Chapter 9: Mid Twentieth-century Developments

That is about all I know (or have deduced) about the initial conversion of the house into flats. However, a word may be added about occupancy. In the 1948 directory the occupants are given as Miss Hayhurst and Mrs Holdsworth, on whom I have a note (again from an uncertain source) to the effect that she was tall, unlike the Hayhursts, who were plump. I believe that she occupied the west (i.e., study side) flat. The 1950 directory adds Mrs Herdon. By 1968, the occupants were Miss Hayhurst (now Ellen, not Elizabeth: see below), Mrs M.E.R. Waite and Mrs I. Wild, all of whom were still there in 1974. I have a note of what the Lucases (who lived at West Hill Villa) told me about Mrs Waite, who was nearly 90. The flat was always dirty and you weren’t welcome inside. She was a Christian Scientist, and ultimately went to live with the leader of the local group, at which point she took on a new lease of life. The dining room was her bedroom, and they recalled pipework being exposed in the kitchen.

Further reminiscences came from Robert Anstey, who looked at the house with his wife, perhaps in 1974 when the Willets bought it. He recalls that the asking price was £6000 and there was a sitting tenant on the ‘kitchen’ side (i.e., the east flat), who he was worried might burn the house down. She had dolls on her bed. Another note that I have suggests that there actually was a fire, but in the other flat (there were signs of this in the laundry room when I took over the house). I have a further note about a tenant called Mrs Taylor, who lived on the kitchen side (i.e., the east flat), who was plump, and whose son was worried about damp. Lastly, Oliver Waldren, who formerly lived at Rock House and who died in 2023, recalled Mrs Wild, who lived on the study side (i.e., the west flat) and whom he got to know a bit; she had a daughter who taught in a primary school somewhere on the outskirts of Hastings, who visited her from time to time. Oliver recalled her telling him that Mr Willett had promised her a new, pink bathroom suite, but that it never materialised (I don’t know how this related to the green one that I inherited). I have a plastic label, which was evidently placed under a door bell, saying: ‘Mrs I. Wild’, as also another, much rubbed brass one which just says: ‘Hayhurst’. View image. Incidentally, someone told me (I don’t now remember who) that Miss Hayhurst was very opposed to the telegraph pole across the road from Exmouth House, and wanted to have it moved or removed, but failed to achieve this.