Bibliography - Ron Martin
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Old Forge, Wadhurst, by R. Martin, published 1989 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 19, article, pp.37-40, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506526]   Download PDF

James Bassett started his business as a general smith in the 1880s and moved in about 1900 to the present site in Mayfield Lane, Durgates in the Parish of Wadhurst, map reference TQ 630322. Business had by then increased and was expanded to include carriage building and the buildings which still exist were then erected.
These comprise a single storey range containing two forges set back from the road and a two storied block to the north at right angles to the road with its front edge on the road line. Construction generally is of softwood studded walls covered with painted weather-boarding externally with continuous ranges of windows and with corrugated sheet steel roofs. The rear wall of the forges is in 215 mm thick brickwork. A later single storey extension to the rear contains remains of under-floor line shafting by which power from an electric motor was transferred to woodworking machinery. A brick-built cottage adjacent to the forge to the south was built in 1906 and is still occupied by the grandson of the founder.

Experimental Cement Shaft Kiln at Beddingham, by Ron Martin, published 1992 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 22, article, pp.21-35, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506526]   Download PDF

The Society was invited in Summer 1989 by Blue Circle Industries Plc. To survey the kiln situated at their landfill site at Beddingham in East Sussex.

Estate Buildings at Brook House, by Pat Bracher, Ron Martin and W. R. Beswick, published 1993 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 23, article, pp.32-37, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

Brook House is a substantial mansion largely built during the last quarter of the nineteenth century by the Clarke family. The following articles outline the history of the family and the business that they operated. This is followed by detailed surveys of two notable estate buildings, a game larder and a gas house. To conclude there is a description of an acetylene gas producing plant formerly at Horam Church Hall which would have been similar to the one at Brook House which has not survived.

Ice Houses in Sussex, by Ron Martin, published 1994 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 24, article, pp.10-23, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/24] & The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

This article concerns the domestic ice houses in East and West Sussex, as distinct from the commercial ones which were described in the article by the author in Sussex Industrial History, Issue 14.

Estate Industry at the Hyde, Handcross, by Ron Martin, published 1994 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 24, article, pp.37-39, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/24] & The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

Bread Oven at Slindon Old Bakery, by Ron Martin, published 1994 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 24, article, pp.39-40, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/24] & The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

The original ovens at the Slindon Old Bakery were replaced in the 1930s by what was then modern technology in the form of a two deck hot air peel oven. Prior to that many of the small country bakeries were equipped with side flue ovens such as the one at Ore Hastings, described in the Society's Newsletter No.77.

Windmill Hill Mill, Herstmonceux, by Martin Brunnarius and Ron Martin, published 1995 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 25, article, pp.18-21, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

During the 1994 Society mill tour of East Sussex we visited Windmill Hill post mill to view the work described by Ron Martin later in this article. This has saved the mill from possible collapse.
This hand winded post mill is particularly noteworthy not least for its size, in height certainly. The massive bulk of the body has dropped considerably during the occupation of the site. Allowing a foot (0.3 m) for this, then the roof ridge would have been at 50 ft. (15.2 m) above the ground, some 5 ft. higher than Cross-in-Hand post mill 5 miles north west of here. The body is also the largest standing in the county. The Exceptional height is due to the whole being raised on lofty piers which place the trestle inconveniently above the first floor as illustrated on Ron Martin's drawing.

Brighton General Hospital and Warren Farm School, by Ron Martin, published 1995 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 25, article, pp.25-28, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act advocated the formation of unions at several parishes to operate efficient new workhouses. The Brighton Guardians had already built a new workhouse only twelve years before, located above St. Nicholas' churchyard to the north of Church Street (TQ 307047). For this reason Brighton was the only parish in East Sussex not to conform to the pattern of joining a union to carry out the policy of the New Poor Law. However by the late 1840s the existing workhouse was found to be inadequate and the Guardians decided to build a larger one and also an industrial school. The latter was built in 1859 to the designs of George Maynard, the parish surveyor, on the land occupied by Wick Farm (TQ 351056). It comprised a two storied E-shaped block fronting onto Warren Road, the central seven bays and the central wing behind being three stories high. The design is plain with rendered walls and a hipped slate covered roof and mainly casement windows with mullions and transoms.
The school which was known as the Warren Farm Industrial Schools ceased its original function and became a children's home in the 1930s and subsequently had various other uses. In about 1955 it became the Fitzherbert R.C. Secondary School and was finally closed in 1987. It was proposed that it would become one of the new City Technology Colleges but this came to nothing and the buildings were finally demolished in 1994. Currently a Nuffield Hospital is being erected on the site.
In 1866 the Brighton Workhouse was built in Elm Grove (TQ 328052) on a seven acre site to the designs of George Maynard. The buildings erected at that time comprised the Workhouse proper (A Block, now Arundel building), Casual Wards adjacent to the main entrance (now demolished), the Infirmary (F Block, now Fletching Wards), Workhouse Nursery (G Block, now Glynde Building), Lunatic Wards (H Block, now Hollingbury Building), Fever and Foul Wards (probably J,K or L Blocks, now Jevington Building, Keymer Building and Lancing Building), together with a complete range of service buildings. Most of these buildings survive to this day but have been changed from their original use in many cases.

