Victoria Drive

Through the pages of this paper we have taken a look at various aspects of the history of Bognor Regis, its people and buildings, but there is one element that we do not really consider, that of where we live.

In many instances it is very easy to place your house or road into a particular historical context. However for other areas this is not so easy. I worked extensively on one particular area of the town, as part of the Millennium Project for BY2K, and this was the northern section of Victoria Drive from Linden Road to Chichester Road, seems to cover such a diverse range of styles and embraces three centuries and is constantly changing, even since 2000.

TIn 1887 the Kelly’s Directory of Sussex reported on a new development, thus: - “Several fine residences have been erected, and the Victoria Drive of more than a mile in length, communicating with the sea and connecting Bognor and South Bersted, is planted with trees on either side, forming an extremely pleasant boulevard.” Originally the estate was to be known as the Victoria Park Estate and was designed by Arthur Smith, a local architect, as part of a larger scheme in the late 1860’s. He was also the architect for the Picturedrome, Reynolds Depository and the Royal Hotel.

This grandiose plan was for 351 buildings in an Italian Renaissance style, but it never fully came to fruition. These developments were being considered at a time when the Railway and Pier constructions were taking place, so we have to assume that people were being attracted to this sleepy seaside resort and hence this need for larger houses, compared with the previously built smaller homes.

TIn the 1920’s some of the very large gardens were sold off and other detached properties built, no doubt partly due to the fact that post First World War servants and gardeners were more difficult to find. Very little business life affected the street; however there have been a number of uses for some of the properties including St. Olives School that was run at No. 107 from the 1930s to the mid 1960s.

In the 1960s major changes occurred due to the increased need for flats and bedsits.

Victoria Drive was to have its share as either the larger, older houses were converted whilst others were demolished for blocks of flats to be built. Land was becoming a greater asset and developers increased their need to purchase land and develop increased density housing.

At this time a number of houses were demolished such as when Courtfield House was built in the grounds of No. 129. These three storey buildings were indicative of their time, promising a mature location in a tree lined Ave., near the beach, close to shops and facilities. Security was a priority and these homes were advertised with smoke alarms, door entry systems etc.

Another major change was taking place in the mid 1970s. A new roundabout was built on the Chichester Road, which included a re-routing of the traffic flow at the northern end of Victoria Drive. This allowed people to speed through Victoria Drive, especially the northern section as a detour from the main A259 to the other parts of the town.

During the 1980s another change was to affect the use of the area. With the increasing need for Nursing and Residential Care homes, many of the larger houses were somewhat suitable for this new ‘industry’ and today we still have four establishments, although many have closed down in recent years, the latest being during 1999.

Another facet of the Drive has been Bed and breakfast accommodation. This is always required in a seaside resort and we still have two popular establishments today. However during the 1950s there was also a hotel at No. 100, coupled with numerous smaller bed and breakfast establishments during the summer seasons.

In 1990 a number of bungalows on the corner of Victoria Drive and Linden Road were demolished and replaced by a range of housing for a Housing Association. In 1999, there were 9 detached houses built on land that was previously a house and grounds, which had been derelict for a number of years.

The road is still lined with trees as was originally planned and it is still possible to recognise the original Victoria Drive and imagine what it must have been like to live in this leafy Drive in the 1890’s.

However the biggest change of all is the amount of traffic that daily disturbs the peace of this Victorian Boulevard.

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