Introduction: The Layers of Vale Road
This unremarkable brick building at 35–37 Vale Road serves as a silent witness to over 130 years of Portslade’s industrial and social transformation. While today it functions as a modern trade counter, the ground beneath it has hosted a "rich seam" of local history—from the high-tech precision of Victorian inventors to the frantic efforts of wartime food production.
Part I: The Victorian Architects of Vale Road
Long before the mid-century industrial units and the trade counters we see today, the corner of Vale Road was a site of domestic life and world-class craftsmanship. In the late 1890s, the land at what is now 35–37 Vale Road was occupied by 1 & 2 Gascoigne Villas. These brick villas were the home and headquarters of Thomas Barnard, a man whose name would become synonymous with the intricate woodwork that defined the "Golden Age" of Brighton’s architecture.
The Master of the "Double Curvature"
Barnard was far more than a simple carpenter; he was a pioneering inventor in the field of joinery. Operating his workshop right next to his home on Vale Road, he sought to automate the most difficult and expensive parts of Victorian building.
In 1900, he successfully filed two landmark patents that changed how local luxury interiors were produced:
The Handrail Machine (Patent 4553): This invention was designed to create "wreaths and ramps"—the complex, winding sections of a staircase handrail. It could handle "mouldings of double curvature," allowing for the sweeping, continuous wooden rails found in the grand hotels along the Brighton seafront.
The Pocket Piece Machine (Patent 4554): This was a masterclass in practical engineering. It allowed for the mechanical cutting of "pocket pieces" in sliding sash window frames. These removable sections were essential for maintaining the hidden weights and cords of a window without having to destroy the woodwork.
From Local Workshop to Grand Hotels
Because Barnard’s technology allowed these intricate pieces to be mass-produced with precision, his Vale Road workshop became a vital supplier for the region's building boom. Local tradition holds that the decorative spindles and sweeping staircases of the grand Brighton hotels were crafted using the very machines Barnard designed and operated on this site.
While the family also left their mark on the town’s infrastructure—evidenced by local drain covers still bearing the name "Barnard & Sons, Builders, Portslade"—it was this mechanical innovation that set the Vale Road site apart.
The Mechanics of the "Pocket"
A standard sliding sash window works using a system of lead or iron weights hidden inside the hollow vertical frame (the "box"). These weights are connected to the window via a cord and pulley to balance the glass so it stays open at any height.
The Access Problem: Since the weights are tucked inside the frame, you cannot reach them if a cord snaps or a weight gets stuck.
Barnard's Solution: A "pocket piece" is a removable section of the wooden frame (the pulley stile) that allows a repairman to reach into the hollow box without dismantling the entire window.
The Invention: Barnard's 1900 patent (No. 4554) was for a machine that could cut these specific pieces with such precision that they fit perfectly back into the frame, remaining almost invisible to the eye when the window was closed.
Why It Was Specialised Work
Cutting a pocket piece by hand was time-consuming because it had to be done at a specific angle (usually a "mitre" cut) to ensure that the weight behind it wouldn't push the piece out. Barnard’s machinery allowed his workshop on Vale Road to produce these frames at scale, which was essential during the rapid building boom in Portslade and Brighton at the turn of the century.
Part II: Financial Tides and the Move to Franklin Road
Despite the brilliance of his patents, Thomas Barnard eventually faced the harsh realities of the early 20th-century building trade. By 1903, the ambitious operations at the Vale Road joinery works hit a financial wall, leading to a "First Meeting of Creditors" in May of that year.
The Franklin Road Transition
With the loss of the large-scale works at 35–41 Vale Road, Barnard was forced to pivot:
Scaling Down: He relocated his business to Franklin Road, moving near the area that would later be known for the Rothbury Cinema.
The Staggered Emigration: The financial strain likely contributed to the family's decision to seek new horizons. His son George led the way to Australia in 1911, followed by daughter Beatrice in 1912.