Bognor Regis Bus Station, by Ron Martin, published 1995 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 25, article, pp.34-36, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

The bus station in High Street, Bognor was built in the 1930s to the designs of Clayton and Black, the Brighton architects for the Southdown Bus Company. It was the last remaining Southdown Bus Station dating from the 1930s and was demolished in June 1993 after a number of years being used as a market.

Kidbrooke Home Farm, Forest Row, by Eric C. Byford and Ron Martin, published 1995 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 25, article, pp.37-40, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

Originally Kidbrooke Home Farm was situated in the grounds of Kidbrooke Park estate, on the east side of Priory Road and immediately north of the former farm entrance to the estate. The still existing eighteenth century barn and reconstructed milking parlour, beside the road, indicate the location of the complex as it was before 1927. (TQ 418345)

Uckfield Union Workhouse, by Ron Martin, published 1996 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 26, article, pp.32-35, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

The Board of Guardians of the Uckfield Union Workhouse was formed in 1835 and a 6.1 ha (15.1 acres) site was acquired at Ridgewood at the east side of Lewes Road (map reference TQ 477196). Plans were drawn up in 1837 for a Workhouse for 350 paupers to the designs of W.E. Kendall, architect, of Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London to be built on this site. This comprised a three storied structure in Maltese cross plan form. A full range of facilities was provided including Male and Female accommodation, Dining Hall and Kitchen, Offices and Board Room, Nursery, Washhouse, Disinfectant House and Workshops. In later years this building was known as High View House, a name now encapsulated in the name Highview Lane being the access road to the recently built housing estate.

Bread oven at 15 Western Street, Brighton, by Ron Martin, published 1996 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 26, article, pp.36-37, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

In the course of renovation work at No.15 Western Street, Brighton a bread oven was uncovered in the basement. This property was built as a semi-detached pair (with No.16) between 1808 and 1821 and is three stories high with a projecting bay to each property and a parapet. From 1822 - 1850, No.15 was occupied by William Hearsey a baker, and from 1852 - 1862 by Henry Ewer, a bread and biscuit maker. It was known as No.2 Norfolk Street until 1833 and No.9 Western Street, until 1939. Presumably Henry Ewer died and his widow Elizabeth took over the business and carried it on until 1875. In the 1876 Directory James Smith is listed as the occupier and from 1877 to 1916 Ben Bishop, as a baker. For the next two years it was used as a registry office and from 1920 to 1940 by a Mrs. Otway, a hairdresser, then by Harold Ruddick & Co, mechanical engineers and for a few years by Mrs. Wagstaff an antique dealer. Since 1964 it has been occupied by various restaurants, the Cafe Mignon, the Safari Room, Au Pied du Cochon and latterly Le Grandgousier.

Sheffield Park Garden Stone Bridge and Sluice, by Ron Martin, published 1997 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 27, article, pp.2-7, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

Sheffield Park is one of the jewels in the crown of the National Trust in Sussex and is located in the parish of Fletching at TQ 4124. It comprises 120 acres (40 hectares) of ornamental garden on a sloping site running down from the House to a stream at the bottom of a valley in which runs a tributary of the River Ouse. This stream has been dammed to create the two Woman's Way Ponds. There are two other lakes between the Upper Woman's Way Pond and the House, the Middle Lake and the Ten Foot Pond and to the southwest side of the garden is the Storage Pond. The House is no longer part of the estate. The Stone Bridge, which is the subject of this article, is located at the outlet of the Ten Foot Pond and for purposes of descriptions, the bridge is assumed to be orientated due north - south with the Ten Foot Pond at the west side. The bridge was investigated in January and February 1997, during the period that it was being demolished prior to reconstruction.

Some Sussex Lime Kilns, by Ron Martin, published 1997 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 27, article, pp.34-39, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

This article is the result of the beginnings of a survey of lime kilns in Sussex and will be complemented by a further one when the research is completed. I have started with some general remarks about the uses of lime and finished with the description of three lime kilns which have been surveyed.

