Licence Plates Surveys 1973 to 2023. The attached tables show the survey results and record which plates are still in-situ, have been lost, newly discovered, or rediscovered.

 

Bath Chair Stand (BCS)
1973 & 1984 locations noted by Harold Spears	2013 survey results	2022/2023 survey results	Updated address (if applicable)
Arlington Road near the junction with Old Orchard Road.	Yes	Yes	Boundary wall of Medical Practice.
Bolton Road outside number 10.	Yes	Refitted	Opposite Kamsons Pharmacy.
Bolton Road outside number 15: See ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Chiswick Place, south side near theatre.	Yes	No (Lost sometime after 2013)	N/A
1973 & 1984: Compton Street outside rear entrance to Arundel Hotel on corner of Devonshire Place.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
Cornfield Terrace near junction with Burlington Place.	Yes	Yes, Keith Bell	To the left of the gate marked 2A.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Cornfield Terrace, opposite No 3 (old information centre).	Yes	Yes	Cranbourne Court, 1 Cornfield Terrace.
*Elms Avenue opposite Burlington Road.  1973: Not Listed. 1984 update seems to suggest this plate was found after 1973, but was removed before the 1984 survey.
1973: Grand Parade opposite Lascelles Terrace. 1984 no update listed.	No update listed.	No (Lost sometime after 1973)	N/A
1973: Not Listed, but reported in 1974 as ‘Pier Gardens’. 1984: Grand Parade opposite Queens Gardens.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Marine Parade opposite Queens Gardens.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower grounds: - 1973 – 5 listed 1984 – 4 listed	4 listed	3 listed  (2 lost since 1973)	Opposite Wilmington Square (Grand Court side). Opposite Wilmington Square (Citrus Hotel side). Opposite Lansdowne Hotel next to WD boundary stone.
Not Listed	Not Listed	Yes	Meads Road, boundary wall of Our Lady of Ransom Church opposite the junction with Saffrons Road.
Southfields Road, side wall of 2 Old Orchard Road.	Yes	Yes Kevin Gordon	As per 1973/1984
Not Listed	Not Listed	Yes	Upperton Gardens Park near the junction with Hartfield Road.

 

Goat Chaise Stand (GCS) See also ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973 & 1984 locations noted by Harold Spears	2013	2022/2023	Updated address (if applicable)
1973 & 1984: King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower Grounds.	Yes	Yes	Opposite the Lansdowne Hotel adjacent to the disabled parking bay.

 

Hackney Carriage Stand (HCS) See also ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Grange Road. On wall of Eastbourne College grounds.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
Hardwick Road, near Devonshire Park Theatre entrance.	Yes	Yes Keith Bell	Adjacent to Taxi Rank.
1973: Elim Church, plate held by library. 1984 (reinstalled): Hartfield Road, near Elim Church.	Yes	Yes	Arundel House, 1 Hartfield Road.
King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower grounds: - 1973 – 3 listed 1984 – 3 listed	Yes	Yes, 01/02/23	Opposite Wilmington Square/end of Grand Court. Opposite Wilmington Square gardens. Opposite the Citrus Hotel.
Not Listed	Not Listed	Yes	Meads Road, boundary wall of Our Lady of Ransom Church near the junction with Grange Road.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Queens Gardens.  Wall of Queens Hotel carpark.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
1973 & 1984: - Seaside outside No 64.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
Not Listed	Not Listed	Yes	St. John’s Road, boundary wall of electricity substation opposite The Moorings flats.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: The Avenue, on wall of Upperton Gardens.	No	Yes  (rediscovered)	As per 1973/1984
1973: Not Listed. 1984: The Avenue, near Upperton Lane.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
1973: ‘Upperton Road, outside Flowerland (2 plates)’.  This was crossed out and ‘Gone’ added in Journal No 10 September 1973.	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

