Harold Road
| Construction | |
|---|---|
| Completion | 1869 |
Harold Road is one of the principal streets of the Clive Vale district in Hastings, East Sussex. Developed during the major suburban expansion of the mid‑ to late‑19th century, the road reflects the planned growth of the Clive Vale Estate and its transformation from farmland into a residential neighbourhood.
The layout of Harold Road was completed circa 1869, with housing appearing soon after on lots released in batches for auction[1]
Origins and Early Development[edit]
The land on which Harold Road now stands originally formed part of Clive Vale Farm, a 60‑acre agricultural holding purchased by the British Land Company in 1852. By the 1880s, the company had expanded its estate to approximately 140 acres, incorporating neighbouring farmland such as Totheigh Farm. This expansion enabled the creation of a planned suburban estate with roads named after early English kings.[2][3]
The lower section of Harold Road had previously been part of Barley Lane. During the estate’s development in the early 1870s, it was renamed to create a continuous route linking Ore with the Old Town. The renaming coincided with the sale of land formerly owned by Frederick North MP, which allowed Harold Road to be extended westwards.[4]
Transport History[edit]
Harold Road became an important part of the Hastings public transport network:
- Trams operated along the road in the early 20th century.
- These were replaced by trolleybuses, which served the area until 1959.
Historic photographs show trolleybuses climbing the steep gradient of Saxon Road and turning at Harold Road junctions, illustrating the challenging topography of the district.[5]
Water Supply and Infrastructure[edit]
Although two major reservoirs were constructed in the valley in **1833** (800,000 gallons) and **1845** (2.8 million gallons) to supply the Old Town, residents of the newly developing Clive Vale Estate continued to rely on wells until piped water reached the area later in the 19th century. These reservoirs were built to address recurring water shortages and outbreaks of waterborne disease and were fed by the Bourne Stream.[6][7]
Clive Vale Temperance Tea and Pleasure Gardens[edit]
During the **1870s and 1880s**, the undeveloped eastern end of Harold Road was home to the Clive Vale Temperance Tea and Pleasure Gardens. These gardens offered:
- Music and dancing
- Tea rooms
- Alcohol‑free entertainment
They were located near the Bourne Stream but had disappeared by the time the **1899 Ordnance Survey** was produced, likely due to rapid suburban development.[8]
Housing and Architecture[edit]
Most of the houses along Harold Road were constructed between **1873 and 1877**, following the approval of development plans in 1871. Typical architectural features include:
- Red‑brick façades
- Bay windows
- Small front gardens
Although industrial buildings were prohibited by estate covenants, the development allowed for:
- Shops
- Public houses
- Laundries
- Hotels
Many such businesses appeared along Harold Road and its connecting streets.[9]
Additional Historical Notes[edit]
- In 1886, the noted railway architect Francis Thompson built an Italianate‑style house on nearby Saxon Road, reflecting the architectural ambition of some early residents.[10]
- Several older footpaths in the area were formally diverted by the British Land Company in 1866 as part of the estate’s planned layout.[11]
Images & Features[edit]
N.B. The 'features' tab, whilst returning buildings and business premises in this road is not operating correctly, therefore a 'Dev.Use' tab is in place to explore alternative ways of retrieving this data.
Images[edit]
- Images
All-Saints-Street-Old-London-Road-Harold-Road-and-High-Street.-1902.
Market-Cross-at-the-top-of-High-Street.-1906.
The-Market-Cross-Old-London-Road.-1906.
Looking-across-the-valley-from-the-Bembrook-estate-1911.
1912-Harold-Road
Trolleybuses at Harold Road and Old London Road c1955
Trolley-Bus-on-Harold-Road-about-to-climb-Saxon-Road.-1959.
1968 Plan showing area around Belmont Villas and Minnis Rock
Cyril and Lilian Bishop being loaded onto lorry 2024
| Occupier | Number | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clive Vale House |
References & Notes
- ↑ British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 11 September 1869 Pg. 0002
- ↑ Clive Vale history, 1066online: `https://www.1066online.co.uk/hastings-history/clive-vale/` [(1066online.co.uk in Bing)](https://www.bing.com/search?q="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.1066online.co.uk%2Fhastings-history%2Fclive-vale%2F")
- ↑ Steve Peak, “The origins of Clive Vale”, SussexWorld: `https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk` [(sussexexpress.co.uk in Bing)](https://www.bing.com/search?q="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sussexexpress.co.uk%2F")
- ↑ Clive Vale history, 1066online
- ↑ Hastings Trams & Trolleybuses, Hastings History: [1](https://www.hastingshistory.net)
- ↑ Clive Vale history, 1066online
- ↑ Steve Peak, SussexWorld
- ↑ Historical Hastings: `https://historicalhastings.co.uk` [(historicalhastings.co.uk in Bing)](https://www.bing.com/search?q="https%3A%2F%2Fhistoricalhastings.co.uk%2F")
- ↑ Clive Vale history, 1066online
- ↑ Clive Vale history, 1066online
- ↑ Historical Hastings: `https://historicalhastings.co.uk` [(historicalhastings.co.uk in Bing)](https://www.bing.com/search?q="https%3A%2F%2Fhistoricalhastings.co.uk%2F")
