An innocuous search in the 1938 Kelly's produced this list of trades and public establishments on Church Road in Portslade-by-Sea.
Commercial Trades on Church Road (1938)
- Hairdresser: Bentley Jn.
- Public House: Cricketers' Arms P.H. (Proprietor: Wit r. J. Wynn)
- Fried Fish Dealer: Crockford A. J.
- Shopkeeper: Gunn Albt. Chas.
- Confectioner: Kindell Chas.
- Boot Repairer: Pengilly Chas.
- Shopkeeper: Peters Ernest
- Grocer: Smith G. M.
- Chemist: Taylor Albt. Edwd.
- Bakers: Zwartouw Hendrik & Son
Public Establishments
The Cricketers' Arms P.H.
This is one of the most storied buildings on the road. The 1938 listing shows Wit r. J. Wynn as landlord. The Wynn (or Winn) family had a long association with Portslade and Hove pubs.
The "Little Cricks" Timeline
- 1938 – Mid-2000s: The Cricketers Arms. The bedrock of the corner for nearly a century.
- Late 2000s (c. 2009): The Little Cricks. A brief period where the pub officially adopted the local shorthand name.
- 2010: The Midway. A final rebranding attempt before closure.
- Post-2011: Closure and Conversion. Now a private residence.
The Zwartouw Bakery (No. 52)
Hendrik Zwartouw was originally from the Netherlands. Before the "By-Sea" boom, he was at Southern Cross as a specialist in high-end confectionery and cakes.
By 1938, he had moved to No. 52 Church Road to be at the heart of the action. This was a "Bakehouse" in the true sense, producing everything on-site. For families like the Lucases and Langrishes, it was also the home of the "Sunday Bake-Off" tradition.
The Bake-Off Tradition: On Sunday mornings, families would take their roasting tins to Zwartouw’s. After the morning bread run, the professional ovens remained at a perfect heat. For a few pennies, the baker would cook the family Sunday roast, creating a parade of people carrying steaming tins home at lunchtime.
Pengilly the Boot Repairer (No. 54)
Like the Zwartouws, the Pengillys were long-term residents. Alexander Pengilly arrived in the late 1800s, and by 1938, Charles Pengilly was the face of the business. The Langrishes at No. 55 would have lived with the rhythmic "tap-tap" of the cobbler's hammer across the street for decades.
Albert Edward Taylor: The Chemist (No. 62)
Before the NHS, Albert Edward Taylor was the community's first port of call for medical advice. His windows were filled with glass carboys, and he mixed "tonics" by hand behind the counter.
The Scent of Church Road
Stepping onto the street in the 1930s, the residents lived in a sensory world of four distinct scents:
- Hops & Beer (No. 51): The Cricketers' Arms.
- Fresh Bread & Yeast (No. 52): Zwartouw & Son.
- Tanned Leather & Polish (No. 54): Charles Pengilly.
- Antiseptic & Herbs (No. 62): Albert Edward Taylor.
The Residential Side: 55 Church Road
The Langrish family connection to Number 55 is a remarkable piece of Portslade history, cited as a record-breaking tenancy.
- 1913: Alfred Walter Noel Langrish and Florence move in, renting from Mr W. Hillman for 7s a week.
- 1913: George Langrish is born in the house.
- 1990: The family remains at the property, marking nearly 80 years in one home.
Neighbours & Local Names
| Number | Resident Family | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | The Bates Family | Recorded in post-war years. |
| 53 | Standing or Wells | A very old Portslade name. |
| 55 | The Langrishes | George's lifelong home. |
| 57 | Mitchell or Knight | Known branches in West Blatchington. |
| 59 | The Peters Family | Likely related to Ernest Peters, shopkeeper. |
Public Establishments: The Fire Station & Parish Room
The Fire Station (No. 80 Church Road)
In 1938, this was a fully active Fire Station. Built in 1909 by the Portslade-by-Sea Urban District Council, it replaced an older shed and remains one of the most architecturally striking buildings on the road with its white glazed brick and red terracotta dressings.
- 1940s-50s: Following the formation of the National Fire Service (NFS) during the war, the station's role shifted. By 1948, it returned to local control, but modern equipment was beginning to outgrow the 1909 bay doors.
- 1960s: The station was largely phased out of frontline service as operations moved to more modern facilities. However, the building remained a landmark under the Portslade Council and later saw various commercial uses.
Copyright Ray Hamblett
The Old Fire Station
Click the image to view in Google Street View
The Parish Room
Sitting next to the station, the Parish Room remained a vital social centre for Church Road residents for decades, hosting everything from community meetings to local celebrations.
The South Corner of North Street & Church Road
There is some debate regarding the 1938 Kelly's listing for No. 53 Church Road. While the directory lists G. M. Smith (Grocer) here, the location is actually the south-eastern corner where Church Road meets North Street.
- 1950s: The shop remained a traditional grocer's. By the early 50s, the Smith family had been a staple here for over a decade, adapting to the post-war "self-service" boom by stocking a wider variety of tinned goods.
- 1960s: A significant change occurred when Mr B. Young took over the premises. It became the definitive "corner shop" for the residents of the North Street and Franklin Road "grid."
The "Bedrock" Families of Church Road
Beyond the Langrishes, several other families formed the "social glue" of this patch during the 1950s and 60s:
- The Spregget Family: Long-term lodgers and friends of the Langrishes. Mr Spregget was a well-known churchwarden at St Andrew’s and a familiar sight shrimping on the Portslade beach.
- The Parker Family (No. 43): R. A. Parker was a long-term councillor and chairman of the Housing Committee. The Parkers were a large, influential family well-known in Portslade "By-Sea" circles.
- The Hillman Family: The landlords of much of this terrace. Walter Hillman was a major benefactor to Portslade and lived locally on North Street.
- The Gundry Family (No. 4): Arthur Charles Gundry was the man responsible for many of the iconic postcards of Portslade we still admire today.
This snapshot of Church Road shows a community where industry, trade, and family life were inextricably linked. While the shops have largely faded, the stories of residents like George Langrish keep the history of "By-Sea" alive.
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| copyright Ray Hamblett Three of the shops in Church Road seen in 2006 |
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| Copyright Ray Hamblett Viewing south towards North Street |
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| Copyright Ray Hamblett Viewing North |
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