Clune House, 137 Sydenham Road
One wonders whether, because of over a century of neglect, interesting details might have survived in the house; regrettably, we shall never know. We asked the Conservation Officer for his comments on the demolition, and whether any record had been made of the house but, sadly, it was demolished too hastily for that to have happened.
Steve Grindlay
Steve Grindlay
With no prior warning, one of Sydenham's oldest surviving houses was demolished in July 2005. Clune House was in Sydenham Road, set behind the group of shops between the Dolphin and Berrymans Lane. The first floor was just visible above the shops, but it was otherwise almost impossible to see. It had apparently been empty, unused and neglected for many years.
Clune House was almost exactly 200 years old, built in about 1805 for Hewitt Cobb, a lawyer and owner of the Theatre Royal, Brighton (and quite unconnected with Walter). On Cobb's death in 1822 the lease was acquired by another lawyer, George Chilton. His widow Susan died here in 1853. Towards the end of the 19th century the house seems to have been divided into two. It was probably at this time that the bay was added to the front. By the early 20th century it was no longer used as a home, but for commercial purposes.
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Clune House (circled) from the 1894 OS map
Clune House is visible behind the shops
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