Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons - A Prequel to the Front Line

 

Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons — A Prequel to the Front Line

"Before the roar of the Bofors guns and the miles of barbed wire defined our coastline, the beaches of Shoreham and Lancing were home to a much quieter kind of 'skeleton'.

My old school mate, John, who is a font of knowledge on all things railway, recently pointed out an essential detail regarding our local heritage. The 'skeleton' carriages we often talk about weren't just random relics; they were the primary building blocks of our coast, predating the 1923 Southern Railway grouping. These were the sturdy, wooden-bodied veterans of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).

The image at the top of this post captures the sheer grit of that era in 1905. Here, a team of six heavy horses is seen chest-deep in the River Adur, hauling one of these massive carriage bodies across to Shoreham Beach.

At this time, the Lancing Carriage Works hadn't even been built. These carriages were being 'recycled' from the Brighton Works—stripped of their heavy iron underframes (the true 'skeletons' the railway wanted to keep) and sold to locals for a few pounds.

It was an incredible feat of local haulage. These men and their horses navigated tidal waters and shifting shingle to deliver what would become dozens of homes. While they looks peaceful here, these 'carriage bungalows' were about to face two major enemies: the Great Storm of 1913, and eventually, the military evacuation orders of 1940 that would clear the way for the defences we’ll look at in Part 5."

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The 1940 "Evacuation of the Beach"

The military didn't just ask people to move; they effectively "deleted" the civilian presence to make way for the Coastal Crust defences.

  • The Two-Day Warning: Following the fall of France, residents of the Shoreham and Lancing bungalows were given roughly 48 hours to leave. For those living in the heavy railway carriage homes, this meant abandoning their "skeletons" entirely, as there was no way to move them back across the river in time.

  • The "Demolition Squads": Royal Engineers were tasked with clearing "dead ground"—areas where buildings blocked the sightlines from the Bofors guns and pillboxes. Many of those carriages that had survived the 1913 storm were either dismantled for timber or simply bulldozed into the shingle to prevent them from providing cover for German paratroopers.

  • The Barbed Wire Entanglements: Once the people were gone, the beach was laced with miles of Z-picket and Concertina wire. The tranquil scene of the 1905 horse-crossing was replaced by a landscape of "Admiralty Scaffolding" designed to impale landing craft at high tide.

The "Skeleton" Survivors

Interestingly, not every carriage was destroyed.

  • Military Repurposing: The army actually found the sturdy LB&SCR teak frames quite useful. Some carriages were kept as makeshift Battery Command Posts or storage for the Bofors ammunition because they were already bullet-proofed to an extent by their thick timber.

  • The Return: After the war, only a fraction of the owners returned to find their homes intact. This is why the "dozens" you remembered seeing in old photos dwindled down to the few clusters we see today at sites like Golden Sands.


Voices from the Shingle

Accounts from the time reflect a mixture of patriotic duty and personal heartbreak:

  • The Forced Abandonment: Many residents recalled the "feverish" atmosphere as they tried to pack a lifetime into a single suitcase. Because the carriages were "fixtures" on the shingle, owners had to leave behind their furniture, decorations, and the very walls of their homes.

  • The "Ghost Town" Effect: One local resident described the beach in the days following the order as an "eerie, silent village of empty boxes," where the only sound was the wind whistling through the carriage vents before the demolition crews arrived.

  • The Sight of Destruction: There are records of residents standing on the Shoreham side of the Adur, watching through binoculars as the Royal Engineers cleared the "obstructive" bungalows. Seeing the teak frames they had carefully maintained for decades being broken up for firewood or anti-tank obstacles was a devastating sight.

The Military's Perspective

From the soldiers' diaries, we get a different but equally vivid picture:

  • Repurposed Homes: Soldiers of the 1st LAA Regiment mentioned the strange feeling of sleeping in a "drawing room" that happened to be a railway carriage. They used some of the more substantial bungalows as mess halls or command posts because the thick timber offered better protection than a tent.

The "Pom-Pom" Guard: They wrote about the constant salt spray and the difficulty of keeping the Bofors guns free from the grit and shingle that the wind whipped up around their emplacements.
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By the end of June 1940, the bohemian spirit of the beach had been replaced by a haunting silence. The 'Skeleton' carriages, which had stood as symbols of seaside freedom since 1905, were now empty shells in a restricted zone. Families stood on the banks of the Adur, looking back at a 'ghost town' of abandoned homes they might never see again. The stage was now cleared of its actors, the barbed wire was being uncoiled across the shingle, and the heavy metal of the 1st LAA Regiment was moving into position. The peaceful era of the carriage was over; the era of the Bofors gun had begun.