Luggage Porters Stand (LPS) See also ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973 & 1984 locations noted by Harold Spears	2013	2022/2023	Updated address (if applicable)
Not Listed	Not Listed	Yes	Henley House, 4 Enys Road.  Reported by Kelly Van Doorn.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Grange Road, on wall of Eastbourne College grounds.	Yes	Yes	Near the ‘Grange Road’ sign at the corner of Grange Road and Blackwater Road.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Hartington Place.  Two on the wall of the Mansion Hotel.	One remaining	One remaining  (1 lost since 1984)	Boundary sidewall of hotel.  Very difficult to spot due to multiple layers of black paint.
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Queens Gardens.  Wall of Queens Hotel carpark.	No	Yes (rediscovered)	Actually located in Colonnade Gardens near the junction with Queens Gardens.
1973 & 1984: Pevensey Road on South side near the fountain.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	January 1974 Journal No11 ELHS article states ‘Pevensey Road, No 68, opposite the Fishing Tackle shop.’
1973 & 1984: South St.  Two on the boundary wall of St Saviour’s Church grounds.	Yes	One remaining.	Second ‘missing’ plate - see ‘Plates Currently on Display.’
1973: Not Listed. 1984: St. Aubyn’s Road.  Side of Weyanoke Hotel.	No	No (Lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
1973 & 1984: The Avenue.   Two plates on the island at the junction of St. Leonard’s Road.	Yes	Yes	One on the wall facing The Avenue, the other on the wall facing Avenue House.
1973: Not Listed.  1984: Tideswell Road, near Junction Road.	No - under the Arndale	N/A	N/A
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Trinity Place, near Chatsworth Hotel.	Yes	Yes	Sidewall of hotel near Lightning Fibre box.  Difficult to spot as heavily over-painted.
Not Listed	Not Listed	N/A	Langham Hotel - recovered 2024

 

Motor Char-a-banc (MCS) See also ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973 & 1984 locations noted by Harold Spears	2013	2022/2023	Updated address (if applicable)
1973 & 1984: King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower grounds.	Yes	No (Lost sometime after 2013)	N/A
Harold’s 1973 report states that a plate from outside the Grand Hotel in Jevington Gardens is held by the Public Library.	N/A	N/A	Town Hall storage ‘Box 99’
1973: Not Listed. 1984: Silverdale Road on wall of Grand Hotel.	Not clear from survey result.	No (Appears to have been lost sometime after 1984)	N/A
Saddled Donkey Stand (SDS) See also ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’
1973 & 1984: King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower grounds.	Yes	Yes	Opposite Grand Court near WD stone/entrance to Wish Tower grounds.
Saddled Pony Stand (SPS)
1973 & 1984: King Edward’s Parade roadside wall Wish Tower grounds.	No	No	See ‘Plates Currently in Storage.’

Licence Plates Explained.

The following is the original version of an article that I wrote for the forthcoming ELHS (Eastbourne Local History Society) booklet ‘Eastbourne’s Historic Street Furniture.’  

I have removed a number of pictures of Licence Plates and accompanying text so they are not over-duplicated in the Blog alongside the individual entries.  

Any additional updates or explanatory text is in italics.

I was invited by Kim Adams to write this article in 2023 after embarking on a of Eastbourne’s historic street furniture as part of a group (named at the end of this article) led by local historian Kevin Gordon.  I initially decided to concentrate on the Victorian licence plates that I had noticed at the Wish Tower over the years, although to start with I knew very little about them in terms of their historical significance.  My starting point were the articles written by Harold Spears.

The first ELHS article covering the history of the Victorian and Edwardian licence plates written by Harold appeared in September 1973 in Newsletter No10.  The article, titled ‘More Street Furniture – Licence Plates,’ explained that ‘The operation of vehicles, and other means of transport plying for public hire on the streets is regulated by licences granted by local authorities through powers vested in them by Acts of Parliament.  These arrived with the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847 whereby Hackney Carriages were required to be licensed.  The hiring of horses, ponies, and donkeys was brought under control by the Public Health Act 1875.  The Eastbourne Council in granting licences also designated the places where each category of the licence holder should stand whilst awaiting hire.  Relics of these forms of public transport can be found in the central parts of town.  Small metal plates defining the permitted areas for standing were planted at the bases of walls and fences adjoining the ‘stands.’  A number of these wall plates, although long since outdated, still exist in positions where they were placed in the closing years of the last century, and at the beginning of this century.’  The article also included the locations of any known extant plates.

