The History of 12 Lewes Crescent

1 Documents

2 Karl Gisholt

The images below are photographs of a complete archive of documents relating to No 12 Lewes Crescent currently in the possession of the owner of the property.

1. Appointment and Release

and Deed of Covenant

This indenture conveys ownership of No 12 Lewes Crescent from Thomas Kemp to Thomas Cubitt dated 8th May 1827 in the sum of one thousand eight hundred and nineteen pounds.

Details from the documents:

Thomas Kemp's signature — Thomas Kemp’s signature

Thomas Cubitt's signature — Thomas Cubitt’s signature

Plan showing the No 12 Lewes Crescent property

In 1882 the property was sold by The Rt Honourable George Cubitt and William Cubitt to Frederick Wood for two thousand nine hundred pounds

Conveyance of a piece of land with a Messuage thereon knbown as no 12 Lewes Crescent Kemp Town Brighton in the County of Sussex — Conveyance of a piece of land with a Messuage thereon known as

plan — Plan of No 12 included in the conveyance

Stamp duty. Eight Pounds Ten Shillings and Six Pounds — Signature Frederick Hobbs

In 1906 the property was sold to C.W. Millar Esq for £1,000 - In 1911 Mrs G.M.Millar sold the property to Mrs C.G. Parker for £1,827 - In 1925 Mrs C.G. Parker sold the property to R.MacLeod Esq for £3,500 - In 1928 R.MacLeod Esq sold the property to London Land and Property for £2,600 - In 1930 London Land and Property sold the property to Mrs E.E. Goddard for £2,050 - In 1933 Mrs E.E.Goddard sold the property to H.R. Michael for £5,250 - In 1951 H.R.Michael sold the property to Deansway Properties for £5,600.

On April 27 1951 Deansway Properties sold the property to Eigil Gisholt (the father of Karl Gisholt) for £6,100.

Karl’s father worked as a representative of the Hudson’s Bay Company and had an office for his own concerns in the City on London 1932-1968, but he wanted to live in the country so he bought 12 Lewes Crescent in 1951 and moved his family down to Brighton. According to Karl, his mother had somewhat of an alcohol problem and spent little time looking after her children. His father was working in the City and also travelled a great deal and so the 3 children, 2 girls and the youngest, Karl, ran rather wild and unsupervised lives.

Karl remembers having a great friend who lived at No 4 LC and they regularly visited each other travelling along the roof tops behind the parapets between the houses.

No 13, next door, stood empty but, at 5 years old, Karl noticed that a panel in the basement door was loose. With a bit of effort he managed to move the panel enough so that he could squeeze inside. Wonder of wonders the empty house was decorated with stunning Indian murals throughout, at least as far as he dared to look!

The Gisholt family acquired No 10 Lewes Crescent in 1966.

This house backs on to Rock Street and has large flats facing the Enclosures and much smaller one bedroom flats approached and entered from Rock Street. The large staircase in the front section was separated from a smaller one at the back by a door, on the first floor landing, which was always kept locked. The flats at the back were inhabited by some extremely colourful people!

Val’s Taverne postcard 1951-52

Karl’s mother’s ‘local’ was very near to hand at ‘Val’s Taverne’ - see the entry for 11 Chichester Terrace. Karl remembers watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2 on Val’s television with some of his friends.

Reverse of postcard, used by Val to encourage customers to visit

A happier memory of Karl’s is that of going to a stables in Kemp Town Mews for riding lessons. Karl attended St Mary’s school with his sisters.

The History of 12 Lewes Crescent

​1 Documents

2 Karl Gisholt

1. Appointment and Release and Deed of Covenant

On April 27 1951 Deansway Properties sold the property to Eigil Gisholt (the father of Karl Gisholt) for £6,100.

1 Documents

1. Appointment and Release

and Deed of Covenant