Mapping the "Guts" for Part 5

To make the transition to the Bofors guns as graphic as possible, here is where those emplacements were actually "dug in" relative to the homes:

  • The Shoreham Fort Battery: A major concentration of firepower was at the Old Fort, protecting the harbour entrance. The "dozens" of carriages nearby were cleared to ensure the guns had a 360-degree traverse.

  • The Lancing Gap: Because the Lancing Carriage Works was such a massive target, Bofors guns were stationed at intervals along the shingle to catch low-flying raiders coming in from the sea.

  • Repurposed Foundations: In some cases, the concrete pads or "hard-standing" created for the carriage bungalows were actually used as the base for the gun mounts, as they provided a level surface on the shifting shingle.

The Human Element: "The Pom-Pom Boys"

The crews of the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment became a part of the local landscape.

  • The Sound of War: Local residents who hadn't been evacuated (those further inland) recalled the "pom-pom-pom" rhythm of the Bofors guns during the "tip-and-run" raids on the Works.

  • The Vigil: These men lived in those sandbagged emplacements 24/7, staring at the horizon where the peaceful horse-drawn carriages had once been the only thing moving.

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Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Part 8 : The Final Reveal – The Skeletons in the Garden


While Lancing Carriage Works opened in 1912, the tradition of carriage building in our area goes back much further. Before Lancing, the "Brighton" (LB&SCR) built its carriages at the Brighton Works (next to Brighton station) starting as early as 1848.

The Method of Construction

When we talk about "skeleton" in terms of construction, it often refers to the underframe.

  • Early Days (Pre-1880s): Carriages were essentially "all-wooden." The frame, the body, and the wheels were made of timber (often teak or oak).

  • The "Skeleton" Phase (Late 1800s): As trains got heavier and faster, engineers moved to iron or steel underframes. The "skeleton" was the sturdy metal chassis that did all the work, while the wooden body (the "box" for passengers) was just bolted on top.

  • The Transition: By the time Lancing opened in 1912, this was the standard. Lancing was built specifically because these new metal-framed carriages were too large and heavy for the old, cramped Brighton Works to handle efficiently.


These could be the designs by William Stroudley (the 1870s/80s) or Robert Billinton (the 1890s). These carriages were being built and maintained at Brighton decades before the first brick was laid at Lancing.


The Lancing Connection

Even if the designs were older, Lancing became the "home" for them after 1912. The works didn't just build new stock; they were the primary place for repairing and "re-bodying" those older LB&SCR frames. They would take an old "skeleton" underframe from the 1890s, strip off the worn-out wood, and build a fresh carriage body on top.

In the early 20th century—especially when the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) was clearing out old stock to make room for the modern fleet at Lancing—selling off carriage bodies was a common practice.

The Journey by Horse and Wagon

 Since these carriages were being sold without their "skeleton" metal underframes (which the railway kept for scrap or reuse), they were just wooden boxes.

  • The Logistical Challenge: A standard carriage body was about 26 to 30 feet long. To move one, a local buyer would indeed arrive with a "timber carriage" (a long, adjustable horse-drawn wagon) and a team of heavy horses—usually Shires or Punches.

  • The Route: They would have trundled out of the Lancing Works gates, likely heading toward Shoreham or along the coast. Because these loads were so wide and top-heavy, it was a slow, precarious journey through the narrow lanes of the time.

Why were they being sold?

When the Lancing Works opened in 1912, they were transitioning to much longer, bogie-mounted carriages. The old 4-wheeled and 6-wheeled "Stroudley" carriages from the 1870s and 80s were considered obsolete.

  • The Price of a Home: Around 1900–1910, you could buy a redundant carriage body from the LB&SCR for about £10 to £15.

  • "Bungalow Town": Many of these ended up just a mile or two away at Shoreham Beach. People would buy two or three, set them parallel to each other, and build a roof over the gap to create a "railway bungalow."


Proof of the "Skeleton" Method

Looking closely at the carriage, you can see it is just the wooden body sitting atop a horse-drawn trolley. The heavy iron "skeleton" (the railway underframe and wheels) has been removed, making the body light enough—relatively speaking—to be hauled by those six powerful horses.

Since this photo is dated 1905, these carriages definitely predate the Southern Railway (1923) and even predate the Lancing Carriage Works (1912). This means:

  • The carriage was almost certainly built at the Brighton Works.

