Billy on Bicycle - Off to Brighton
In 1897 Billy bought himself a bicycle. This might seem an
insignificant event but it made a big difference to his life. Prior
to the purchase, his travel options were limited to how far he
could walk, or whether he could get there by train. His father’s
horse and cart were available only for commercial deliveries close
to town. Billy was a great walker and thought nothing of walking
seven or eight miles each day to get to a building site. However
the bicycle meant that he could undertake journeys at least five
times as far.
Saturday 20th November 1897
This afternoon with the aid of Jack Harman, managed to acquire the
art of riding [a] bicycle.
Thursday 25th November 1897
Yesterday got a Bicycle (Granville) on the HP from Rice Brothers
for £8.
Advertisement for Granville cycles,
1897, courtesy; Photo
credit.
Saturday 3rd December 1897
Went for a ride this afternoon on my new bicycle. Got on A1. Had
another go in the evening. Roads just right now.
Monday 6th December
Rode my bicycle over to [the building job at] Crawley. Very fair
ride for a start.
Thursday, 9th December
Rode back [to Horsham from Crawley] on bicycle for a meeting of the
Workers’ Union… Rode back to Crawley[1].
Saturday 5th February 1898
Not being very busy saw Jack Garman this morning and arranged with
him to ride to Brighton to see a football match (Horsham versus
Silver Star in semi-final for Sussex Junior Cup). Started about
12.30, went via West Grinstead, Partridge Green, Steyning,
Shoreham. Found roads very good till we got to Shoreham where we
took what’s called the “upper road” to Brighton. It proved a very
bad one, nothing but flints and mud. Having to walk a good part of
it, we didn’t arrive on the County Ground till after the match had
started, in fact Silver Star had already scored 2 goals … After the
match, Jack and I rode to the Unicorn and put up our machines, had
tea and a stroll along Kings Rd., North St., Western Rd. etc. till
7 p.m. till we commenced the return journey.
Red Lion Public House, Steyning
Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, watercolour by Brook Harrison, c.1900,
courtesy of West Sussex Past Pictures; Ref: PP/SHORM/S11; Rep:
Marlipins Museum Shoreham; Photo
Credit.
This time, went along by the sea and Shoreham in favour of “that
dreadful upper road”. Had a fine ride home feeling none the worse
for it. Enjoyed it very much but should have done so none the less
had we been able to report Horsham’s victory.
Thursday 3rd March 1898
Seeing by advertisement that Carl Rosa’s opera company were at the
Theatre Royal, Brighton, this week and today were going to give a
morning performance of Wagner’s Tannhauser, thought a good way to
hear it would be to go down by bicycle, roads being good and Bert
wanting a day’s ride and somewhere to go also. Started about 8
going by Pease Pottage then down the main road through Handcross,
Bolney, Hickstead, Albourne and Rycombe. Had a beautiful ride till
we neared Brighton when the roads got very bad. Got our machines
covered in mud. Still, we got there alright, put the machines up at
the station, had a square meal and wandered to the West Pier.
Stayed there some time listening to Gates Band. After that to [the]
theatre where a great disappointment waited me, found the bill had
been altered. I would not hear Tannhauser after all but Bizet’s
Carmen. Anyway, decided to make the best of it. Enjoyed it only
fairly though I have no doubt it was very good[2].
North Street, Brighton c.1910. The
Theatre Royal is on the left behind the colonnade. Courtesy of
Brighton and Hove Libraries; Photo
Credit.
After it was over and we had tea at Hunter’s, West Street, had a
stroll along Western Road shopping. By the time we were ready to
start it was nearly 8 p.m. and a slight drizzle coming on which
increased as we went on. By the time we reached Shoreham it had
turned into snow. We had decided to stay the night and then thought
best to push on and a nice push it was. Snow fell faster than ever
converting the roads into slush and what with a strong head wind,
we had a hard fight to reach Bramber where we decided to put up.
Having wired home, we found a shelter at the Temperance Hotel. Were
made very comfortable with cocoa and eggs then off to bed. Next
morning caught first train and arrived at Horsham again at 8 a.m.
both ourselves and machines looking none the better for the
adventure. Found that snow fell earlier here than lower down, so
that had we started home sooner we should not have escaped
it.
Bramber Village, c.1905, courtesy of
West Sussex Past Pictures, Ref:PP/ST/JSM/1983.56.15.14; Rep:
Steyning Museum;
Photo Credit.
Week ending Saturday 19th March 1898
Monday morning rode bicycle up to Clarks Green[3]. In the evening took a spin to Holmwood
and called on Aunt. Thursday evening rode home and back again.
Found Dad on the run once more, Friday evening [rode] to Dorking
and back and on Saturday rode home.
Easter Monday 11th April 1898
Decided to have another ride to Brighton again with Bert. Harry
started also mounted on a cushion, but it was too hard for him and
rather tame for us to wait for him, so just after leaving
Southwater we persuaded him to return. Then off we went at a better
rate. Rather hard work on account of a dead head wind but roads in
good condition. At Steyning we had a ride round to Grandmother’s
old house. There it was, everything just the same, even the
neighbours to whom we made ourselves known. Must confess I was much
disappointed in one of them, a Carrie Phillips of whom I had a
distinct remembrance as a playmate in our “petticoat days”. Have
often thought of her since that time. I pictured her as probably a
fine, dark and perhaps smart girl but what a take in – she is now
Mrs Slaughter and appeared at the door with three or four olive
branches who, like their Ma, looked rather “grimy and Squatty” to
say the least.
Market Day in Steyning c.1890.
Courtesy West Sussex Past Pictures, Ref: PP/STJSM/1983/.56.22.32;
Rep: Steyning Museum;
Photo Credit.
At Bramber we made another call, at the coffee house where we put
up on the night we were snowbound. Had lunch and then on to
Brighton. Fairly bright day but windy. After dinner we spent
remainder of the day on West Pier listening to Gates Band. When we
were leaving for tea, saw Harry who had just arrived having been
round Worthing etc. Had tea together then Bert and I started home
leaving Harry there. Had wind in our favour nearly all the way and
had it not been for repeated “pull ups” for shelter etc. we should
have made very good time. Managed to get home without getting very
wet.
West Pier and Bathing Huts,
Brighton, c.1900. Courtesy of Brighton and Hove Libraries; Image
No. 00103; Photo
Credit.
- [1] Billy was billeted in Crawley for the duration of a
building job. For the first time he was able to ride back to
Horsham in the evening to attend a community meeting.
- [2] Apparently Bert was
also disappointed by the performance. He was no connoisseur of
opera but his interest had pricked up when he heard the show would
be Carmen. Being a carman himself he was expecting the show to be
all about horses and their drivers!
- [3] Billy was working
on a building site at Capel at the time and commuting back to
Horsham for the weekends.
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