Sussex Watermills, by Frank Gregory and Ron Martin, published January 1997 (120 pp., Seaford: S. B. Publications, ISBN-10: 1857701348 & ISBN-13: 9781857701340) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

61 skilfully executed pen-and-ink sketches of watermills in Sussex which Frank Gregory produced in 1936 when the cost of photographic materials forced him to resort to less expensive means of recording mills.

Brighton Station - an architectural and historical appraisal, by Keith Leicester and Ron Martin, published 1998 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 28, article, pp.4-11, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527]   Download PDF

The London and Brighton Railway Act was passed in 1837 authorising the London and Brighton Railway Company to construct a route with branches both to Shoreham in the west and to Lewes and Newhaven in the east. Construction was commenced in 1838 and in July 1841 the track was opened from London to Haywards Heath and extended to Brighton in September 1841. The Shoreham branch had opened earlier in May, 1840 and the branch to Lewes and Newhaven was to open in December, 1847. The London and Brighton Railway Company combined with the London and Croydon Railway Company in 1846 to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).

Keymer No. 1 Brickworks, Burgess Hill, by Martin Ron, published 2000 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 30, article, pp.32-39, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/30] & The Keep [LIB/506528]   Download PDF

This site was surveyed by the writer with the assistance of Peter Holtham in January and February, 2000 prior to its imminent demolition before development for housing.

King's Standing, Crowborough, by Ron Martin, published 2001 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 31, article, pp.28-35, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506529]   Download PDF

"Germany Calling" was William Joyce's (Lord Haw-Haw's) catch phrase from quite early in WWII, his first broadcast being in September, 1939. The British response was to set up a network of short wave transmitters based at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire under the control of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE) with the object of countering the enemy propaganda. Most of this material was of a comparatively innocuous nature, and was really preaching to the converted.
In May 1941 a more ambitious project got the backing of the Prime Minister to use German wavelengths to transmit confusing broadcasts and Harold Robin, the chief Engineer was sent to USA to purchase a large transmitter for £165,000.
There was a search on for a suitable site for the transmitter. By now it was being jocularly known as the "Aspidistra" after the Gracie Fields song "The Biggest Aspidistra in the World" and this was shortened to ASPI. The first one was ASPI 1 and subsequent ones numbered consecutively. A 70 acre site was eventually found on the Ashdown Forest near the parish of Crowborough at King's Standing 620 feet above sea level and work commenced to excavate a large hole to house the transmitter. At first, the task seemed interminable until a team of Canadian Engineers, stationed nearby, were brought in, extensively bribed with the promise of unlimited quantities of beer and the excavation was completed within six weeks. The rest of the building works was carried out by a team of 600 men working round the clock.
There were also two Parasitic Aerial Tuning Buildings in underground bunkers, and a third bunker under the Driven Tower Mast which was on top of and accessible from the main bunker. In the eastern Parasitic bunker was located ASPI 2 and this could be used as a backup in case ASPI 1 failed!
Other buildings that were erected in 1941-42 were the No.1 Power House and Cooling Tower, the Transformer House, the Power Maintenance Workshop, which was also believed to have been used by Harold Robin as his office, and two pillboxes.
The first broadcast made from King's Standing was in November 1942, when in support of the Torch Landings in North Africa, President Roosevelt's nephew spoke in French to the Vichy French. However there were still disagreements between PWE and the BBC and for a time ASP1 1 was only used by the BBC for their European Service.
In addition to this a new short-wave transmitter (ASP1 3) was installed at Crowborough in a building known as the "Cinema" because of its similarity to a 1930s cinema building.

Ifield Steam Mill, Crawley, by Ron Martin, published 2002 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 32, article, pp.30-38, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506530]   Download PDF

The building is located off Rusper Road, at the rear of the car park serving the village green. The original access via Mill Lane has now been blocked off. The mill is located at TQ 2504 3787. The former windmill was originally located a few yards to the east of the Steam Mill. For the purposes of description the front of the mill is deemed to face due east. Room numbers have been shown on the plan using the prefix "G" for ground and "F" for first floor rooms respectively. The mill, having been recently vandalised, many of the vulnerable doors and windows have been blocked or boarded up and the former have been shown on the drawings as extant in August 2000, but cross-hatched. The mill had been recently partly converted into a craft centre but these alteration have been largely ignored in this survey.

Former Pug Mill, London Road, Burgess Hill, by Ron Martin, published 2002 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 32, article, pp.39-40, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506530]   Download PDF

The site of the pug mill is in the car park area at the rear of Stockwell Court in London Road, Burgess Hill, at TQ 3070 1509 and it was used prior to its demolition as a store.

Cocking Lime Works, by Ron Martin, published 2003 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 33, article, pp.23-31, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506531]   Download PDF

This survey was stimulated by the article by George Cloke published in Sussex Industrial History 30 (2000) on the history of the Midhurst Whites Brickworks. Cocking was the source of lime which was one of the constituent materials for the manufacture of sand lime bricks.

