1891 census placed Albert West and his wife on Upper Norton farm with Albert’s father Thomas and mother Sarah. At the outbreak of the last war, during the occupation of the South Downs by the military all the Buildings at Balsdean and Norton Farms were destroyed.
In 1901 the farmer at Upper Bevendean Farm was Albert West aged 36 years with his wife Ellen, two sons and three daughters.
In 1911 the census lists Albert West aged 45, farmer, his wife Ellen aged 45, a son Frederick working on the farm plus two more sons and three daughters at school. The household also contained a female servant living in a house with 8 rooms. The youngest son Harold eventually took over the farm.
In another house with three rooms lived James Sullivan aged 48, Cowman on the farm, his wife Kate and a lodger Charles Vigars aged 60 a widower also a Cowman on the farm.
Purchase of Upper Bevendean Farm
Albert West bought Upper Bevendean Farm in 1913 from the estate of the late Steyning Beard, Squire of Rottingdean.
Upper Bevendean Farm as described in the Auction sale catalogue in 1912.
This farm has an area of about 213 Acres of
Arable and enclosed Pasture Land, with extensive Frontages to the main
Road from Falmer to Rottingdean, and to the Drove Road.
HOUSE
Brick and stucco-built and slated, nicely
situated on high ground facing South, and containing the following
accommodation: Porch; Entrance Hall; Sitting Room, fitted with slow
combustion stove with marble mantel and sides and two dwarf cupboards;
Kitchen or Living Room, fitted with range and cupboards; Scullery;
Larder; Dairy; Wash-house; Four Bedrooms and Dressing Room; Outside
W.C.; Woodshed and Tool House.
THE FARM BUILDINGS
Are conveniently situated, and include a
flint and brick-built and slated Cart Horse Stable for six horses, with
Cowshed for 18 cows adjoining, six large Pig Pounds, a flint and
brick-built with boarded and felt roof Cowshed for 28 cows, two lean-to
Cowsheds for 12 cows. Large brick and flint-built and slated BARN (the
internal division and floor of this Barn is the property of the
Tenant), Implement or Cart Shed. Engine House and another Pig Pound
adjoining the Barn. Flint and brick-built and boarded felt roof Loose
Box and Coach-house. Lean-to Potato Shed. Large enclosed
Yard. A good pond of water. Water is also laid on from the
Brighton Waterworks.
PAIR OF GOOD COTTAGES
Brick and flint and stucco-built and slated,
each containing: - Living Room; Scullery; Four Bedrooms; outside joint
Wash-house. Large Gardens.
The Farm is mostly in the occupation of Mr. Albert West, who has kept a large herd of dairy cows, and the land has been well cultivated.
Sale of Upper Bevendean Farm
On 29 Jan 1940 Harold West, by then the owner of Upper Bevendean Farm, sold the farm to Brighton Corporation. Brighton Corporation then leased the farm back to Harold West. The Council bought up land all round Brighton to protect its water supply. The council claimed they never had to purify the water because it filtered through the chalk.
Colin West took over the farm before retiring about 1995. His son Stuart now runs the farm.
See Colin and Margaret West’s Memories of Upper Bevendean Farm in people’s stories.
The Farm is mostly in the occupation of Mr. Albert West, who has kept a large herd of dairy cows, and the land has been well cultivated.
Sale of Upper Bevendean Farm
On 29 Jan 1940 Harold West, by then the owner of Upper Bevendean Farm, sold the farm to Brighton Corporation. Brighton Corporation then leased the farm back to Harold West. The Council bought up land all round Brighton to protect its water supply. The council claimed they never had to purify the water because it filtered through the chalk.
Colin West took over the farm before retiring about 1995. His son Stuart now runs the farm.
See Colin and Margaret West’s Memories of Upper Bevendean Farm in people’s stories.
