While surfing the internet in general for items about Newhaven, I came across a site whose members specialise in locating and exploring tunnels throught the UK. Apart from the obvious one of HMS Forward at South Heighton which was mentioned on the site, the name Saxonholme is also mentioned as having a tunnel. The following information is taken from the website www.chelseaaspelaeo.org.uk
"Apparently a local rumour had it that a tunnel ran from the house to the Convent so in February 1977 two members of the Society persuaded the owner of Saxonholme to let them look and they actually gained access to the tunnel from an opening in the cellar. The tunnel was about 8m long with walls of stone, while the floor and the vaulted ceiling were brick. At the far end was a well, capped at floor level. A shaft ran upwards from the well and emerged in the middle of the garden above, where it was covered with a large stone slab. It is thought that the tunnel was constructed so that water could be carried from the well to the house without the need to go through the garden."
Was anybody in Newhaven aware of the existence of the cellar/Tunnel/Well during the demolition of the building, or did it just disappear under a pile of brick rubble I wonder?

I used to live in Meeching Place and had the keys to the cellar of the main building, down in this cellar there are bricked up arches and if you look at the garden fronting Church Hill there appears to be a regular undulation, suggesting possible tunnels leading out towards Church Hill. Unfortunately this would be the wrong direction to end up at Saxonholme!

This building used to be owned at one time by my uncle Arthur Bennett. When he first took over there were gardens all around the building with many apple trees and I remember having a great time collecting these, and eating a lot of them as well.

It is very sad to see the remains of Saxonholme just left to the ravishes of nature. This once, majestic building used to boast a sweeping, in and out drive lined with conker trees. Something at the back of my mind is telling me that the driveway used to rise and the main entrance door was where the middle window, on the first floor of the front elevation was of late. We, as youngsters, would knock on that door and asked if we could collect some of those conkers. Years later, I became a employee of Oxley and Bennett who became the owner of Saxonholme. This, gave me the chance to really "explore" this fine old building and it's grounds.

Bill Packham caught me scrumping there once, you could stand on the wall to the left of the house and reach the branches quite easily. Another time a lady was in the garden while I was helping myself and gave me a bag full. She frightened me more than Bill, I didnt go there again.

I remember, as a kid in the 1950s, standing in the front garden of " Saxonholme " with a crowd of others as a lady threw hands full of conkers to us from the top of her front steps.

Yes I remember that as well Doug !

John -- editor