  • It was likely sold off as surplus "Brighton" (LB&SCR) stock as they began modernising their fleet at the turn of the century.

Haulage Event (1905): Recorded a team of six horses hauling an LB&SCR carriage body across the Adur to "Bungalow Town." This confirms the "skeleton" repurposing was happening well before Lancing Works opened.

Sincere thanks to the Lancing history group members: the late John Drewett for the 'saw-tooth' records; Cyril Morris for memories of his father’s trade; Jenny Sampson for the social sparkle; and Clare Verlander for staying true to our geography. The story of the Lancing craftsmen is safe.

  • The carriages were likely LB&SCR "Stroudley" 4-wheelers or 6-wheelers.
  • They were often sold at the Lancing Carriage Works for as little as £5 to £10.
  • The "wrapping" technique was so effective that families lived in them for 50 years without realising they were essentially living in a train.
A white timber-clad bungalow in Lancing

At first glance, a standard coastal bungalow. But the width and window placement were dictated entirely by the hidden carriages.

The Unseen Strength

Stripped of their seaside cladding, these homes reveal their true identity. It is incredible to see the strength of the Victorian mahogany and teak frames—built by the craftsmen of the Lancing Shops to withstand decades of travel and eighty years of Sussex salt air.

Demolition revealing wooden panelling

The "Reveal": Underneath the render, the original mahogany panelling emerges. Notice the distinct vertical "beading" and curved mouldings—standard LB&SCR design.

Rounded window frame corners

The Smoking Gun: Domestic windows are rectangular, but railway windows have rounded corners to withstand track vibrations. These have been hiding behind curtains for decades.

Internal structural ribs of carriage

Internal Ribs: As the demolition vehicle clears the site, you can see the structural ribs that once formed the ceiling of a 1st or 3rd-class compartment.

The Final Departure

There is a sadness in seeing these 'Railway Bungalows' come down. For generations, they were the foundation of a life on the Brighton Road. While the wood may be gone, the story of the community is now firmly on the record.

The Invisible Colony: Full Series


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Part 7. The Invisible Colony

Where was "Empire Terrace"?

The reason "Empire Terrace" feels unfamiliar today is that the modern landscape has swallowed it up. In the "Colony" days, the area around Penhill Road and South Street looked very different.

Before the expansion of the Gardner & Scardifield hardware store and the construction of modern flats, that stretch was the true heart of the Carriage Works' social influence. Gardner & Scardifield sits on the "bones" of the old railway economy.

The Lost Landscape of Penhill Road

  • Empire Terrace: A specific row of Victorian/Edwardian terraced houses built for the "pioneers" who arrived when the site opened in 1912.
  • The Demolition: These cottages were cleared after the Works closed in the mid-60s. The modern flats on Penhill Road now occupy the spot where houses 1 to 4 once stood.
  • The Club Remains: While the houses are gone, the Empire Club remains as a stubborn reminder of the lifeblood of this corner.
"If you stand in the car park of the modern flats on Penhill Road today, you might notice an old wall separating the tarmac from the Empire Club. It’s a silent survivor. To those who remember the 'Colony,' it marks the spot where families like the Hills and the Pesketts—railway folk—lived just a stone's throw from the Works gates."

Empire Terrace: Occupants in 1958

Address Occupant (1958) Notes
1 Empire Terrace Ernest J. Hill Right next to the club.
2 Empire Terrace Mrs L. M. Marshall Likely a railway widow or long-term resident.
3 Empire Terrace William G. Peskett Peskett is a very old Sussex name.
4 Empire Terrace Arthur H. J. King End of the terrace.

End of the Line for the Carriage Works

In September 1962, the Worthing Herald reported that the workforce was “shocked and dumbfounded” by the announcement of the closure. At the time, the Works employed 1,683 people.

The Political "Secret": While Dr. Beeching cited "excess capacity," many workers believed the decision was political. Eastleigh was a marginal constituency the government feared losing, while Lancing was a "safe" seat. Lancing was sacrificed to save votes in Hampshire.

The Saving Grace: Furniture firm Dennis & Robinson (now Manhattan Furniture) moved into the main building in 1965. Part of the deal was that they had to hire the former railway craftsmen, particularly the skilled upholsterers.