History of Shoreham Cement Works, by Ron Martin, published 2004 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 34, article, pp.26-35, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506532]   Download PDF

Located in the Adur Valley at TQ 200086, are the remains of the Shoreham Cement Works. Although mainly within the parish of Upper Beeding, successive owners have always referred to the site as "Shoreham". It was built on both sides of the A283 road at the east side of the River Adur and the 1861 Shoreham to Horsham railway line. The existing works was built between 1946 and 1952 as a state of the art design and was finally closed in 1991.

Balcombe Road Forge, Crawley, by Ron Martin, published 2004 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 34, article, pp.38-40, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506532]   Download PDF

The forge was located on the east side of Balcombe Road, Crawley at TQ 2979 3675 and was an L-shaped building, the short leg being at the rear of the site, orientated north to south and this has been referred to this as the "original forge" with the more recent extension running east to west toward the road.

Swanbourne Pump House, Arundel - an architectural appraisal, by Ron Martin, published 2005 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 35, article, pp.14-19, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506533]   Download PDF

In Sussex Industrial History No. 34, Tony Baxter covers the history of the site and the description of the machinery of the Swanbourne Pump House. This article is concerned mainly with the building and its environment and the possible design of the water wheel, which preceded the turbine. For the purpose of description in this article the side of the pump house facing the tail pond is deemed to face due east.

West Cliff Railway, Hastings - Engine Room, by Ron Martin and Clem Gill, published 2006 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 36, article, pp.31-37, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506534]   Download PDF

The West Hill Cliff Railway runs from the Bottom Station in George Street, Hastings to the Top Station on the West Cliff at TQ 821095. The line runs approximately south to north and this orientation has been used for all descriptions in this article.

Lavington Park (Seaford College) - Pump House, by Ron Martin, published 2007 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 37, article, pp.7-15, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506535]   Download PDF

Lavington Park is situated to the west of the A285 Petworth to Chichester road immediately to the south-west of Duncton village. It is located entirely within the parish of East Lavington. The house was originally built in 1589 by Giles Garton but it was rebuilt in 1790-94. The estate had various owners and in 1936 was owned by the Wallace family, Mrs, Wallace being the daughter of Sir Edwin Lutyens. During WWII it served as a commando HQ and in 1946 was bought by Rev. C. E. Johnson for the present owners, Seaford College.

Rottingdean Mill, by Ron Martin, published 2008 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 38, article, pp.9-16, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506536]   Download PDF

Rottingdean Mill is located on Beacon Hill at TQ 365024, 160 m north of the South Coast Road, A259. It is an octagonal four storey smock mill on a substantial single storey base of flint rubble, rendered and tarred externally with brick lacing courses and birdsmouth angles. In the base there were two doors, facing east and west, with brick quoins. After the mill ceased working these were infilled with herringbone brickwork, the eastern one only partly so, the remaining space being filled with a steel door, which currently provides access to the mill. Inside, square openings in the walls and odd bits of timber projecting from the brickwork, suggest that the base has been heightened at some time during the mill's working life, the floor levels being changed accordingly. The transition from a low structure with common sails that could be reefed from the ground to a taller one with self-adjusting patent sails meant that no stage was ever required.

Duncton Mill, by Ron Martin, published 2009 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 39, article, pp.28-35, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/39]   Download PDF

Duncton Mill is located at SU 9641 1662 in the parish of Duncton within a complex known as Duncton Mill Farm and owned by the Barlavington Estate. The farm comprises a farmhouse, a barn, a row of pig sties, an apple press and various other buildings as well as the mill. It is currently used as a conference centre and fish farm. Water to operate the mill comes from a small spring at the foot of the Downs, which flows northwards to meet the stream which runs from Lavington Park into Chingford Pond and thence into Burton Mill Pond, eventually to meet the western River Rother.

Warehouse Building at No. 4 Winding Street, Hastings, by Ron Martin, published 2010 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 40, article, pp.11-18, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506537]   Download PDF

The site is located at grid reference TQ 8248 0956 at No. 4 Winding Street, Hastings and is at the rear (east side) of and contiguous with No. 54 High Street. This latter building is domestic in nature and throughout this article has been referred to as "No. 54" and the building on No. 4 Winding Street has been referred as "The Warehouse".

Preston Manor Pump House and Well: A Survey Report, by Ron Martin, published 2012 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 42, article, pp.7-8, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/42] & The Keep [LIB/506539]   Download PDF

Former Printing Works in St. John's Street, Chichester, by Ron Martin, published 2013 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 43, article, pp.2-11, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/43] & The Keep [LIB/507840]   Download PDF