First occupied after 1885 and known as "Wickham";
Owners & Occupiers:
The first owner was Thomas Chatfield: From the Lewes History Group Bulletin no.88: In the 1881 census he and his family lived at 118 High Street, St Anne’s, [see below] but he later moved to a new house at 7 King Henry’s Road [see 1891 Census] for which he had plans drawn up by a London architect shortly after his father’s death. He was elected one of the first councillors of the new Lewes borough in 1881, and immediately promoted to the rank of alderman, a role from which he retired in 1885. He moved to Montpelier Road, Brighton, [sometime after 1891] and before his death there in 1899, aged 53.
Thomas Chatfield was a timber merchant, who invested in various properties in King Henry's Road as well as being resident there. In fact he was the property developer, from the outset, for the eastern half of King Henry's Road. His name appears on very many early indentures relating to plots 199, 200, 201 & 202. He bought all these plots and then used them as collateral to raise monies to build houses on the land. Thomas Chatfield, in turn, issued mortgages to various builders to commence work. Walter Whiteman, one of the first, went bankrupt "plus ça change".
Will: Thomas Chatfield of "Corsica" Montefiore Road, Brighton, managing director of Chatfield & Son Ltd died 29.01.1899. [Letters of] Administration to Elizabeth Smith Chatfield widow. Effects £200
1881 Census: 118 High Street, St Anne’s: Thomas Chatfield (36) Capt. Hall V. A. & timber merchant; his wife Elizabeth Smith Chatfield (28) and their children: Edward George (4), Charles Montague (3), Alfred Ernest (2) and Leslie (10 months). Their servants: Ada Ruth Sandford (21) a cook from Berkshire; Agnes Hudern (22) a housemaid from East Hoathly; Alice May Tarrant (22) a nursemaid from London; Alice Emery (15) under-nursemaid from Kent.
1891 Census: 7 King Henry’s Road : Thomas Chatfield (46) Timber Merchant also Colonel pte S A VED Royal Artillery; his children: Irene E L Chatfield (6) & Olive M Chatfield (3); three servants: Rosetta M Eastwood (32) nurse, from Kent; Alice M Tedham (23) housemaid, from Burwash & Ellen Woods (24) cook, from Westbourne.
Thomas b.1845 married Elizabeth Smith Bushby in Lewes 1875
Elizabeth (38) had gone to visit her parents at 7 High Street, Lewes, with her son Leslie (10). Elizabeth Chatfield died in Lewes aged 78 in 1932.
And now, some Uridge family history: the next owners after Thomas Chatfield.
Mrs Uridge, by then widowed, lived in "Wickham" from about 1895 until her death in 1915 (aged 84).
Mrs Uridge was born in 1831 in London St James'. Adèle [Adile -sic] Victorine Gibbins married James Uridge in 1853 in London (Strand). James was born in 1828 in East Chiltington.
1861 Census: James Uridge of Woodbrooks, Chailey, (32) farmer of 130 acres, employing 5 men & 3 boys; his wife Adèle (30) & 4 children aged 1, 3, 5, 7.
1871 Census: James Uridge of Chailey, (42) cattle dealer; his wife Adèle (40)
& 7 of their 9 children: Adèle A (17) b.1854; [Eliza V (15) b.1856]; Henry J (13) b.1858; [Rose P (11) b.1860]; James I (9) b.1862; William G (7) b.1864; Walter George (5) b.1866; Edward Thomas (3) b.1868; Jessie K (0) b.1870; one general servant.
1881 Census: Chailey: Adèle V Uridge (50) Coke Dealer's wife [sic!]; James Uridge is absent or not recorded; six of their children are still at home: Henry James (23); Rose P (21); James J (19); Walter A (15); Edward T (13); Albert J R (3).
Will: James Uridge late of Bevern Bridge House, Chailey, farmer d. 17.11.1882 at Chailey [aged 54]; one of the executors was George Holman solicitor. Personal estate £1,229 12s 4d
1891 Census: Adèle V Uridge (60) widow, of Hattons Green, East Chiltington; two of her daughters: Eliza V (35) & Jessie K (20) and two of her sons: Albert J R (13) and
Edward Thomas Uridge (23) who died soon after the census was taken.
Electoral Roll & Kelly's Directory: 1895 Mrs Uridge
1901 Census: Eliza V Uridge (head) (45) [no occupation given]; her brother Albert J R Uridge (23) Estate Agent's Clerk; one servant: Mahala Cox (30) a cook, from Chailey.
Adèle V Uridge (70) as mother-in-law, was visiting her married daughter in Sutton, Surrey. [Jessie Kate Uridge m. Stanley Vernon Symondson 1892] Stanley's occupation is listed as Shipowner. This household appeared to have no children, but four servants were kept.