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As the families of the 'Colony' moved out of Empire Terrace and the cottages were cleared, the industrial site itself underwent a similar disappearing act. From the outside, the 'Invisible Colony' was being replaced by a new, quieter kind of industry

The Context: The "Design Era" at Typower

John Drewett worked in the Design Department at Typower Ltd, which was housed in the repurposed railway sheds. His photos are particularly special because they capture the transition from the heavy steam and grease of the Carriage Works to the cleaner, "office-led" engineering of the 1960s and 70s.
The Workplace: Typower Ltd

A Tribute to John's View: John Drewett's photos capture a village in transition. Inside the sheds, the grease of the railway was replaced by the precision of power generators. In his interior shots, you can still see the original railway clock keeping time on the wall.

Diesel Generators on a test bed

  • The Building: John’s office was on the upper level of the sheds (the area with the external staircase). This was originally designed to catch the "north light," which was essential for draughtsmen working on drawing boards before modern electric lighting was standard.

  • The Work: While the older generation remembered upholstery and paint, John’s world was one of Power Units and Design Specifications.

  • The Site: His photos showed how the Victorian brickwork of the Southern Railway was simply rebranded with new signs for companies like Whale Pumps and Typower, showing a site that "refused to die."


Diesel Generator being dispatched


The 'Clean' Revolution: John Drewett’s drawing office. It’s a far cry from the soot and steam of the 1920s, but this was the new frontline of Lancing’s industrial survival.

"In the mid-1960s, a new kind of worker arrived at the old gates. While the older generation remembered the steam and the smell of fresh paint in the Carriage Shops, men like John Drewett brought drawing boards and technical blueprints. Working in the upper floors of the repurposed sheds, John’s world was one of 'Power Units' and 'Design Specifications.'

It’s a tragedy we can’t ask John more today, but his photos act as a silent testimony. They show a site that refused to die—where the old Victorian brickwork of the Southern Railway was simply given a new set of signs and a fresh lease on life."

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The Master List: Production Transition

Tracing the Transition: How the skills of the village evolved from traditional crafts to modern engineering.

Trade / Specialism Key Names Era The "Skill" Factor
Blind Maker Mr Morris (Cyril’s Dad) 1945–1950 Precision tailoring for carriage privacy.
Upholsterer Wilfred (Basil) Law 1950s–1964 Luxury leather work moved to Dennis & Robinson.
Draughtsman John Drewett, Ted King 1960s–1970s The "White Heat" of tech at Typower Ltd.
Foreman Bob Young Typower Ltd Oversaw the generator production loading.

The Living Skeleton: Fast-forwarding to 2006, the 'saw-tooth' roofs remain. They are a reminder that while the 'Colony' is gone, its industrial spirit is still very much under cover.

Series Links: Lancing Village Memories

We are stitching together the story of the 'Steel Ring,' one memory at a time. Every name we find is a tribute to Lancing’s heritage.

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Monday, 19 January 2026

Part 6.The day the FW-190s Came to Lancing

Special Acknowledgement: Once again we are greatly indebted to John Maple for his kindness in sharing these rare images from his family archive. Thank you, John, for helping us bring these men back into the light.

The Lancing Belle: The Industrial Arterial

While Frank Lucas was ferrying workers across the canal at Portslade, a much larger operation was moving the masses. The Lancing Belle was the dedicated workmen's train serving the Carriage Works.

  • The Route: It collected staff from Brighton, Hove, and Portslade, steaming along the coast to the Lancing workshops.
  • The Defence: Because this train carried the lifeblood of the works, the entire route had to be heavily defended by Bofors guns.
Did you ever ride the 'Belle'? Many readers might remember the sights and sounds of the workmen’s train. If you have stories of the 'Gassies' who made the daily trip, please share them in the comments!

Part 6: Bomb Alley – The Day the FW-190s Came to Lancing

The Lancing Railway Works’ proximity to the coast made it a prime target for "hit and run" raids. At exactly 12:06 pm on the 30th of September 1942, four or five German Focke-Wulf 190s swept in low. Having just bombed Worthing, they turned their machine guns toward the Works.

Location Damage Sustained Operational Impact
Panel Shed Direct hit by 250lb H.E. Bomb. Floor destroyed; roof & sides shattered.
Pullman Car Shop Blast damage to roof and sheeting. Major glass breakage across the shop.
Timber Store Significant cratering (50ft radius). Disruption to timber supplies.

Ground Zero: The official report notes the Spotters' post was physically displaced by the force of the blast shown here.


The Great Coal Rush: The Sinking of the SS Portslade

Life in 'Bomb Alley' wasn't just about the sirens and the shelters; sometimes, the war brought unexpected gifts from the sea. In September 1940, the collier ship SS Portslade was torpedoed and sunk just offshore. While a tragedy for the crew, the resulting wreckage provided a lifeline for the village.

