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Post card of 47 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, taken around 1909 or earlier.

David Gilbert senior (1825-1916) moved to 'Herstmonceux Lodge' 47 Terminus Road, Eastbourne when he retired in 1884.

The family of David (senior) and Charlotte Gilbert

Herstmonceux Lodge was one of a row of buildings set back from Terminus Road, Eastbourne but running parallel to it, separated from the main road by a strip of grass and gardens. It was situated where the shopping mall now stands (formerly the Arndale Centre and now called The Beacon), approximately opposite Bolton Road, as marked in red on the map below (courtesy of ARCHI). By 1993 this was the area between Marks & Spencer No.133, and the sub Post Office at No.143.

David Gilbert senior retired in 1884 and moved here from 51 and 52 Seaside Road when his son David Gilbert jnr (1861-1902) was married, settled at Gilbert's Bakery and took over the business. David snr continued to live here until he died on 23 November 1916, aged 91. The house, which was the last remaining private house in Terminus Road, was originally called "Herstmonceux Lodge". It had a small front garden, a basement and steps up to the front door.

Gilbert's Bakery, Eastbourne

The 1891 Census shows the occupants as David Gilbert (aged 65, retired baker), his wife Charlotte (aged 73), Charlotte Noakes (niece, aged 46, bakery assistant) and Agnes Jones (aged 20, general servant). David's wife Charlotte died in 1895 and the 1901 Census shows him still living at 47 Terminus Road, aged 75, with Charlotte Noakes (aged 56, niece of his late wife) and Naomi Marchant (domestic servant, aged 23, born in Willingdon).

The 1911 Census shows the residents as David Gilbert, aged 85, with Charlotte Noakes (aged 67, single, born in Bletchingly, Surrey) and Naomi Marchant (aged 34, domestic servant, born in Willingdon). David died a widdower in the house in 1916, aged 91.

No.47 had already been replaced before the 2nd World War, during which a bomb fell there on Friday 18 December 1942 which wrecked all the buildings for some distance around.

In a 1915 codicil to David Gilbert's will of 1906, he quotes the address of Mary Soddy (1857-1942) as being 47 Terminus Road, but the property is not mentioned among the disposal bequests of his properties, which suggests that he did not own it, but rented it. However, a letter from his grandson William Gilbert (1892-1955) written to his sister Ellen while he was serving with the RAF in 1918 says;
"...your information about 47 Terminus Road came along yesterday. If I had known of this I would have put my pass in for Eastbourne. As it is I will give my views on the subject now. I remember you mentioning the offer and it seemed to me too 'thick' altogether, but Gilbert's letter alters it considerably. What I should like to know is this; the purchaser pays £750 at once - does he pay periodical instalments after that, and then the balance within 6 months of Peace, or does he pay no more at all till he pays up the whole lot within 6 months of Peace? I forget what the sum total of the offer was but I believe it was satisfactory, wasn't it? If he pays instalments as I have mentioned above, I'm in favour of accepting. Gilbert says he can't take possession till the whole amount is paid, and if the whole amount ISN'T paid by 6 months after Peace then we stick to the £750 AND the house, and the whole business is at end."
"Make sure of these points (don't take Gilbert's word for it). If the war drags on say another 2 years then we're getting the rent, and the interest on £750, and the house."

The letter continues with detailed advice in the same vein, and is in H.R.Gilbert's records. All this suggests that the family still owned the house in 1918, and perhaps that Gilbert B.Soddy had found a potential buyer with an unconventional purchase proposal, due to the uncertainty of the war.

It's not known when the building was demolished, but the Eastbourne 'Blue Book' for 1933-34 shows; "47 Dr.Scholl's Foot Comfort Service (Tele.455) Pollard, Randolph L.Esq. L.D.S., R.D.S. Dental surgeon (Tele.829) Vinsen, T.H. Dentist (Tele.829)"