Planning application:
24 King Henrys Road, Lewes for George John Wightman, School Hill, Lewes, ironmonger by Henry Curtis Card, 10 North Street, Lewes, architect and surveyor
DL/A/25/154 · 1 Mar 1899 · East Sussex Record Office
"Ailsa Craig" first occupied: 1892
later known as "Narnton" (1978 on...)
The property, with its extensive grounds, was re-developed in 2001 and is now known as "Cromwell Place" nos. 1-14. Six town houses now stand in the grounds, while the house itself has been divided into eight flats.
Owners & Occupiers:
Electoral Roll & Kelly's Directory
1892: George J Wightman
1901 Census: George J[ohn] Wightman (47) Iron Merchant & Iron Founder; his wife Florence H Wightman (50) and two daughters: Margaret F Wightman (21) and Muriel Ivy (8); two servants: Elizabeth L Rogers (23) cook, from London, & Florence Merricks (21) a housemaid from Lewes.
George John Wightman & Florence Helena Kennedy were married in London in 1877.
George John Wightman died in 1918 in Brighton aged 65.
Florence H Wightman died in 1922 in Lewes aged 68 [sic]
Will: George John Wightman of Ailsa Craig, The Wallands, Lewes, died 29.11.1918 in Brighton. Probate to Florence Helena Wightman widow. Effects £5,861 10s 6d
Will: Florence Helena Wightman of 40 St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, d.01.09.1922. Probate to Archibald John Crewe Wightman ironmonger's assistant. Effects £1,083 19s
1911 Census: George Wightman & family NF. [The King family appear to be renting Ailsa Craig from George Wightman.] William King (42) East India Merchant b. Hankow, China; his wife Annie King (39); their children: Charles (9); twins Lesley and Gwenneth (6); Diana (3) & Violet (1). Six children were born to William & Annie; five were still living. Four servants were kept: James Cook (34) the Butler, from Bognor, his wife Norah Cook (36) a cook, from Buckinghamshire; Edith King (25) a nurse from Essex and Marguerite Hulde (21) a nurse b.Switzerland (visitor).
William King b.1869 Annie King b.1872
1921 Census: Edward C[harles] Knight (52) Land Agent for theTrustees of Sir J Shiffner; his wife Amy H[enrietta] Knight (43); their children: Mary G (17); Edward A (8); Jane A (7); the governess S Jones (46) from Belfast; two servants: Agnes Kerr (29) a nurse from Reigate in Surrey, and Lizzie Browning (22), house parlourmaid from Newhaven. One visitor from London, Mona Low (19).
Edward Charles Knight married Amy Henrietta Scarlett in 1903 [RGO 1903/3 Uckfield 2b 274]. Amy H Knight died in 1931 aged 53 {RGO 1931/4 Lewes 2b 226]. Edward C Knight died in 1932 aged 62 [RGO 1932/1 Lewes 2b 304].
Edward Charles Knight of The Gables, Southover, Lewes died 13.03.1932. Probate to Charles Harold Noel Adams solicitor & Katherine Amy Knight Spinster. Effects £4,885 6s 8d.
Electoral Roll & Kelly's Directory:
1927: J N Wood
1939 Register: Arthur N Innes (65) Author retired; his wife Maud H N Innes (62); Dorothy C Antrobus (31) married; one record officially closed; Annie M Porter (46) children's nurse; Charlotte Pepperell (70) cook.
Arthur Innes and Maud H[erbert] N[eale] Dalton were married in Lewes in 1912.
Wills: Maud Herbert Neale Innes of The White Hart Hotel, Lewes (wife of Arthur Norman Innes) died 15.02.1951 at 10 Eaton Gardens, Hove [aged 75]. Probate to Arthur Norman Innes & Richard Neville Dalton Hamilton solicitor. Effects £4,748 13s 2d
Arthur Norman Innes of The White Hart Hotel, Lewes died 01.11.1953 at Victoria Hospital, Lewes [aged 79]. Probate to Harold Montagu Blaker solicitor and Charles Kenneth Gordon Innes sales manager. Effects £53,328 14s 2d/
see CW email 27.02.2021 for biography references
1949: proposed provision of office accomodation for the County Fire Service & living accomodation: no objection was raised.
1952: Frances Mees, the then head of East Sussex Fire Service, lived in Gundreda Road, but was able to access his office in "Narnton" from his house, which had a long garden and a tennis court, backing onto No.24 King henry's Road. [Information supplied by his nephew Terry Rourke 23.02.2026].
1977: a planning application was made for retention of the East Sussex Fire Brigade operational control room unit. Temporary permission [renewed on a frequent basis] was now recommended & approved, to be extended until 31.05.1980.
1980: Permission approved on the same basis as before (for not more than 5 years).
1985: No record of approval for permission appears.
1990: Permission approved on the same basis as before.