The Final Departure: Thomas and his wife Frances finally closed their chapter in Portslade and emigrated in 1922.
A Son Stays Behind
While his father moved across the world, Reginald Conrad Barnard remained the keeper of the family trade in Portslade. He established his own home at 12 Southdown Avenue and eventually built the workshops at 197–199 Old Shoreham Road, ensuring the Barnard name for high-end joinery survived locally well into the 1950s.
Part III: The Great War and the Maison-le-Bry Jam Factory
While the Barnards were transitioning, the land they left behind at Vale Road took on a vital new role during the First World War. The site became home to a factory that would become a legend in local school-day memories: Maison-le-Bry.
The 1918 Blackberry Harvest
During the national food shortages of 1918, the jam factory at Vale Road became a hub for community effort:
The School Recruits: Children from St Nicolas School were famously recruited to spend their days on the South Downs, not in the classroom.
Three Pence a Pound: The children picked wild blackberries by the bucketload, which were then sold to Maison-le-Bry for three pennies a pound.
Wartime Rations: This fruit was processed on the very site where my wife would later work, turning the wild harvest of the Downs into essential jam rations for the local population and the war effort.
It’s a striking image: the transition from a master joiner’s workshop to a bustling wartime food plant, all before the brick building we recognise today was even a blueprint.
Part IV: The Post-War Boom and the Birth of Sarat Ltd
By the late 1950s, the "cottage industries" and residential gardens of Vale Road were replaced by more permanent brick structures designed for the rapidly growing light engineering sector. It was during this period that the building your wife worked in was constructed, featuring the large windows and sturdy brickwork typical of the era.
Precision Engineering in Portslade
In 1964, a company was incorporated that would become the site's most long-standing occupant: Sarat Ltd. While the name changed slightly over the decades—often appearing as Sarat Process Photography—their trade remained at the cutting edge of industrial manufacturing for that time.
Life at Sarat in the Early Eighties
When your wife worked there in the early 1980s, the building was a hub of "High-Tech" activity. The company specialised in industrial photolithography, a process that used photographic techniques to etch metal and plastic. Their primary outputs included:
Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs): Before the rise of overseas mass production, local firms like Sarat were essential for the growing British electronics industry.
Precision Nameplates: They produced the durable metal plates found on heavy machinery, which required photographic precision to ensure the text and diagrams survived harsh industrial environments.
The Industrial Landscape
During my wife's time there, Vale Road was a different world. The Portslade Gas Works still loomed large in the skyline, and the road was a constant stream of workers heading to and from the nearby Southdown Bus Depot. It was a period when Portslade wasn't just a place to live, but a place that made things—from bread and jam to the circuit boards that powered the eighties.
The western unit at 39/41 Vale Road was the long-term home of John Gilkes and Sons, a family firm that served Portslade for over a century. From their workshop opposite Bush Signs, they were a constant presence on the street from the 1950s until the mid-2000s, forming the western anchor of this historic industrial block.
Part V: From High-Tech to Trade Counter
As the 20th century closed, the shift from photographic etching to digital CNC and laser cutting eventually saw Sarat Ltd move on, leading to the "Car Parts" era captured in my 2006 photo. Today, the building stands as one of the few original survivors of that specific industrial stretch, outlasting the massive redevelopments that have turned much of the surrounding area into modern car showrooms.
From Thomas Barnard's intricate Victorian handrails to the Maison-le-Bry jam vats, and finally the Sarat lithography plant, this one spot on Vale Road has quite literally helped build and feed the community for over 130 years.
