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Portslade ‘Old Village’ is to Portslade what Southwick Square is to Southwick…

…and Old Shoreham is to, well, Shoreham. It’s tucked away off the main road and is a delight to the eye, but knowing where to look and how to find it is essential.

Leading up from the Old Shoreham Road, substantial properties quickly appear on the right-hand side of Locks Hill starting with Loxdale and Portslade Lodge. Locks Hill becomes South Street where Whychcote and the brewery (today occupied by Le Carbone) come next. Easthill House, Portslade Manor and St. Nicolas’s Church are all just a stone’s throw away.

Whychcote would never have been built had it not been for the brewery. The brewery, covering almost one acre, was built in 1881 (as is clearly stated on its grand chimney) for John Dudney. When Dudney was its proprietor, it was capable of producing one thousand barrels per week. Two brothers – Walter and Herbert Mews (aged 27 and 25 respectively) – bought it from him in 1884 for £17,000. Each brother then built a substantial residence in its close vicinity – Whychcote for Herbert in 1895 and Loxdale for Walter in 1899.

"Whychcote would never have been built had it not been for the brewery, built in 1881"

The reason for the choice of the name ‘Whychcote’, meaning ‘the home of the witch’, is uncertain. It is certainly an imposing building but not exactly a witch’s home. A woman thought to be a witch, however, did live in the area not long before the Mews brothers arrived.

Timbers (both inside and out), gables and chimneys characterise Whychcote, though its greatest attribute is perhaps its prime location on the village green. Interestingly, Andrew Melville, the owner of Whychcote during the 1930s, also owned the green and attempted to develop it. Another controversy took place in 1989 when it was discovered that Adur District Council wanted to turn Whychcote into a homeless hostel. Whychcote was bought for £357,000 in 2000 and the then owners carried out substantial works. It subsequently sold for a bargain £465,000 in 2002.

As Brighton and Hove feels the pinch of a national housing shortage, Portslade will one day have to take on a share of new residents. The replacement of dreary 1950s structures should provide an excellent opportunity to reintroduce flint, timber and other original materials using modern construction techniques. Let’s just hope that the developers know how to find their way to the Old Village for inspiration when the inevitable time comes.

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Bond partners LLP can assist you in escaping the vicious cycle of debt

Mr. X is a twenty-six year old financial adviser employed by one of the high street banks.

At the age of eighteen he obtained a personal loan to buy his first car. He found it very easy to obtain the credit and was able to make the monthly repayment from his salary. Finding that credit was so easy to acquire, he took advantage of a full range of credit card offers and he began to spend more and more money, using these cards. Eventually his monthly repayments totalled almost as much as his monthly salary, so he began to use one card facility to make the payment on another. Mr. X was now on the slippery slope, juggling minimum payments and shifting balances between cards, never achieving repayment of any card balance in full as mounting interest and late penalties were compounding his debt.

For seven years Mr. X continued to make payments to his card suppliers. He estimates that he had paid out a total of approximately £100,000 and still was unable to clear the balances and move on with his life. During this time, Mr. X’s girlfriend was also using her income to support him, her family rallied support by allowing him to live with them in their home, free of charge, while Mr. X tried to stabilize his situation. Unfortunately, Mr. X could not get control of his finances, so his girlfriend and parents eventually gave him an ultimatum, stating that either he would have to start contributing or move out.

By this point Mr. X still had unsecured debts that were totaling approximately £70,000. Bankruptcy was not an option, as being a financial advisor for a bank he would lose his job.

Mr. X contacted Bond Partners LLP for our expert advice and a complete review of his circumstances.

Our client decided to propose an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) and in February 2007 his creditors accepted his proposal. His proposed contribution of £500 per month over five years will repay his creditors just over 32p in every pound, he is now able to get his life back on track and he has been able to continue his employment as a financial services adviser.

Previously our client had been paying virtually all his £2300 monthly take home pay to his creditors. He will be debt free in five years and will have achieved writing off over £45000 of his unsecured debts.

Andrew Kay finds rural charm and city style in Henfield

Here I am in Henfield once again, one of the loveliest villages at the foot of the downs and one that is a thriving community with a wide range of activities and a full compliment of local shops, restaurants and pubs.

This time we are in a family house that has been converted from a former Victorian infants’ school built in 1844. So, given the fact that we are in a pretty rural setting and dealing with a period property that is over 150 years old, we might expect a rather rustic treatment.

