Reports from the Brighton Herald and Sussex Weekly Advertiser

 Based on archival reports from the Brighton Herald and Sussex Weekly Advertiser, here are a few items that stand out from Portslade’s news history:

1. Royal Hunting on "Portslade-Mill" Mondays

The Sussex Weekly Advertiser reported in October 1804 that the Prince of Wales (later George IV) was a frequent visitor to the village.

• The Routine: His harriers would "throw off" (start the hunt) near Portslade-Mill every Monday during the hunting season.

• The Vibe: Imagine the village green filled with the Prince’s entourage in their finery. Portslade wasn't just a quiet farm; for a few hours a week, it was the centre of Regency high society.
  
  See notes below

2. The "Pretentious" Exhibition for Widows

A quirky notice appeared in June 1809 from a man named Mr Elgar. He opened a "large Exhibition-room" in Portslade with "rational amusements" intended to benefit the Portslade Widows.

• The Gossip: The newspaper at the time called his notice "rather pretentious" because he addressed it to "the world's inhabitants." It’s a rare look at early 19th-century local charity (and perhaps a bit of local ego!).

3. The Great "Goldstone" Vandalism of 1834

While the Goldstone is now in Hove Park, its burial was a major news item for the Portslade/Hove border.

• The News: Farmer William Marsh Rigden grew so tired of "fashionable visitors" from Brighton trampling his crops to see the "Druidic" stone that he ordered his labourers to dig a six-foot pit and bury it.

• The Outrage: It took nearly 40 years for the public to successfully campaign to have it dug back up. The newspapers of the time were divided—some sided with the "utilitarian farmer," while others lamented the loss of the "ancient relic."

4. Portslade's "Citizen Soldiers" (1801)

During the Napoleonic Wars, Portslade was on high alert for a French invasion.

• The Report: A 1801 enquiry into Portslade’s readiness recorded that 22 local men volunteered to defend the coast.

• The "Armoury": Interestingly, they weren't armed with rifles but were prepared to use axes and shovels to sabotage roads and defend the village.

5. The "Smelly" Gasworks Milestone (1874)

When the Portslade Gasworks were built at the harbour, the newspapers were full of both praise and complaint.

• The Conflict: While it brought "labour" and power to the district, the "notably smelly" fumes were a constant source of letters to the editor from residents in the more refined parts of the village.

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A Note about “Harriers”
Here is why "Harriers" stands out in the records:

1. The Distinction in Breeds

In the 19th century, hunters were very particular about their dogs.

• Foxhounds: Used for hunting foxes (faster, larger, and louder).

• Harriers: A specific, slightly smaller breed of hound used specifically for hunting hares.

The Prince of Wales (the future George IV) was famous for his pack of Brookside Harriers. Unlike the massive, aggressive fox hunts, hare hunting with harriers was often seen as a more "technical" and intricate sport because hares are much more "doubling" and elusive than foxes.

2. The Prince’s Personal Passion

The Prince of Wales spent a vast amount of money on his harriers. Records from the Brighton Pavilion and local stable ledgers specifically refer to the "Prince’s Harriers."

3. The "Throw Off"

The term "throw off" was also the specific phrase used for harriers when they were released to find the scent of a hare. Seeing the Prince and his pack of harriers near Portslade-Mill (which stood near the top of what is now Mill Lane) would have been a major local spectacle for your 19th-century neighbours.

The Prince’s primary huntsman for many years was a man named George Henwood. He would have been the one actually controlling the pack and blowing the horn at Portslade-Mill while the Prince followed along.

The Portslade-Mill (the old windmill) was a perfect landmark for the "throw off" because it sat on high ground with a clear view across the sweeping downland toward Hangleton and West Blatchington.

It was a very different landscape then—mostly open sheep-walks and gorse, perfect for a fast-paced hare hunt with the Harriers.