Harold also wrote a follow-up article in 1974 titled ‘More About Vehicle Licences.’  Both articles, along with updated information, were combined in the original ‘EASTBOURNE’S HISTORIC STREET FURNITURE – MONUMENTS & MEMORIALS’ booklet published in December 1984. 

In April 2013 another survey took place with Michael Ockenden noting the following in Journal No168 ‘The late Harold Spears first recorded our various licence plates in Issue 10, back in 1973. These are: BCS (Bath Chair Stand), HCS (Hackney Carriage Stand), LPS (Luggage Porters Stand), SPS (Saddled Pony Stand), SDS (Saddled Donkey Stand), GCS (Goat Chaise Stand) and MCS (Motor Char-a-banc Stand).  Several members of the Research Group surveyed Harold’s locations and found that 14 plates are missing from the original 42.  A revised list will appear in the next Journal.’  The results were published in Journal No169 of Autumn 2013 on page 9 'with thanks to the survey group, especially Chris Neighbour.' 

I started my survey by compiling a chart listing all the sightings from 1973, 1984, and 2013.  Each site was then visited, with contributions from Kevin and my good friend Keith Bell, to find, photograph, and record any additional information, i.e., which plates were still in-situ, what condition were they in, and were they in danger of being lost to development etc.  Each plate would also be given a what3words GPS location.  Interestingly, the survey found four plates that had not previously been recorded, but more worryingly, a number of plates had disappeared since the last survey in 2013, although two that had been listed as missing were rediscovered.  The ‘new’ discoveries were found in Meads Road on the wall of Our Lady of Ransom Church (one BCS, and one HCS), in St. John’s Road on the wall of the electricity sub-station (one HCS), and a BCS in Upperton Gardens.   An additional LPS plate was later found by Kelly Van Doorn, bringing the total of ‘new’ discoveries to five.

After completing the survey, I decided to find out which plates might still be in storage as the current information was slightly confusing.  Harold’s 1973 article indicated a number were held by the ‘Public Library,’ and listed them as the BCS from outside 15 Bolton Road, the HCS from outside Elim Church in Hartfield Road, and the MCS from the wall of the Grand Hotel in Jevington Gardens.  This information is repeated in the 2013 survey report.  The 1984 booklet meanwhile stated ‘Since the original article was written in 1973, a number of them have been removed for various reasons.  Most of these were kept in store and in September 1984 they were re-instated by the Borough Council at the Society’s suggestion.  By having some replicas made, the Council was able to provide the Towner Local History Museum with one of each type.  Sites of those which were removed and are no longer available are marked with an asterisk.’ (See Bath Chair Stand, Elms Avenue, on Blog page ‘Licence Plates Surveys 1973 to 2023’).

I assumed that any plates still held by the library would be easy to locate, but tracking them down proved to be less than straightforward.   

After contacting the Central Library via East Sussex library services, it was determined that they hold no such items as ‘anything of that nature was moved to The Keep,’ but contacting The Keep in Brighton elicited a similar response from the archivist there.  An email was then sent to The Towner to enquire whether they still had the 1984 reproductions.  The Towner forwarded the query to Heritage Eastbourne who oversee the local history museum collection formerly housed in the original Towner Art Gallery (which was located opposite the Lamb Inn in Old Town).  At the same time I sent an email to the Eastbourne Heritage Centre (Carlisle Road), to enquire if they had any original plates stored.  Being new to active involvement in the local history scene, it was only at this point that I realised the Eastbourne Heritage Centre and Heritage Eastbourne were separate entities!