| Name | Primary Trade / Role | Location |
| Thomas Barnard | Master Joiner & Inventor (Patents 4553 & 4554) | 1 & 2 Gascoigne Villas, Vale Road / Franklin Road |
| Frances Barnard | Wife of Thomas; Emigrated to Australia (1922) | Vale Road / Australia |
| George Barnard | Son of Thomas; First to emigrate (1911) | Vale Road / Australia |
| Beatrice Barnard | Daughter of Thomas; Emigrated with husband (1912) | Vale Road / Australia |
| Reginald Conrad Barnard | Son of Thomas; Continued family joinery trade | 12 Southdown Ave & 197–199 Old Shoreham Rd |
| Henry Sharp | Husband of Beatrice; Local builder/emigrant | Portslade / Australia |
| Maison-le-Bry | Jam & Preserve Manufacturers (WWI era) | Vale Road |
| St Nicolas School Children | Seasonal Blackberry Pickers (1918) | South Downs / Vale Road |
| Sarat Ltd | Industrial Photolithography & PCB Manufacturing | 35–41 Vale Road |
| Car Parts & Accessories | Automotive Trade Counter (Current) | 35–41 Vale Road |
| Pugh | Welsh Ostler (Bakery Horse Manager) | Franklin Road |
| Gigin's Bakery | Commercial Bakers (Bread & Pastries) | Franklin Road |
| Diaphragm Leather Works | Specialist Leather Manufacturing | Franklin Road |
Thomas Barnard's New Site: After leaving Vale Road in 1903, Barnard established his scaled-down joinery works on Franklin Road, positioning himself near the site that would later house the Rothbury Cinema.
The Diaphragm Leather Works: This factory was located directly behind the Methodist Church. It was accessed via a very narrow lane that still exists today, tucked away from the main thoroughfare.
Gigin’s Bakery: This massive operation dominated both sides of the road. The bread was baked on the south side, while the "Fancy Department" (cakes and pastries) was on the north side.
The Industrial Interconnection
In the early 1900s, these businesses weren't just neighbours; they shared the same infrastructure and local challenges:
Shared Access and Transport: The narrow lanes used by the Leather Works and Barnard’s joinery were also navigated by the Brighton & Shoreham Tramways steam engines, which terminated nearby, and the horse-drawn delivery vans from Gigin’s.
The Fire Risk: High-density wooden joinery (Barnard), flour dust (Gigin's), and chemical tanning (Leather Works) made the area a fire trap. Indeed, the Leather Works suffered a catastrophic fire in January 1910, which required firefighters to run hoses from the nearby railway lines.
Labour and Skill: When Barnard moved to the street, he entered a zone where nearly every household had someone working for one of these three "giants." A joiner like Barnard would often be called upon by the bakery or the leather works for structural repairs or specialised wooden crates and tanning frames.
The Legacy of the Site
The transition of this block is visible even today:
Rothbury Mews: Now stands where the southern half of Gigin's Bakery once thrived.
The Narrow Lane: The access point to the Leather Works remains a physical reminder of the cramped, high-activity industrial past of the street.
The Diaphragm Leather Works Fire
On a cold night in January 1910, a massive blaze broke out at the Diaphragm Leather Works, located in the narrow lane behind the Methodist Church. The fire was so intense that it threatened to spread to the neighbouring workshops and the nearby Gigin’s Bakery. Firemen had to scramble to find adequate water pressure, eventually running hoses from the railway lines to combat the flames. While the works were severely damaged, they were eventually rebuilt and continued operating well into the 1940s.
The Gigin Family Names
The bakery was a true family dynasty that dominated the local trade. Key figures included:
The Founders: The original Gigin family members who established the split-site operation on both sides of Franklin Road.
The Workforce: While specific names of individual siblings are often grouped under the "Gigin & Sons" banner in trade records, they were supported by a large local staff, including Pugh, the Welsh ostler who managed the bakery's eight horses.
Summary: A Century of Portslade Industry
From the precision-engineered Victorian staircases of Thomas Barnard to the wartime jam production of Maison-le-Bry, and the 1980s "high-tech" photolithography of Sarat Ltd, these sites on Vale Road and Franklin Road represent the evolving heartbeat of Portslade. What began as a hub for master craftsmen and local bakers transitioned into a powerhouse of light engineering, leaving behind a legacy of innovation that still shapes the character of these buildings today.
