Deeds of 3 Powis Villas, Brighton

In August 1994 the Record Office was given the opportunity of photocopying four deeds relating to 3 Powis Villas which had been loaned to a searcher by the owner. It is not clear whether there are any further deeds in the bundle

The first of the documents, although it relates to other property built by the same developer, seems to have no bearing on Powis Villas or Powis Square

By a deed of 29 Mar 1845, which survives in the form of a copy drawn by George Dempster of Brighton, solicitor, John Yearsley of Brighton, ironmonger, entered into covenants with John Juniper and Edward Wood both of Brighton, ironmongers, Richard Chapman of Brighton, stonemason, John Smith of Brighton, builder and William Watts of Brighton, laundryman, concerning the development of the south-eastern side of a new road between Hampton Place and the London and Brighton Railway terminus in Brighton

Measuring from the south-west, Yearsley owned a piece of ground with frontage of 76' on the road, followed by Watts (76'), Juniper and Wood (50'), Watts (50'), Watts and Chapman (25'), Watts and Smith (25') and Watts (50')

Yearsley agreed that, within 6 months after the start of construction, he would erect a brick or stone column at the northern corner of his land and a brick or stone boundary wall along the north-western side to a height of 5' 6", but with power to substitute in its place a dwarf wall and iron fence to the height of 5' 6", and further that he would not erect any building nearer than 14' 6" to the boundary. The other owners each entered the same covenants in respect of their land (1)

By a deed 17 Sep 1846, Frances Marguretta Kemp and her trustees Sir Thomas Baring, Alexander [Baring] Lord Ashburton, Francis Thornhill Baring and William Bingham Baring and Henry Baring, with Samuel Lawford, sold land on the Western or Tenantry Down to John Yearsley and his trustee Henry Faithful of Brighton, gent; a deed of 7 Dec 1847 settled other land on William Yearsley in trust for John Yearsley

On 30 Oct 1849 Yearsley, Faithful of Brighton, gent and William Yearsley of Welshpool in Montgomery, solicitor, sold two pieces of land to Edward Sharp of Brighton, draper and his trustee Arthur William Woods of Brighton, gent, for £480; messuages had already been built on both pieces by Sharp

The two pieces, the first described as a piece of land on the Church Hill round the Brig and the second part of a piece containing 2a 0r 37p, were both formerly part of the Western or Tenantry Down, and were distinguished by a plan in the margin of the deed. Also shown is an elevation, with which any house to be built in Powis Place was to conform. The houses were to be of the value of £400 at least and to enjoy the open area in the centre of Powis Place; the development was protected by detailed covenants restricting use (2)

By a deed of 22 Dec 1849, Sharpe sold off a house and buildings [on Powis Square - see plan] to William Muggeridge of York Road, Lambeth in Surrey, cornfactor and Thomas Benjamin Muggeridge of Earl Street, Blackfriars in London, cornfactor, and their trustee Mark Smallpiece of Dorking in Surrey, gent (2)

Edward Sharp of Madeira Villa, Addiscombe Road, Croydon in Surrey, gent, sold a house he had built at 2 Powis Villas to Henry Gould Sharp of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, gent, for £1200 on 15 Oct 1869 (3)

On 24 Mar 1883 H G Sharp of 21 Threadneedle Street, London, gent, sold the house to Susannah Chapman of 11 Clifton Road, Brighton, spinster, for £1450 (4)

Photocopies given 19 August 1994 (ACC 6429)