In this instance we can thank GA Neal and Sons for their provision of a wide range of interesting information when they started to develop the area now known as the Newtown Estate in North Bersted.

The estate comprised Central Avenue, South Way, Central Drive, Newton Avenue and Greencourt Drive. If you are not sure of the area, perhaps the sight of the Fish Bar at North Bersted will jog some memories. The sign 'Royal Parade 1932', the original estate office, is quite prominent and will help you pinpoint it as the road bears to the right at North Bersted.

The developer very kindly produced a booklet for potential customers, as he quoted, 'for a new property in a very desirable area'.

We should first try to envisage the area, not as we know it today, but as an undeveloped open area of Bognor Regis, whose population was then 13,500.

The foreword reports that 'a township has sprung up consisting of houses of which the most fastidious might well be proud, a town which has its own shopping centre'. It continues: "The Newtown Estate is within the boundary of Bognor Regis. That name alone speaks volumes, as it tells of happy days spent lounging in the sunshine or bathing in the clean sparkling surf."

Again we should compare the buildings of today, where planners fit a large number of homes into what seems to be a small piece of land.

However, Mr Neal decided an average of ten homes to the acre would be constructed, each house with a gate into the back garden which was to 'enable tradesmen and others to reach the back door, without having to go through the front gate'.

The 1930s advertisements stated main drainage was completed and homes were connected to the Bognor Regis main sewers free of cost. The new homeowners were also advised they would be able to partake of gas and main water supplies, in addition to electric lights. These services were also to be supplied free of charge.

It would appear the layout of the site was being considered very much with the new residents in mind.

Homes contained a range of special features including large bay windows which added 'attractiveness and providing more light' and would be 'a house into which your furniture seems to fit easily'.

As a last incentive, the brochure explained that 'everything possible was done to make the estate the best in the district and nothing was to be spared to satisfy the needs of each and every purchaser'.

Can you imagine the excitement of housewives in the 1930s as they bought homes with new kitchens filled with modern conveniences such as 'a sink fitted in the corner, leaving room for a draining board', plus 'a larder large in size and well ventilated. The whole of the kitchen is tiled half way up the wall with a black and white capping'.

Another incentive was the provision of a sunken bath, very novel in 1936.

Once the euphoria of the home had sunk in, there was the question of price.

for more local history, see here