Thousands of tons of coal began washing up along the Lancing shoreline. In an era of strict rationing, this was 'black gold.' Villagers descended on the beach with anything that could carry a load—burlap sacks, old prams, and even wash-tubs. It was a massive community effort, with people working under the cover of the dunes to bring home enough fuel to see them through the winter. It remains one of the most vivid memories for those who lived through the Lancing 'blackout'—a rare moment where the tide turned in the favour of the locals.
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Adlertag: The Day the Eagle Landed

August 13th, 1940, is a date etched into the memory of every Lancing and Shoreham resident who was there. To the Germans, it was Adlertag—the day they expected to break the RAF. To us, it was the day the war quite literally landed in our backyard.

As the sirens wailed, a massive formation of Ju 88s dived on Shoreham Airport. In the chaos, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, piloted by Oberleutnant Paul Temme, was brought down. He didn't crash in the sea; he landed his fighter right on the aerodrome grass. For many locals, seeing a 'captured' German officer being led away was the first time the enemy felt human—and beatable.

But the raid left its mark. The 'strays' from that morning’s bombardment are the reason for the craters many of us remember in the local fields and the shrapnel scars that remained on the walls of the Carriage Works for decades.

The Pilot at New Salts Farm

"One of the most remarkable sights of August 1940 was the pristine Messerschmitt Bf 109 sitting in the fields of New Salts Farm. Its pilot, Oberleutnant Paul Temme, had been forced down during the morning raid. For the locals who rushed to the scene, it was a rare chance to see a 'Richthofen' pilot up close.

The aircraft was so intact that it was later hauled away to be displayed as a trophy of war. Interestingly, the kit found on Temme included 'Pervitin' tablets—early performance-enhancing drugs used by the Luftwaffe to keep their pilots flying for longer. It was a stark reminder of the lengths the enemy was going to in their attempt to break the 'Bomb Alley' defences.

Go to this external site to see photos

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"The Silent Descent: Parachute Mines"

"Perhaps the most terrifying sight of the 'Bomb Alley' years was the parachute mine. These were not dropped like traditional bombs; they drifted silently on large silk chutes, caught by the coastal winds. To see one caught in the searchlights over the harbour was to witness a slow-motion disaster.

Many landed in the Shoreham Harbour mudflats, where they remained a deadly 'ticking clock' for the disposal teams. The blast from a single 'Luftmine' was immense, capable of levelling houses and stripping roofs for hundreds of yards. For the families living along the coast, the silence of their descent was far more frightening than the roar of the Junkers overhead."

The Active Defence: The Bofors Gun

The Bofors 40mm could fire 120 shells per minute, creating a "curtain of steel." These guns were one of the few capable of hitting "hedge-hopping" fighters flying below the level of the workshop roofs.

Event Date Strategic Detail Local Impact
SS Portslade Sinking 25 July 1940 Dive-bombed by Stukas in Convoy CW8. Loss of town's namesake collier; crew of 17 saved.
Eagle Day Raid 13 Aug 1940 Massive raid on Shoreham Airport. Guns at Ham Field in heavy action.
Parachute Mines WWII Harbour Blockade. Dropped in "Bomb Alley" to trap colliers.
Bofors Gun Platform

The Resistance: These "pylons" were specifically engineered to withstand the heavy recoil of the Bofors Gun.

Series Links: Lancing Village Memories

Part 1: The Guardians of the Works
Part 1b: Philip Fry Collection
Part 2: The Silent Partners
Part 2b: The "Hush Hush" Shop
Part 3: Mr Warr & the Fire Brigade
Part 4: The Bofors Crew
Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons
Part 5: Precision on the Front Line
Part 6: Bomb Alley (You are here)
Part 7. The Invisible Colony
Part 8 : The Final Reveal – The Skeletons in the Garden
Part 9: From the 'Running Man' to the 'Rocket Dance'
Part 10: Denis Edwards

Acknowledgements & Sources: sincere thanks to Shoreham Fort Society and the Lancing Village Memories community. Data drawn from National Archives and CWGC records.

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Sunday, 18 January 2026

Part 5: The Lancing Squad – Precision on the Front Line

Special Acknowledgement: Once again we are greatly indebted to John Maple for his kindness in sharing these rare images from his family archive. Without his generosity and his keen eye for detail, this vital chapter of the Lancing Carriage Works story might have remained hidden. Thank you, John.