The first reply I received was from Kelly Van Doorn, the Heritage Collections Officer of Heritage Eastbourne, who advised that they had several licence plates in storage.  A visit to the Town Hall was arranged where the plates were photographed.  The following points were noted: three are originals; an HCS, an SPS (possibly the one that disappeared from the Wish Tower after 1996), and a BCS (from 15 Bolton Road as mentioned in Harold's 1973 article).  The fourth plate, an SDS, is obviously one of the reproductions made for the Towner Local History Museum.  It also transpired that there are another three plates in storage in the yet to be discovered ‘Box 99’; an MCS (most likely the one mentioned in Harold's 1973 article as being held by the library), an LPS, and a GCS with a broken stem.  Hopefully they will come to light one day to be photographed and the pictures added to the ‘Extant Licence Plates’ Google map (see ‘Additional Information’ at the end of this article) and this Blog.  Kelly did advise that the database is quite a few years old and lists items from a 1997 audit, hence 'Box 99' is yet to be discovered, but she is updating the database and has put the four I photographed in one location.  Even better was the fact that she told me she had spotted an LPS plate in Enys Road that is not recorded in any of the ELHS surveys.  I went straight there after leaving the meeting to photograph it and add it to survey results (credited to Kelly of course).  So, it would seem that some of the plates originally held by the library and the old Towner Museum are now stored by Heritage Eastbourne, although the Towner Museum collection of reproductions now just amounts to a single plate, the rest having completely disappeared.

Around this time, I received an email from Richard Crook of the Eastbourne Society who had been forwarded my email to the Heritage Centre.  He told me he had a LPS plate from St. Saviour's Church that had been dropped over the church wall into the grounds when resurfacing work to the pavement had taken place, and he intended to reattach it to the church wall if its exact original position could be determined, and if not, put it on display in the Heritage Centre.  We met on June 21st 2023 and inspected the wall of St. Saviour's to see if we could determine its original location, but without luck.  Richard suggested that the plate might originally have been painted dark green with white or cream lettering as there were still traces of green paint to be seen.  He also suggested that if the remaining plates were repainted in their original paint scheme it would help protect them from being discarded by any future pavement/wall repair crews as they would obviously be items that were of some importance if they looked like they were being cared for, and to this end a programme of repainting has been started by Bob Cookson. 

The LPS from St. Saviour's Church is now on display in the Eastbourne Society Heritage Centre, Carlisle Road.  Refer to Richard Crook.  Repainted by Bob Cookson 24/10/23.

In a separate development, a BCS plate was identified as ‘at risk’ late in 2022 by Keith Bell who was monitoring the building work at 10 Bolton Road.  The plate was put aside by the builders to be refitted after the boundary wall was resurfaced, but subsequently went missing.  It resurfaced on Facebook and was recovered in a combined effort between Kevin Gordon and the local Police Heritage Officer.  It was then repainted by Bob Cookson and refitted in its original position with the blessing of the building’s owner.

The final 2023 survey list recorded 56 plates, of which there are: -

BCS: 10 in-situ, 1 stored in the Town Hall, 8 that have gone missing since the 1973 to 2013 surveys.

GCS: 1 in-situ, 1 stored in the Town Hall in the missing ‘Box 99’.

HCS: 8 in-situ, 1 stored in the Town Hall, 6 that have gone missing since the 1973 or 1984 surveys.

LPS: 8 in-situ, 1 stored in the Town Hall in the missing ‘Box 99’, 1 on display at the Heritage Centre in Carlisle Road, 4 that have gone missing since the 1973 or 1984 surveys.

MCS: 1 stored in the Town Hall in the missing ‘Box 99’, 2 that have gone missing since the 1973 to 2013 surveys.

SDS: 1 in-situ, 1 copy stored in the Town Hall.

SPS: 1 stored in the Town Hall.

Overall, 4 plates went missing between the 1973 and 1984 surveys; 16 between 1984 and 2013; and another 5 between 2013 and 2023.  On the positive side, 5 previously unrecorded plates were found in 2023, plus 2 reported missing in 2013 were rediscovered.  The full list can be found on Blog page ‘Licence Plates Surveys 1973 to 2023’ which is an updated version of the 2013 survey.

Update: On April 5th 2024 a missing LPS plate from the Langham Hotel was given to Kevin Gordon by Julian Martyr.  It was repainted by Bob Cookson and reinstalled by the hotel owner.  This brings the total of LPS plates in-situ to nine.

