R.N.V.R./DOWNS LAUNDRY

Meeching Road

By Colin Holden

Photo:R.N.V.R. Headquarters, my grandfather Robert Holden seen here in the white apron, he played the base drum and lived at 99 Chapel Street.

R.N.V.R. Headquarters, my grandfather Robert Holden seen here in the white apron, he played the base drum and lived at 99 Chapel Street.

Photo:Robert Holden,1880`s Dalhouse, India. He married Elizabeth Howell and before 99 Chapel Street they lived at 55 Saint Lukes Lane. Robert was a Carrier and had his stables between Meeching Road and South Road.

Robert Holden,1880`s Dalhouse, India. He married Elizabeth Howell and before 99 Chapel Street they lived at 55 Saint Lukes Lane. Robert was a Carrier and had his stables between Meeching Road and South Road.

Photo:The staff of Downs Laundry.

The staff of Downs Laundry.

Photo:The Brighton registration number "CD" would suggest this photograph of the Downs Laundry`s Model T Ford van to have been taken in the early 1920`s.

The Brighton registration number "CD" would suggest this photograph of the Downs Laundry`s Model T Ford van to have been taken in the early 1920`s.

This page was added by Colin Holden on 29/09/2009.
Comments about this page

My Mum, Ellen Gilbert (nee Bryce) is the young lady at the right of the front row. She often used to talk about working at the Downs Laundry. Her favourite story was about her being called in to the manager one day. He apparently looked at her very seriously and started "I'm very sorry, Miss Bryce, but..." She thought she was going to be sacked, but it turned out she had been underpaid since she started and she was going to get all her arrears of pay. She'd never had so much money in one go.

By Andy Gilbert
On 04/03/2008

My family rented the flat on the top floor above the Laundry, it's where I was born - I'm not saying when though!

By Carol Walton (nee Eager)
On 02/04/2008

Colin, you mentioned the stables between South and Meeching Roads.  I remember them being used as lock ups or garages. There were cobbled lanes or more correctly 'twittens' running parallel with South, Meeching, Norman and Saxon Roads from Hill Rise to what is now South Way, wide enough for a car to drive down. What a great bit of town planning.

By Rob Patten
On 04/06/2008

With reference to Peter Baileys article in this week's Sussex Express (1.5.2009) I feel that I can fill in some of the history since the laundry closed.

As far as I can remember, there was a fire at the premises some time during the 60's. Although the laundry was still in existence when the building was refurbished the actual laundering was carried out at another premises in Old Town, Eastbourne. Local laundry orders were only collected and delivered on the ground floor at Meeching Road.

The factory area in the basement was occupied by a small motor repair business and a very small amount of printing by unskilled staff. I had been in the printing trade for 25 years and, through the threat of redundancy, I was looking for premises to start my own printing business. I offered to buy the existing business out, known as Newhaven Press, and my offer was accepted. I continued to trade there as Newhaven Press for 25 years until technology overtook me. I was due for retirement then any way so I closed the business in 1995. Other businesses were in other parts of the building, however soon after, the building was converted into flats and that is the way it is today.

I hope that this fills in some history that may be of interest to some people.

By Derek Pragnell
On 09/05/2009
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