1911 Census: Adèle Victorine Uridge (head) (80) widow, of private means; her daughter Eliza Victorine Uridge (55) single; Victor Alfred Nicholson (8) ward to (sic) daughter; two servants: Mahala Cox (39) cook, from Chailey & Emily Jane Cox (20) housemaid, from Plumpton.
Children born alive to present marriage:13. Children still living 6. Children who died 7.
Will: Adèle Victorine Uridge of Wickham, King Henry's Road, Lewes, widow, died 05.04.1915 [aged 84] . Probate to James Isidore Uridge gentleman & Albert John Richard Uridge captain in His Majesty's Territorial Army, & George Holman JP. Effects (resworn) £69,895, 17s 2d.
1921 Census: [Cannot find "Wickham" in the enumerator's schedule] but there is a record for Eliza Victorine Uridge (65) now living at "Colwyn" 19 Prince Edward's Road, Lewes.
Will: Eliza Victorine Uridge of "Colwyn" Prince Edward's Road, Lewes, spinster died 24.05.1931 [aged 75] Probate to Albert John Richard Uridge gentleman & Eric Read Neve barrister. Effects: £58,919 19s 11d
Kelly's Directory: 1927 Colonel E Butt
By 1935 Wickham had become a nursing home. I came across circumstantial evidence...
Will: Susannah Patching of 18 St Swithun's Terrace, Lewes, widow, d.02.09.1935 at Wickham, King Henry's Road, Lewes
1939 Register: Annie E Barton (41) State Registered Nurse; two records "officially closed"; Annie B P Gill (77) of private means, incapacitated; Lily Freeman (34) State Certified Midwife; Ida K Smith (42) unpaid domestic duties.
Leicester House School (1948) (from LDC planning applications), later became Lewes High School for Girls.
In the 1950s there were a number of applications to LDC for various extensions and improvements to the School buildings, including an Assembly Hall (1954).
1961: Lewes High School for Girls: now at 7 King Henry's Road: application made and approved for a new school block 3 storeys high.
Mr Mead, headmaster of Lewes Old Grammar School, bought the Lewes High School for Girls in 1977. No.7 continued as Lewes High School for Girls until 1979, when the school changed sites with the Old Grammar School. Since then No.7 has served as the Junior Department of Lewes Old Grammar School and is now known as Morley House.
The first owner was Thomas Chatfield: From the Lewes History Group Bulletin no.88: In the 1881 census he and his family lived at 118 High Street, St Anne’s, [see below] but he later moved to a new house at 7 King Henry’s Road [see 1891 Census] for which he had plans drawn up by a London architect shortly after his father’s death. He was elected one of the first councillors of the new Lewes borough in 1881, and immediately promoted to the rank of alderman, a role from which he retired in 1885. He moved to Montpelier Road, Brighton, [sometime after 1891] and before his death there in 1899, aged 53.
Thomas Chatfield was a timber merchant, who invested in various properties in King Henry's Road as well as being resident there. In fact he was the property developer, from the outset, for the eastern half of King Henry's Road. His name appears on very many early indentures relating to plots 199, 200, 201 & 202. He bought all these plots and then used them as collateral to raise monies to build houses on the land. Thomas Chatfield, in turn, issued mortgages to various builders to commence work. Walter Whiteman, one of the first, went bankrupt "plus ça change".
Will: Thomas Chatfield of "Corsica" Montefiore Road, Brighton, managing director of Chatfield & Son Ltd died 29.01.1899. [Letters of] Administration to Elizabeth Smith Chatfield widow. Effects £200
1881 Census: 118 High Street, St Anne’s: Thomas Chatfield (36) Capt. Hall V. A. & timber merchant; his wife Elizabeth Smith Chatfield (28) and their children: Edward George (4), Charles Montague (3), Alfred Ernest (2) and Leslie (10 months). Their servants: Ada Ruth Sandford (21) a cook from Berkshire; Agnes Hudern (22) a housemaid from East Hoathly; Alice May Tarrant (22) a nursemaid from London; Alice Emery (15) under-nursemaid from Kent.
1891 Census: 7 King Henry’s Road : Thomas Chatfield (46) Timber Merchant also Colonel pte S A VED Royal Artillery; his children: Irene E L Chatfield (6) & Olive M Chatfield (3); three servants: Rosetta M Eastwood (32) nurse, from Kent; Alice M Tedham (23) housemaid, from Burwash & Ellen Woods (24) cook, from Westbourne.
Thomas b.1845 married Elizabeth Smith Bushby in Lewes 1875
Elizabeth (38) had gone to visit her parents at 7 High Street, Lewes, with her son Leslie (10). Elizabeth Chatfield died in Lewes aged 78 in 1932.
And now, some Uridge family history: the next owners after Thomas Chatfield.
