A brief history of the Angmering on Sea Estate in East Preston village

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A brief history of the Angmering on Sea Estate in East Preston village -

In 1792 a workhouse was built in the centre of East Preston (opposite Cooper Adams office looking down Fairlands). Workhouses were for the very poor and provided accommodation, work, food and education. In some ways they were like prison. Residents were not allowed to leave without permission.

The workhouse remained under different guises until 1969 when the houses in Fairlands and the corner of Sea road were built.

In the early 1900's developers wanted to build luxury housing in East Preston near the sea. As Angmering was a more prestigious location back then (no workhouse) the developers decided to call the new estate Angmering on Sea.

The Angmering on Sea private estate: a collection of 335 residential dwellings, originally developed in the early 1900’s.

A December 1919 advertisement for the original housing plots describes the ‘unique Residential Estate, sometimes referred to as the “Garden of Sussex”’ as ‘quiet, restful and self-contained’ and as a ‘veritable Spa’ resort.

The 1969 East Preston Official Guide mentions: the area ‘has been well planned on a spacious lay-out with wide grass verges, groups of trees and flowering shrubs. The houses and bungalows have either been individually built or are to a variety of sizes and designs.’ Nearby attractions of this idyllic setting include direct access to the beach, proximity to local shops, pubs and cafés and the Angmering-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Club, which has been situated on the estate since the 1960’s. As a result of the garden-style design, private community aspect, characterful range of architectural styles and adjacent amenities, the properties within the estate boundaries continue to be highly sought after to this day.

The Angmering on Sea Residents’ Assocation (AOSERA) was formed in the 1950’s to manage and protect the interests of estate residents, including providing maintenance of the estate’s roads, common verges and street lighting and to uphold the estate’s covenants. Protecting the privacy of the roads is a key issue and parking is reserved for residents and their guests, regulated by an independent parking control contractor. The Association employs a local managing agent for the day to day running of the estate, working closely with a committee of volunteer residents, who meet and communicate regularly, to ensure all matters pertaining to the estate are dealt with as promptly and efficiently as possible.

Data from www.aosera.co.uk