The Lancing Belle: The Industrial Arterial

While Frank Lucas was ferrying workers across the canal at Portslade, a much larger transport operation was moving the masses. The Lancing Belle was the dedicated workmen's train that ran specifically to serve the Carriage Works.

  • The Route: It collected staff from Brighton, Hove, and Portslade, steaming along the coast to the dedicated 'halt' at the Lancing workshops.
  • The Purpose: At its peak, it carried hundreds of skilled labourers, including many of the 105,000 women who had joined the railway effort by 1943.
  • The Defence: Because this train carried the lifeblood of the works, the entire route had to be heavily defended by the Bofors gun positions.
Did you ever ride the 'Belle'? Many of our readers might remember the sights and sounds of the workmen’s train. If you have memories of the journey or stories of the 'Gassies' who made the trip, please share them in the comments!

The Locomotive: LB&SCR A1/A1X "Terrier" Class

The "Lancing Belle" name is often associated with the Stroudley A1 Class tank engines. These were 0-6-0T locomotives designed by William Stroudley, famous for their high acceleration and "barking" exhaust. At Lancing, specific Terriers were used as shunters to move heavy carriage bodies.

Part 5: The Lancing Squad – Precision on the Front Line

The "Watch on the Cliffs" was kept by the men who built the Southern Railway.

As the war reached its height in 1941, the Lancing Carriage Works became a fortress. Among the workmen who traded their tools for Bofors guns was Frederick James Maple, a Driller from the Frame Shop. These photographs capture the "Lancing Squad" of the 18th Sussex (Home Guard) Battalion—men who spent their days in the machine shops and their nights on the heights of Ovingdean Gap.

Photo 1: The Lancing Squad. Fred Maple stands on the far left of the back row (marked with the yellow arrow).

Photo 2: The 'Watch on the Cliffs.' Looking through the sea fret toward Roedean School. Notice the Loader high on the platform ready to feed the four-shell clips.

John Maple clarifies: "While the Lancing crew trained at Ovingdean, their primary mission was the four-corner defence of the Works. There were four Bofors guns in total—two on the ground and two on towers."

Photo 3: Engineering on the Front Line. 'Layers' in their seats, controlling elevation and traverse with the same steady hands used back at the 'Sheds.'

A Lancing Gunner’s Glossary

  • The Bofors 40mm: The "Ferrari" of AA guns; could fire 120 explosive shells a minute.
  • The Layer: Seated gunners controlling elevation and traverse via hand-wheels.
  • The Loader: Stood on the platform physically dropping 4-shell clips into the breech.
  • Stiffkey Sight: The circular metal "spiderweb" used to "lead" a target.

The Layout of the "Steel Ring"

Location in Works Likely Armament Protecting...
Power House Roof Lewis Guns / Bren The factory's "Heart" (Power).
North Sidings Bofors 40mm The Railway approach from Worthing.
South Gate/Frame Shop Light AA The main workforce entrance.
The Traverser Bofors 40mm The long corridor between the Sheds.

How Factory Noise Helped the Gunners

Inside the perimeter, theRelentless industrial roar provided "Acoustic Camouflage." The pounding of heavy drop-hammers in Fred Maple’s Frame Shop created a wall of white noise that could momentarily mask the "thump-thump-thump" of a Bofors from a German pilot.

The "Hand-Signal" Discipline: Because it was impossible to hear orders, the crews used arm signals like railway signalmen:

  • Arms extended: "Traverse"
  • One arm raised: "Increase Elevation"
  • Slash across throat: "Cease Fire"

Community Mystery: Who was C. Smith?

Reader Graham Hill has a saw vice stamped with the name C. Smith, who worked with his grandfather, Len "Toby" Cloke. Smith was likely a Body Maker or Carpenter who shared Firewatch shifts. Was your relative a Charles, Cyril, or Clifford Smith? We’d love to reunite this tool with his family!

Series Links: Lancing Village Memories


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The Glass Village

The Glass Village: When Lancing Fed London

For most people today, Lancing is a quiet residential village. But look closely at the long, narrow gardens of Penhill Road or the street names like Finches Close and Chester Avenue, and you are looking at the footprint of a forgotten industrial empire.

The 1922 "Big Bang"

Before 1922, Lancing was largely a feudal landscape, dominated by the Carr-Lloyds and the Lancing Manor Estate. Following a series of family tragedies—including the death of the sole heir, Nancy, in 1917—the estate was broken up. In July 1922, at the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton, the "starting gun" was fired.