Returning to Harold’s original articles; he went on to describe the various licence plates, starting with the Bath Chair Stand (BCS).  A Bath Chair he explained, was steered via a long bar attached to the single front wheel at one end, and a steering handle at the other.  The Bath Chair could either be steered by the passenger with the attendant pushing from behind, or pulled by the attendant from the front using the handle.  Another version had two shafts and was pulled by a donkey which was controlled by the passenger via reins, or the donkey could be led by the attendant.

A typical Victorian Bath Chair.  This example is located at the St John’s Local History Store, Upper Bristol Road, Bath.  The author of the picture (Rwendland) has allowed free usage under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Harold’s 1974 article goes into more detail about the issuing of licences, the formation of a Bath Chairman Union in 1892, and also quotes from George Meek’s book ‘Bath Chair-Man’.  The 1911-1912 Ward Lock Guidebook to Eastbourne gives the Bath Chair fares as 1 shilling 6 pence (7½p in today’s money) for the first hour, then 6 pence (2½p) for each subsequent half hour.  In George’s book he writes ‘To the ordinary workman one shilling or one-and-sixpence per hour may sound extravagantly high pay.  He must bear in mind that, taking the weather and slack times into consideration, if we do an average two hours work a day, we are very lucky indeed.’

A row of Bath Chairs outside the pier.  The postcard is stamped and dated December 27th 1908.  Note that the chair on the left matches the design of the example in the St John’s Local History Store with the triple tier curved front springs.

In all the various articles, and in George Meek’s book, you will find the occupation written as Bathchair-Man, Bath Chair-Man, and Bath Chairman.  The ‘Minutes of the Watch Committee’ in the Eastbourne Gazette dated 5th June 1895 referenced in the LPS section in this article, shows it was clearly written as ‘Bath Chairman’. 

Hackney Carriage Stand (HCS)

The 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59, Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5,

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9, Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50,

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4

Saddled Donkey – 4, Saddled Pony – 2

1st Class Omnibus – 1, 3rd Class Omnibus – 3

Luggage Porters - 60

A 1909 postcard featuring a 3rd Class Carriage in Meads Road being pulled by a pony or a mule.  3rd Class Carriages were only licenced for ‘not more than three passengers’, but this one seems to be overloaded with an adult passenger and at least four children! Pity the poor animal.

Luggage Porters Stand (LPS)

The 1973 article stated ‘These stands were used by outside porters who had hand barrows, and were available for the carrying of luggage around the town, and to and from the Railway Station.’  The article then described their uniforms as just consisting of a peaked cap with an armband in the form of a metal plate, on straps, which was worded ‘Outside Porter.’  

There has been some debate lately about what exactly LPS stood for.  Generally, it has been accepted that it meant Luggage Porters Stand (see Harold’s 1973 article), but an alternative theory was that it stood for Licenced Porter Stand.  Thanks to Kevin Gordon’s research we can now settle on the former.  Kevin found a copy of the ‘Minutes of the Watch Committee’ in the Eastbourne Gazette dated 5th June 1895, that stated ‘Luggage Porters Stand, West Terrace – A petition was read from owners and occupiers of property in West Terrace, and also a letter from Mr. Alderman Sutton urging the Committee to remove the Luggage Porters Stand in this road.  It was resolved that the stand be removed to the Carriage Stand in the Terminus-road, opposite the railway refreshment rooms.’

This LPS plate illustrates the problems associated with their potential loss over time.  The first plate shown on the right was photographed in 1996 (picture courtesy of the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, Online Exhibit ES PH 0044, and featured in Richard Crook’s book ‘Eastbourne in Detail’).  It is located on the boundary wall of Eastbourne College adjacent to the Grange Road street-sign at the junction with Blackwater Road. 

The same plate was photographed again during the 2023 survey and was partially buried due to the pavement being reconfigured for better mobility access in this area and subsequent resurfacing.  

The plate after remedial work and painting by Bob Cookson.

Goat Chaise Stand (GCS).  Harold Spears informs us that these were small two wheeled carts pulled by goats.  They were led by a licensed attendant to take children for short rides.

