Marine Park Gardens

I recently came across a newspaper article from July 1967 extolling the virtues of a new development in the town. The report talked of the changing face of Bognor Regis with regard to the "latest example of modernity so quickly establishing itself in the heart of serene and defiant Victorianism." The report continued, "it is the start of what the planners hope to make into a British Estoril, Barritz, Monte Carlo or Las Palmas - svelte, elegant and progressive in the modern trend of architecture."

With such a report I obviously had to look further into the whole development, and was quite surprised at what I found. The area in question is around the Marine Park Gardens of Aldwick, West Bognor. However first we should look back to the beginning of the development in this particular area. It was in 1926 when the Bognor Regis Urban District Council purchased an area of 23 1/2 acres of land with a boundary of the Aldwick Road, the Esplanade and Mill Lane, today known as Nyewood Lane.

Mr. W.H.B. Fletcher owned this land and as a result of an auction at the Royal Norfolk Hotel the Council paid £15,500. Mr. Fletcher retained the rights to the seafront, foreshore and tamarisk hedge, hoping that in the future they would pass to the local authority. The Council then proceeded to sell some of the land to developers but the Council retained a length of land running parallel to the sea to be developed as a public garden. This was then to become the Marine Park Gardens we know today.

In 1931 there was a brochure produced by H.W. Seymour, developer and local builder, with regard to a new development, that of the Marine Park Estate.

The brochure reported that, "It was designed with a view to refreshing the memories of those who are acquainted with the district of West Sussex; it is a straightforward statement of fact, devoid of sentiment or stupid padding and will, we hope, create in those contemplating retirement or residence in the South, a desire for further detailed information." The brochure reported on the climate and vicinity, and also advised future purchases about the type of homes, bricks, mortgages etc. that were to be available, and continued, "The Marine Park Estate is Freehold, and lies immediately on the West of Bognor Regis, but enjoys the facilities offered by the town in respect to electricity, water, gas, main drainage." Advertising literature still used the visit of the King on a positive note, with comments like, "the sea front is continuous with that of Craigwell House and Aldwick, and thus offers the sheltered healthfulness and wholesomeness, that was such a telling factor in guiding His Majesty's Physicians to select Bognor Regis as the venue for His Majesty's convalescence."

This estate was finally developed and was to consist of the area we now know of as Wessex Avenue, Princess Ave. Selsey Ave. Kings Parade and Silverston Ave and no doubt they were to enjoy the attributes of this estate as described further in the brochure that the estate was "so situated that invasion by trippers, charabanc parties and others is indeed a remote contingency. Thus, residents can enjoy the quiet serenity of the seaside, minus the jangle of bands, Pierrots and other

impediments, inevitable common to more public parts."

By 1935 the work had also been completed on these gardens, and they were opened by William Fletcher, who performed the opening ceremony by cutting a ribbon with a special pair of scissors. Many years later the Bognor Regis Local History Society also used these scissors when they performed the opening ceremony of their Museum in Hotham Park.
In 1936 the gardens were to be well illuminated, as they appeared to be flat, with no trees, the illuminations were to enliven the area. The main decorative feature of the park was the fountain, which had an incredible 63 jets of water which 'emitted whirling sprays of water' over the figure in the centre. There were also 4 floodlights with special silvered glass reflectors to play on the water sprays, which was to make a focal attraction in the park.

The next major event for this area was that reported at the beginning of this article: in 1967 when another development was to take place, the main contractors were advertising the construction of "Marine Parade" on Kings Parade.
The development was to consist of an "ultra-modern group of elegant flats for those who are seeking only the best for living on the coast." These flats were offered for sale from £6,250 to £8,500 each with a ground rent of £30 per annum, which I am a sure today's resident would welcome! The flats were to be fully carpeted and with maximum sound insulation. I was interested to read that one of the attributes of these flats was the introduction "From across the Atlantic at last comes the highly effective automatic porter

operating from the outer lobby door on the ground floor when the flesh and blood porter locks up at dusk. This consists of a microphone for callers, etc. etc." An interesting addition then, but one, which today we take as normal in blocks of flats.

These constructions were not without opposition from other local residents, because they believed that they broke a covenant, which stated that "no house or building erected on any part of the land shall be used for any other purpose than as a private or professional resident, or as a private school or for the letting of apartments." Those opposing these developments felt that any relaxation in rulings would "lead to the collapse of the whole system of control on the estate."
In 1968 Princess Alexandra visited Bognor Regis to open the Russell Hotel, which had just recently been purchased by the London Association for the Blind and been adapted to take blind and partially sighted guests. Whilst in Bognor Regis she also opened a scented garden, which was created by the Bognor Regis Urban District Council in Marine Park Gardens, which at that time contained eighteen different varieties of aromatic plants, each with a nameplate printed in Braille.

Regretfully this garden has been lost over the years but in 1999 the Aldwick Parish Council proposed to recreate such an area of garden with strongly scented flowers and herbs, as part of their Millennium projects. However I am not sure whether this was ever completed.
If you join the people who regularly walk around the Marine Park Gardens, I think you will be surprised at what you can find. Firstly well kept and maintained gardens, which are well used by all age groups. However if you look deeper you will find a number of commemorative plaques. One such is to Mr. Mrs. Bill Draper who spent many hours in the park, but Bill spent time with his father in the designing stages of the park. There is another sign, providing an interesting glimpse into the past history of the clock, which overlooks the park.

Finally across the road at Sandmartins, the

Retirement home there is a Council Blue Plaque denoting that this was the site chosen by the author R.C. Sherriff, to build his home and from where he wrote "Journey's End" and also his "Fortnight in September," which tells the story of a family coming from London by train to spend their holiday in Bognor.

I am of course aware that the Aldwick Parish Council has plans for this area, as part of their work in this section of their district. However I am sure that many people, like myself were quite unaware of the history and development of this community in the town.

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