The sale didn't just create housing; it created a new class of independent "Nurserymen." The auction documents marketed the land as the most productive in the south, perfectly sheltered by the Downs for "intensive gardening."

The Rolling Cloches and the Rails

Lancing wasn’t just farming; it was high-tech for its time. To get the edge on the London market, growers used rolling cloches. These were massive glass protectors mounted on a rail system. If a frost was coming, you’d wheel the glass over the crop; when the sun came out, you’d roll it back. This allowed Lancing to produce "early" crops that fetched the highest prices in the city.

The Lisher Dynasty: From Coal to Chrysanthemums

Marjorie Lisher remembered her father, Frank Lisher, building "The Finches" in 1929. He didn't just grow plants; he ran a factory of sixteen commercial glasshouses.

  • The Brighton Run: Frank would set off at 8 PM by horse-drawn van, plodding along the coast road through the night to ensure his tomatoes were on the Brighton market stalls by dawn.

  • The Railway Hazard: To keep the soil rich, horse manure was brought in by rail from racing stables. Marjorie vividly recalled the "daily hazard" of the rats that followed the manure into the goods yard!

The Marshall Memories: The Great Grape Shift

Alan Marshall provides a fascinating glimpse into why the landscape changed. His family, the Marshalls, were fixtures of North Lancing. He noted that Sussex was once famous for grapes, but when French imports became too cheap, Lancing's growers pivoted to tomatoes and carnations.

Alan’s childhood was spent in a "true lane"—Boundstone—lined with orchards and elm hedges. His father, Peter, worked the land where Boundstone School now stands, picking "sweet and tasty" produce that would soon be rattling toward London on the steam train.

The Covent Garden Connection

While the Lishers handled the local Brighton trade, the "delicate" exports—mushrooms, runner beans, and the famous Lancing carnations—were packed into crates at the station. Thanks to the rail link, a flower cut in a Lancing nursery in the morning could be in a buttonhole in Covent Garden or Brentford Market by the afternoon.

A Vanishing Legacy

By the late 1930s, the "Building Plot" explosion seen in the Kelly’s Directories began to swallow the glasshouses. The nurseries were subdivided into the bungalows we see today. But next time you walk down Penhill Road, imagine the flash of glass in the sun and the sound of iron wheels on garden rails.

Lancing wasn't just a place to live; it was the garden that fed the capital.

"A Daughter’s View: The Lisher Nursery" Frank Lisher was one of the many who took the opportunities provided by the breakup of the Manor Estate. His daughter, Marjorie, shared a wonderful account of life at 'The Finches'—from the 16 massive glasshouses to the midnight horse-drawn trips to Brighton. You can read (and hear) her full story here: [Link to Marjorie Lisher Story].

Alan Marshall: A Childhood in the Orchards

While the Lishers represent the bustling commercial heart of the village trade, Alan Marshall gives us a beautifully nostalgic look at the "Nursery Land" of North Lancing through a child's eyes.

Alan’s father, Peter Marshall, was part of a Lancing dynasty connected to nearly every major gardening name in the area—the Bushbys, Fullers, and Grovers. His memories capture a time when Boundstone Lane wasn't a busy thoroughfare, but a "true lane" with a rough, muddy surface and high elm hedges perfect for bird-nesting.

In Alan’s account, we see the shift from traditional fruit growing to the specialised "Glass Village" era. He recalls the vast orchards of Upper Boundstone and a fascinating bit of local economic history: how Lancing's growers pivoted from grapes to tomatoes when foreign imports made Sussex wine unviable.

From the "frightening" air-raid shelters under the railway bridge to the sweet smell of his father's backyard tomatoes in retirement, Alan’s memory is a bridge between the agricultural village of the 19th century and the residential community we know today. You can read his story here

 

Were You Part of the Glass Village?

The story of Lancing’s market gardens is still being written, and we need your help to fill in the gaps.

  • To our long-term residents: Do you have old photographs of the Lisher, Marshall, or Grover nurseries? Perhaps you remember the "rolling cloches" in action or worked a summer job in the packing sheds? We are particularly looking for images of the nurseries along Penhill Road, Boundstone Lane, and the Salt Lake area.

  • To our new residents: Have you found any "antiquities" while gardening? Old greenhouse foundations, iron rails in the soil, or perhaps old glass bottle fragments from the Victorian era?

  • The Phil Fry Books: We are eagerly awaiting the release of Phil Fry's new books on Lancing. If those photos spark a memory for you, please get in touch!