The 1920 postcard shown right includes an illustration of a Goat Chaise by a father writing from the Albion Hotel, Eastbourne, to his daughter in Wales.  He writes ‘Dear Grace, we have seen some nanny-goat carriages with little girls in like you saw at Brighton like this (sketch of goat chaise).  I have no room for the little girl but she was like this, with a little dog like this (sketch of girl with dog on a lead).  Daddy x’

He also includes a sketch of an elephant (named Jumbo) with what appears to be an owl riding on its back, although it is unlikely that he saw this in Eastbourne!

Postcard below (courtesy of Kevin Gordon) showing one of the Brighton Goat Chaise’s referred to in the previous postcard.

Saddled Donkey Stand (SDS) and Saddled Pony Stand (SPS).  Both were used to give children rides.  There is an SDS plate opposite Grand Court near the WD stone/entrance to the Wish Tower grounds, but the only known SPS plate is stored by Heritage Eastbourne at the Town Hall (see ‘Plates Currently in Storage’).  It is presumably the one recorded at the Wish Tower in the 1973 and 1984 surveys, and was photographed in-situ in 1996 - see Eastbourne Heritage Centre Online Exhibit ES PH 0045.

Motor Char-a-banc (MCS).  The article in the 1984 booklet states ‘This one is a different shape with the letters in one line, and was obviously introduced later when this type of transport appeared on the streets applying for hire.  One of these is on the wall of the Wish Tower grounds, and another is on the wall of the Grand Hotel in Silverdale Road.’  The Wish Tower plate was photographed in-situ in 1996 (picture courtesy of the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, Online Exhibit ES PH 0040), and was recorded as still being in-situ in the 2013 survey, but has since gone missing.  The original location of the missing plate was found by carefully comparing the cement work and stones in the 1996 full size photograph to the pavement/wall today, and although the stones today are weathered and partially covered in moss and grass etc, the exact location was identified as being opposite the 'Grand Court 41-55' entrance (what3words: spice.august.mutual).  There does not appear to have been any pavement repair work done to the immediate area since the original photograph of the plate was taken, therefore any legitimate reason for its removal is a mystery.  Pictures of the current area can be found on the Licence Plate version of ‘Google My Maps.’  The Silverdale Road plate recorded in 1973 and 1984 has also gone missing.  Whether it was recorded in-situ in 2013 is unclear from the survey result. 

An article in the archive of Commercial Motor magazine dated 14th March 1922, and titled ‘Coaching From A Popular Seaboard Town’, is reproduced here (in part) with permission of the current publishers DVV Media Group. 

Referring to ‘Messrs Chapman of Eastbourne’ it informs us that they were established in the middle of the last century (1850’s), and virtually held a monopoly in the town with almost forty vehicles, mostly Dennis 28 seaters.  Prior to 1911, when five motor coaches were introduced, they had a stable of over four 400 horses.  The article goes on to describe the maintenance of the vehicles over the winter period, and explains that the garage where the overhauls are carried out is ‘hard by the company’s chief office at 1 Victoria Place.  It covers over half an acre, and the surrounding property which backs onto the garage walls is owned by the company, and is divided into cottages for the benefit of the driver employees, who can walk right from their homes into the garage without going into the street.  A Bowser underground petrol storage plant of 3,000 gallons capacity is installed in the garage, likewise oil tanks on the same principle.’  The article then explains the design and construction of the vehicles before discussing the parking arrangements in Eastbourne for coaches (Char-a-bancs) coming into town from surrounding areas.  Vehicles were required to drop their passengers just east of the pier before driving along Royal Parade ‘to the east of Beach Road to an open space known as Fisherman’s Green, where there is plenty of room for expansion.  Over 30 vehicles were accommodated at this spot on one day last year.’  Mention is also made of ‘The Cavendish Coach Co., the only other concern of any size operating coaches in Eastbourne…this company originally run under the name of Messrs. Bassett’s, is now owned and controlled by Mr W. Stretton…the fleet of coaches to be put on the road for the forthcoming season includes seven Napiers, one Studebaker, and one R.A.F. Crossley reconditioned model…’  The article then gives examples of Chapman’s tours to be conducted in 1922, including ‘Land’s End and the Cornish Riviera, 8 days, 15 Guineas’, or ‘Scotland – Inverness and Aberdeen, 20 days, 35 Guineas.’  The article finishes by giving details of the booking offices ‘Messrs. Chapman have three booking offices in Eastbourne, these being at Pier Head, Victoria Place, and Royal Parade, although most of the bookings for the longer journeys are affected at 33 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria, London, SW.’

