Overview: Portslade Urban District Council
The Portslade Urban District Council (UDC) was the local government authority for Portslade-by-Sea, East Sussex, from 1898 to 1974. Operating as a second-tier authority under East Sussex County Council, it managed essential urban services during a period of rapid growth driven by the railway and coastal tourism.
Following the Local Government Act 1972, the council was abolished and absorbed into the Borough of Hove.
Formation and Early History
The Drive for Autonomy (1894–1897): Originally part of the Steyning East Rural District, Portslade residents felt underrepresented, holding only two of seven seats despite providing nearly half the population.
Establishment: Following a public inquiry at Hove Town Hall in 1895, the area was granted urban status. The first official meeting took place on 1 April 1898 with a high voter turnout of over 60%.
Boundary Changes: Initially covering only the urbanised southern parish (Copperas Gap), the district expanded in 1928 to include the northern rural village.
Early Priorities: Initial efforts focused on public health and sanitation, such as replacing unsafe privies and securing dedicated administrative premises.
Key Functions and Community Impact
The UDC was responsible for the infrastructure that shaped modern Portslade:
Housing and Planning
Post-War Development: Oversaw a boom in council housing, including 42 dwellings in 1956 and several flat complexes in 1959.
Strategic Growth: Managed the development of Valley Road (1935) and identified over 55 acres of land near Drove Road for housing expansion.
Parks and Recreation
Victoria Recreation Ground: Opened in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII.
Easthill Park: Acquired between 1947–1948 from Easthill House.
Green Buffers: Negotiated the preservation of green spaces near Mile Oak reservoirs during 1950s developments.
Public Services and Health
Education: Facilitated the conversion of the Windlesham House School site for state use in 1936.
Sanitation: Actively tackled overcrowding and poor housing conditions in areas like Fraser’s Court.
Wartime Support: Operated a "British Restaurant" during WWII to provide affordable meals to the community.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year(s) | Event |
| 1898 | First council meeting held; offices established at Station Road. |
| 1902 | Opening of the Ronuk polish factory and Victoria Recreation Ground. |
| 1928 | Northern Portslade parish officially merged into the UDC. |
| 1947 | Easthill Park opens to the public. |
| 1959 | Acquisition and opening of Portslade Town Hall. |
| 1971 | Commissioning of the Town Hall mural by artist Barrie Huntbach. |
| 1974 | UDC abolished; functions transferred to Hove Borough Council. |
Headquarters: Portslade Town Hall
The civic heart of the district moved in 1959 when the council purchased Ronuk Hall for £36,500. Originally a welfare institute for factory workers, it was converted into a modern administrative centre.
Legacy: The building is now locally listed. It was refurbished in 2014 by Brighton & Hove City Council and continues to serve the community for housing services and policing.
Artistic Heritage: A 1971 mural remains a key feature of the building’s interior.
Abolition and Modern Legacy
On 1 April 1974, the UDC was dissolved. While Portslade merged into Hove (and later into the city of Brighton & Hove in 1997), its distinct identity remains strong.
Symbol of History: The former UDC seal can still be seen today, preserved in a commemorative stone at the old Portslade Fire Station on Church Road.
Notable Figures
Robert Shields: Chairman during the 1959 Town Hall opening.
Walter Hillman: Served as Chairman for 11 years and as a Justice of the Peace.
Les Hamilton: A prominent local figure elected in 1958, later serving on the East Sussex County Council.
The mural in Portslade Town Hall is a fascinating piece of local history, not just for its subject matter but for the controversy it sparked when it was commissioned.
The Artwork: "The Return of the Prodigal Son"
Commissioned in 1971, the mural was painted by Barrie Huntbach (1935–2006), a local artist and resident.
Theme: It depicts the biblical story of The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Style: Huntbach was known for a "Sussex Surrealist" style, blending religious themes with whimsical and sometimes disturbing imagery.
3 His work has been compared to that of Stanley Spencer and Marc Chagall.Composition: The mural consists of three block-wood panels.
5 Despite being a modern interpretation, it is described as a "pride of place" feature that incorporates local imagery and themes alongside the religious narrative.
The Commission Controversy
The mural's creation is a classic tale of "avant-garde vs the establishment."
The Price: The Council paid Huntbach just £15 for the entire work.
The Reaction: When councillors were shown sketches, the response was mixed. One councillor, Alfred Robinson, was reportedly "just horrified" by the modern style, while the Chairman, Robert Shield, admitted he "could not understand it."
The Vision: Councillor Nina Blowes defended it, arguing that such a bold piece would "put Portslade on the map."
About the Artist: Barrie Huntbach
Huntbach was a unique figure in the Brighton and Hove art scene. He spent his life in manual jobs (including working in a laundry) while dedicating every spare moment to his art.
The Society of Catholic Artists: He co-founded the Sussex branch of this society in 1976.
Second Mural: He painted a second, even larger 25-foot mural for Emmaus Portslade in 1998, which was unveiled by the actress Dora Bryan.
Prolific Drawer: At the time of his death, he left behind thousands of works, including a staggering 60-foot-long drawing titled The Temptation of St Anthony.
Current Status
The mural was preserved and highlighted during the 2014 refurbishment of the Town Hall. It remains a key feature of the main hall, standing alongside the building’s other famous resident: the 1920s Compton cinema organ.
The sculptures outside Portslade Town Hall have certainly made a name for themselves—though perhaps not for the reasons the artist originally intended!
Installed in July 2023 as part of the new Victoria Road housing development, they are officially titled "Forecast".
The Artwork: "Forecast"
The Creators: Designed by artist Felicity Hammond in collaboration with the architecture studio CAN.
2 The Composition: A cluster of three "organic forms" that look like weathered, eroded sections of brickwork.
3 They were made using cement mixed with "waste bricks" leftover from the construction of the neighbouring housing blocks.4 The Symbols:
Polished Surfaces: These are meant to reference the history of the Ronuk factory (the famous polish makers who originally built the Town Hall).
Steel Hoops: The metal rings around the forms represent "rising tidal lines," a warning about the future challenges of coastal erosion and climate change for Sussex towns.
5
The Controversy
While the artist intended the sculptures to be a poetic link between Portslade’s industrial past and its coastal future, local residents were... less than impressed.
Public Perception: Almost immediately after they were "dumped" outside the Town Hall, they were nicknamed the "Elephant Poo" or "Giant Dog Excrement" sculptures.
6 The Cost: The project cost £26,000.
7 This caused a stir among taxpayers, especially as the sculptures are tucked somewhat "around the back" near the new Jay Court and Perching Court flats.8 The Council’s Defence: Brighton & Hove City Council defended the installation, explaining that they are legally required to spend a minimum amount (in this case, £25,000) on "public art contributions" for every major planning development.
9 They essentially argued they had to build some form of art to comply with their own rules.
Why Bricks?
The choice of material was intentional. Portslade sits on a former "brickfield," and the use of waste bricks was meant to bridge the 100-year gap between the old neo-Georgian Town Hall and the modern net-zero housing development behind it.
Whether they are a "sensual, softened abstract" work or simply "enormous lumps" remains a hot topic in local forums!
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