Mrs Uridge, by then widowed, lived in "Wickham" from about 1895 until her death in 1915 (aged 84).
Mrs Uridge was born in 1831 in London St James'. Adèle [Adile -sic] Victorine Gibbins married James Uridge in 1853 in London (Strand). James was born in 1828 in East Chiltington.
1861 Census: James Uridge of Woodbrooks, Chailey, (32) farmer of 130 acres, employing 5 men & 3 boys; his wife Adèle (30) & 4 children aged 1, 3, 5, 7.
1871 Census: James Uridge of Chailey, (42) cattle dealer; his wife Adèle (40)
& 7 of their 9 children: Adèle A (17) b.1854; [Eliza V (15) b.1856]; Henry J (13) b.1858; [Rose P (11) b.1860]; James I (9) b.1862; William G (7) b.1864; Walter George (5) b.1866; Edward Thomas (3) b.1868; Jessie K (0) b.1870; one general servant.
1881 Census: Chailey: Adèle V Uridge (50) Coke Dealer's wife [sic!]; James Uridge is absent or not recorded; six of their children are still at home: Henry James (23); Rose P (21); James J (19); Walter A (15); Edward T (13); Albert J R (3).
Will: James Uridge late of Bevern Bridge House, Chailey, farmer d. 17.11.1882 at Chailey [aged 54]; one of the executors was George Holman solicitor. Personal estate £1,229 12s 4d
1891 Census: Adèle V Uridge (60) widow, of Hattons Green, East Chiltington; two of her daughters: Eliza V (35) & Jessie K (20) and two of her sons: Albert J R (13) and
Edward Thomas Uridge (23) who died soon after the census was taken.
Electoral Roll & Kelly's Directory: 1895 Mrs Uridge
1901 Census: Eliza V Uridge (head) (45) [no occupation given]; her brother Albert J R Uridge (23) Estate Agent's Clerk; one servant: Mahala Cox (30) a cook, from Chailey.
Adèle V Uridge (70) as mother-in-law, was visiting her married daughter in Sutton, Surrey. [Jessie Kate Uridge m. Stanley Vernon Symondson 1892] Stanley's occupation is listed as Shipowner. This household appeared to have no children, but four servants were kept.
1911 Census: Adèle Victorine Uridge (head) (80) widow, of private means; her daughter Eliza Victorine Uridge (55) single; Victor Alfred Nicholson (8) ward to (sic) daughter; two servants: Mahala Cox (39) cook, from Chailey & Emily Jane Cox (20) housemaid, from Plumpton.
Children born alive to present marriage:13. Children still living 6. Children who died 7.
Will: Adèle Victorine Uridge of Wickham, King Henry's Road, Lewes, widow, died 05.04.1915 [aged 84] . Probate to James Isidore Uridge gentleman & Albert John Richard Uridge captain in His Majesty's Territorial Army, & George Holman JP. Effects (resworn) £69,895, 17s 2d.
1921 Census: [Cannot find "Wickham" in the enumerator's schedule] but there is a record for Eliza Victorine Uridge (65) now living at "Colwyn" 19 Prince Edward's Road, Lewes.
Will: Eliza Victorine Uridge of "Colwyn" Prince Edward's Road, Lewes, spinster died 24.05.1931 [aged 75] Probate to Albert John Richard Uridge gentleman & Eric Read Neve barrister. Effects: £58,919 19s 11d
Kelly's Directory: 1927 Colonel E Butt
By 1935 Wickham had become a nursing home. I came across circumstantial evidence...
Will: Susannah Patching of 18 St Swithun's Terrace, Lewes, widow, d.02.09.1935 at Wickham, King Henry's Road, Lewes
1939 Register: Annie E Barton (41) State Registered Nurse; two records "officially closed"; Annie B P Gill (77) of private means, incapacitated; Lily Freeman (34) State Certified Midwife; Ida K Smith (42) unpaid domestic duties.
Leicester House School (1948) (from LDC planning applications), later became Lewes High School for Girls.
In the 1950s there were a number of applications to LDC for various extensions and improvements to the School buildings, including an Assembly Hall (1954).
1961: Lewes High School for Girls: now at 7 King Henry's Road: application made and approved for a new school block 3 storeys high.
Mr Mead, headmaster of Lewes Old Grammar School, bought the Lewes High School for Girls in 1977. No.7 continued as Lewes High School for Girls until 1979, when the school changed sites with the Old Grammar School. Since then No.7 has served as the Junior Department of Lewes Old Grammar School and is now known as Morley House.
Lewes High School 21st Anniversary Party 1952 (in St John's Church Hall).
Art class at Lewes High School for Girls c1958.
Photos by kind permission of Brenda Izzard, a former pupil at Lewes High School.