How to share: Leave a comment below, or email Ray at ray.hamblett@gmail.com. Your photo or story could be the next piece of the puzzle in our Lancing Village Memories archive.

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Location: Lancing BN15, UK

Saturday, 17 January 2026

Part 4: The Lancing Bofors Crew: From the Shop Floor to the Front Line

Special Acknowledgement: We are greatly indebted to John Maple for his kindness in sharing these rare images from his family archive. Without his generosity and his keen eye for detail, this vital chapter of the Lancing Carriage Works story might have remained hidden. Thank you, John.

The Lancing Bofors Crew: From the Shop Floor to the Front Line

A Special Gallery featuring the newly discovered John Maple Collection.

We often think of the Home Guard as 'Dad’s Army,' but these scans of the Lancing Carriage Works crew tell a different story. Here, we see the men of the 'Sheds' operating a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun with the precision of the master craftsmen they were. From 'Dixy' Dean on the ammunition feed to the squad assembled outside the workshop doors, these images capture the moment Lancing's industrial heart became a fortress.

Photo 1: The Lancing Squad (IMG_4097)
The full strength of the Lancing Carriage Works Bofors Crew, 18th Sussex Home Guard. Note the 'SX' designation on the battle dress shoulders, marking them as Sussex defenders.

Photo 2: Preparing for Action (IMG_4094)
A view of the Bofors 40mm gun being prepared. The man seated on the left is the 'Layer' (responsible for elevation and traverse). Behind them are the sawtooth-roofed 'Sheds.'

Photo 3: The Loaders (IMG_4095)
Precision under pressure. Here we see 'Dixy' Dean and his colleague manually feeding four-round clips into the auto-loader. A trained crew could fire 120 rounds per minute.

Technical Profile: The Bofors 40mm L/60 Anti-Aircraft Gun

The "Lancing Shield"

Feature Specification
Origin Designed by Bofors (Sweden); British-built versions used at Lancing.
Role Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) defense against low-flying Luftwaffe raiders.
Ammunition 2lb (0.9kg) High-Explosive (HE) shells.
Rate of Fire 120 rounds per minute (approx. 2 rounds per second).
Effective Range Up to 1,500 yards (vertical) and 3,000 yards (horizontal).
Crew Requirement Typically 4–6 men (Loader, Layer, Trainer, and Spotters).

The transition from craftsman to gunner had to be seamless. In the event of a 'Red' warning, these men had exactly three minutes to move from their benches to the gun platform. The 'SX' on their shoulders wasn't just a badge; it was a promise that the Works would defend itself.

Historian’s Note: The Bofors was famously "loud and violent." For the men of the Carriage Works, who were used to riveting hammers, the roar of the Bofors would have been a natural—if deafening—extension of their lives.


"To the people of Lancing, it was known as the 'Pom-Pom.' It was a heavy, rhythmic thumping that you felt in your chest more than you heard in your ears."

The Lancing Carriage Works: The Wartime A to Z

A — Airframe Components (The Horsa Glider)

Lancing was a vital "Satellite" factory. The craftsmen here used their expertise in timber carriage-building to produce massive wooden sub-assemblies.

  • The Floor Sections: Lancing specialised in reinforced wooden floors for Jeeps and Anti-Tank guns.
  • The Tail Units: Produced as separate components, finished in Lancing before final assembly.

B — Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns

Lancing was the primary hospital for these guns. Work involved stripping the Hydraulic Recoil system and calibrating the Auto-Loader.

D — Doping (The "Pear Drop" Shop)

Shop 4 was a sensory assault. Linen fabric was stretched over frames and "Doped" with lacquer. The smell was notoriously sweet (like pear drops) and highly flammable.

P — Pontoons (The Bailey Bridge)

The works produced hundreds of Bailey Bridge Pontoons—watertight wooden "boxes" designed to support the weight of a Churchill tank crossing a river.

The Master List: Production Summary

Project Material Skill-Set Required Final Destination
Horsa Glider Spruce & Plywood Precision Joinery & Doping D-Day Air Assaults
Bofors Gun Steel & Hydraulics Heavy Fitting & Calibration Anti-Aircraft Defence
Bailey Bridge Timber & Steel Waterproofing & Carpentry River crossings in Europe

Coming Soon: The Watch on the Cliffs

In our next chapter, follow the crew to the heights of Ovingdean. Newly discovered photos show the men manning positions on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel.

Series Links: Lancing Village Memories











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