The above picture is reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic licence from the Caravans and Charabancs Flickr album.  It shows a 1920’s Dennis Char-a-banc in Bournemouth, which would have been the same type as used by Chapmans in Eastbourne.

From a slightly earlier period, the 1911-1912 Ward Lock Guidebook to Eastbourne states ‘Char-a-bancs and motor cars run daily from the Grand Parade to places of interest in the neighbourhood…the usual starting times are 10.30 and 2.30…Beachy Head (morning 1 shilling, afternoon 1 shilling 6 pence), Hurstmonceux (sic) and Pevensey Castles (2 shillings 6 pence), Abbott’s Wood and Thornwell Gardens (2 shillings 6 pence).  The guide lists prices for various destinations over two pages.

Prior to the introduction of the motorised Char-a-bancs by Chapmans in 1911, there existed their horse drawn equivalent.  The postcard below is titled ‘Char á bancs starting from Chapmans.’  The photograph was obviously taken outside their offices in Victoria Place.

In Mick Hymans book ‘A History of Eastbourne’s Buses,’ he informs us on Page 44 in the section relating to 1918 that ‘In November, Mr William Chapman died aged eighty-three at his home in Pevensey Road.  Mr Chapman built and ran the first charabanc [horse drawn] in Eastbourne and for twenty-five years ran horse-drawn buses.  He owned the first motor charabanc in Eastbourne and was the first proprietor to run trips to Scotland and the West Country.’  Interestingly, on page 160 of George Meek’s book he mentions the coming of motorised vehicles and the effect it had on the Bath Chairmen.  He wrote ‘Till the motor came we could look forward to doing fairly well in August and September, and so being able to pay off old scores (debts).  But now we do rather worse during the summer season than at other times.  I am writing this on the 19th of August 1908.  During the month so far I have earned only one casual shilling… and the other men are standing about in glum hopelessness.’  Clearly, the advent of the motor age wasn't welcomed by everyone.

Additional Information: -

The full list of licence plates, including the what3words GPS locations, will appear on an interactive ‘Google My Maps’ by Summer 2024 on the Heritage Eastbourne website.  Click on any of the locations either on the main map or the list of the left-hand side to reveal photographs and a short description.  You will also be able to zoom in and out to pinpoint each location.  This Blog and the Google map can be updated at any time if any other plates come to light, or if any are lost in the future.

All photographs of the licence plates in this Blog were taken by the author unless attributed otherwise.

Sources: -

Previous ELHS articles referenced in this article can be found by purchasing the USB Data Stick ‘The Eastbourne Local History Society: The First 50 Years’ from the society, which contains copies of Issue 1 (Autumn 1970), through to Issue 198 (Winter 2020).  

Eastbourne Society Heritage Centre website.

Commercial Motor website.  Commercial Motor is a weekly magazine that was founded in 1905 by Edmund Dangerfield, it is notable for having been "the first journal to be devoted exclusively to the commercial vehicle engaged in the conveyance of goods or in passenger carrying".  Available from ‘archive.commercialmotor.com’ [accessed 26/09/23].

Bath Chair-Man by George Meek.

A History of Eastbourne’s Buses by Mick Hymans.

The main study/survey group led by Kevin Gordon included: Kim Adams, Dave Alston, Adrian Backshall, Keith Bell, Bob Cookson, Warwick Davies, Rosalind Hodge, Lionel Moth, Chris Searle, Paul Skinner, and with assistance from, Katherine Buckland (Heritage Eastbourne), Benedict Burbridge (Sussex University), and Richard Crook (The Eastbourne Society).

I would like to express my thanks to the following who have all helped me in one way or another over the past year since I started getting involved with the local history groups, and who have also made contributions to this article: Kevin Gordon, Kelly Van Doorn, Keith Bell, Richard Crook, and Bob Cookson.