The long maritime history of the area is clearly evident. For hundreds of years, until the First and Second World Wars, Newhaven had been a prosperous fishing port. Steeped in maritime history the port provided quick, easy access to Dieppe and the town continued to flourish with the navy based there. Newhaven still has a large fishing fleet and the Transmanche ferry link to France has daily runs to both Le Havre and Dieppe. Nothing could be further from the truth and when I discover that the developer is Lewis Watts, with the architect John Turner, I am not surprised. I came across their work in Brighton, at a development called Star Of Brunswick. There, they had ingeniously created a set of smart modern living environments from a former pub. This time they had a village school to play with, but it’s clear that the same deft hand has been at work.

On the ground floor the front door opens into a square hallway. Straight ahead the stairs rise to the upper floor and a door opens into a coat cupboard. To the right, a door opens into the main living spaces. Initially you enter the dining space with large windows overlooking the lane outside. Behind, a sleek modern kitchen resists the urge to ‘go country’. Stylish modern fixtures punctuate cool minimal surfaces and storage. A peninsula unit divides the space and offers breakfast dining as well as a large work surface and sink.

From the kitchen, a door opens into a clever combined utility room and WC with lots of storage space.

Back in the kitchen dining area, glazed double doors open into a large sitting room. The windows throughout are traditional sash style but all using double glazed panels. The solid panelled doors, too, have been sourced to suggest a rural note, but in a modern way. Other than that, the look is clean-lined and minimal.

There is a further room off the main living room, ideally suited to a home office or child’s play room.

French doors open into the rear L-shaped south-facing garden with a slate paved patio and beyond a raised lawned area, although newly landscaped, already the air is filled with the scent of a honeysuckle in full flower.

"Solid panelled doors suggest a rural note, but in a modern way. Other than that, the look is clean-lined and minimal"

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, one en-suite and a separate family bathroom again fitted in smart contemporary style. Two of the bedrooms are double, one with en-suite WC and shower room. The second double has a feature window which goes from floor to ceiling and is the upper part of what was once the main school hall. It is a dramatic detail that highlights the architect’s and designer’s respect for the original building. The property also benefits from a ten year NHBC guarantee.

The Old School house offers an almost unique opportunity to buy into the pretty community of Henfield. Nep Town Road is a quiet property-lined lane on the southern edge of the village but all local amenities are only a short walk away.

For a family who craves the country life but wants a city-style environment, The Old School House may well be the answer.

Oakdene Homes have seen the potential for a bright, luxurious and leisurely future in historic Newhaven

Turning a derelict port into one of the most sought-after addresses on the South Coast, has sparked the regeneration of Newhaven. With the launch of new apartments overlooking the marina, its nearby beaches and the South Downs, now is the chance to make your investment in this up and coming area. An attractive coast road leads from Newhaven to Brighton only nine miles away.

The surrounding areas provide a wealth of leisure activities which include golf, walking, fishing, swimming, diving, sailing, kite surfing, football, rugby and much more. All of these can be found within a short distance from the marina.

The long maritime history of the area is clearly evident. For hundreds of years, until the First and Second World Wars, Newhaven had been a prosperous fishing port. Steeped in maritime history the port provided quick, easy access to Dieppe and the town continued to flourish with the navy based there. Newhaven still has a large fishing fleet and the Transmanche ferry link to France has daily runs to both Le Havre and Dieppe.

Newhaven has a small sandy beach, the only one between Worthing and Hastings and added attractions also include a historic Napoleonic fort. The marina itself is expanding and currently has berthing for some 300 vessels. Newhaven is now moving into the next stage of regeneration and is set to become one of the best leisure and recreational towns on the south coast.

As an aside, Lord Lucan’s car was found abandoned at Newhaven marina when he disappeared in 1974, causing speculation that he had sailed into the sunset never to return.

For many years much of the area has been neglected. However, Oakdene realised the potential of the town and over the next four years, with a £150 million construction scheme, will regenerate both the marina and Railway Quay to include luxury apartments, restaurants, bars, and other leisure facilities.

Oakdene’s Cape Grace offers the latest luxury one and two bedroom apartments situated on the water’s edge with magnificent views.

Oakdene Homes prides itself on a high level of specification being offered to each individual property with every apartment finished to an extremely high standard. Fully fitted kitchens by Paula Rosa include built-in double ovens with microwave, integrated fridge/freezers, washer dryers and dishwashers, all provided as standard. Ceramic flooring in kitchen and bathroom areas are supplied by Porcelanosa from their latest range.

In addition, all two bedroom apartments have en-suite facilities and built in wardrobes.

The development will eventually integrate a mixture of both listed and new buildings that will fully compliment each other. Carl Turpin, Chief Executive explained: "The interest regarding this development has been fantastic and the regeneration has been welcomed by all sections of the community."

Prices at The Cape currently start at £195,000 for a one bedroom apartment.
The marketing suite and show home is open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm. To find out more, call the sales team on 0800 032 9651 or log on to www.oakdenehomes.co.uk