Tuesday, June 05, 2007
18th May. Part 2. Rottingdean.
It has occurred to me that people who don't know the world of Sussex might be put off by Rottingdean - it is not a pretty name, now I come to think of it.
Rottingdean is actually very pretty and interesting and has attracted people from the world of the arts to settle there - the most famous perhaps is Rudyard Kipling. There was also the artist, Byrne Jones and his granddaughter, the writer Angela Thirkell. There were others too.
One family who were born there and worked the land at Rottingdean were The Coppers, an interesting family of folk singers.
Many of my pictures come from web sites and old postcards.
I think that if you click on the map you can make it bigger.
Rottingdean is actually very pretty and interesting and has attracted people from the world of the arts to settle there - the most famous perhaps is Rudyard Kipling. There was also the artist, Byrne Jones and his granddaughter, the writer Angela Thirkell. There were others too.
One family who were born there and worked the land at Rottingdean were The Coppers, an interesting family of folk singers.
Many of my pictures come from web sites and old postcards.
I think that if you click on the map you can make it bigger.
The High Street runs from North to South - from the downland farms to the sea.
This postcard dates from 1896. The pier was designed to be a terminus for Volk's railway.
The spot where the elegant ladies are standing on the cliffs collapsed soon after this card was issued.
Later some of the buildings were lost too.
This card is dated 1913. Some years later the large building fell to the beach as the cliffs were further eroded.
It is to be hoped that the sea defence which is the Undercliff Walk will prevent further erosion. The main road - the A259 travels east west quite close to the edge of the cliffs.
Rudyard Kipling lived in a house called The Elms. His garden is now a public park.
This is the church lychgate.
As you can see this card is dated 1905. Kipling's house is to the right of the Lychgate.
The white house across the road was the home of Byrne Jones.
The card shows Rottingdean windmill on the hill above the village.
I don't think I have read any Angela Thirkell - and yet I think I would enjoy her work. Ashley's Liz is a fan.