Source Citations for the Vale Road History
Thomas Barnard & Joinery Patents: All details regarding the 1900 patents (No. 4553 and 4554), the Gascoigne Villas, and the intricate woodwork for Brighton hotels are sourced from Judy Middleton’s research on Portslade’s industrial pioneers.
Maison-le-Bry Jam Factory: The 1918 blackberry picking by St Nicolas school children and the wartime production at the Vale Road site are documented in Middleton’s accounts of Portslade during the Great War.
Barnard Family Emigration: The specific dates for the family's move to Australia (1911, 1912, and 1922) and Thomas’s return in 1926 are verified through Middleton's biographical records.
Franklin Road Industry: The details concerning Gigin’s Bakery, the Diaphragm Leather Works fire of 1910, and the Welsh ostler, Pugh, are drawn from Middleton’s extensive "Portslade History" street-by-street surveys.
Sarat Ltd & 1980s Context: Information regarding the company’s incorporation in 1964 and its role in industrial photolithography is sourced from the Companies House archives and local trade directories.
The Rothbury: The architectural and broadcasting history of the cinema is sourced from local heritage records and the Cinema Theatre Association archives.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Precision
The industrial units of Vale Road may appear humble today, but they are built upon a foundation of world-class expertise. Whether it was Thomas Barnard using his patented machinery to perfect the "double curvature" of a grand hotel staircase in 1900, or the staff at Sarat Ltd in the early 1980s using photographic etching to produce complex circuit boards, the site has always been defined by precision.
When my wife walked through those doors in the eighties, she wasn’t just going to a modern job; she was part of a century-long lineage of Portslade makers who turned this corner of the town into a hub of innovation. From the Cattle Arch that once guided livestock to the fields and later guided thousands of workers to their shifts, this small pocket of West Sussex has played a quiet but vital role in the craftsmanship of the nation.
Contributor Note for the Blog
This history was compiled with reference to the invaluable research of local historian Judy Middleton, whose work continues to preserve the industrial memory of Portslade-by-Sea.Author’s Note: A special thank you to Alan Robins for his invaluable local insight. Alan clarified the specific numbering of the Vale Road units, noting that John Gilkes and Sons—a long-standing Portslade building firm—occupied the westernmost unit at 39/41 Vale Road, directly opposite Bush Signs. This clarifies that while the block is often grouped together, Sarat Ltd operated from the neighbouring unit at 35/37. It is these first-hand memories that help keep our local history accurate and alive.
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The Community Memory: Voices from the Shop Floor
History isn't just found in archives; it lives in the memories of those who navigated these sites every day. Following the initial research for this post, several local voices have added vital "boots on the ground" details that clarify the life of the Vale Road units.
The Gilkes & Sarat Divide
Alan Robins provided a crucial correction regarding the building’s layout. While often grouped together, the block was split between two distinct operations. Alan worked for John Gilkes and Sons at 39/41 Vale Road, the westernmost unit closest to the Cattle Arch. He recalls facing the iconic Bush Signs (and later Jones Vending), placing his workshop at the very heart of the mid-century industrial bustle. This confirms that Sarat Ltd, where my wife worked, occupied the neighbouring unit at 35/37.
The M.B. Metals Connection
Paul Herbert recalls a connection to M.B. Metals, often associated with the name "Vale Works." While M.B. Metals’ primary high-tech aerospace facility was located just around the corner on Victoria Road, the physical proximity meant the two sites were deeply intertwined. In the tight-knit industrial landscape of the 1970s and 80s, workers from Sarat, Gilkes, and M.B. Metals all shared the same shortcuts and local landmarks, creating a single, massive community of engineering and trade.
The Clevett Family Legacy
The Clevett family name also echoes through the site's history. While the men of the family, like Ernest Clevett, were responsible for building the very fabric of Portslade—including the Fire Station and the Salvation Army Citadel—the women of the family, such as Tony Clevett's aunts, were the ones who kept the industrial units running during the transformative years of the 1940s.
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