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Caroline Smith |
Location:
Sandgate |
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 Tuesday, 7 March 2017 23:58
I have recently moved to Sandgate, into a house called Leas Crag, Radnor Cliff Crescent. Have been trying to find out some history on it but can’t find anything other than it was built by Otto Marx in the early 1930’s.
My house runs along the footpath; ending from Radnor Cliff Crescent up to The Leas. Its the footpath where the old tram used to run from Sandgate Hill which closed around the end of the second world war if that helps.
Be great if anyone has any history for me.
Paul Seward Wednesday, 8 March 2017 05:46
A good place to start is with the Deeds of your property. Leas Crag was built for Alderman R.G. Wood, sometime Mayor of Folkestone. He was, ex officio, a Justice of the Peace and the proprietor of a Gents' Outfitters at the top end of Tontine Street.
The house was built in the southwest corner of a Sports Ground stretching all the way to the Metropole. It incorporated a nine-hole golf course. The railway ran from the end of the Leas on the opposite side of the path. The bridge abutments on Radnor Cliff Crescent are still in situ.
All I can find out from the local paper is that he had trouble with the heron visiting the pond at the bottom of your garden. From personal memory I believe that the property may have offered residential accommodation to elderly people in the early 70s.
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Christine- website owner Wednesday, 8 March 2017 08:35
That's great Paul, I had nothing on that house. Seems to me I remember R.G. Wood, and the shop, do you know the years he was in office? I was looking at the area on Google Street View yesterday, and was looking closely at those abutments, they almost look like castle walls. I didn't know that the railway had gone across a bridge there. I love days when I learn more about my home town - thank you, and thank you Caroline for asking the question.
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Paul Seward Wednesday, 8 March 2017 11:47
R G Wood - Mayor of Folkestone 1935-41, followed by George Gurr. I should have made clear that the Sports Ground had the Golf Course and not the house! The course was roughly where Cliff Road is now. Good pix on Britain from Above.
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Christine Wednesday, 8 March 2017 12:12
Oh, then I don't remember him, I am not quite that old!  I have come across his name many times though.
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caroline smith Thursday, 9 March 2017 16:15
I am so delighted that you have some news on my house, thats the first bit of information that I have managed to receive! My husband is delighted, yet sad that there was a golf course at the rear of the house, but not longer there!! Have tried to find deeds but they no longer exist. Also, there is a strange concrete bunker about four feet to the side of the house, have asked structural engineers, architects, the council, we are all bemused, even a friend of mine who is very interested in strange structures......no one can work it out! Be great if anyone has any ideas, almost looks like a pigsty but walls are very thick and have a ramp leading up to the?? Am so delighted that I have heard back from you, thank you so so much!!
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Christine Thursday, 9 March 2017 22:29
I believe Wood Avenue was named after R G Wood wasn't it Paul?
No idea about the bunker, does it have a top on it? Is it big enough for people to get inside? Wondering if he had his own air raid shelter built.
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caroline smith Friday, 10 March 2017 11:17
HI Christine, Yes, the bunker/pigsty has a roof, and room for about ten people, so long as they crouch down! I absolutely love this site, both you and Paul have been so helpful, I finally have some history for the house! Thank you, be great if there is any more info out there!
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Christine Friday, 10 March 2017 13:32
Looking again at that listing, it appears the photo didn't sell, so if you are interested, you might still be able to buy it if you contact the seller. The listing is here: [ www.ebay.co.uk]
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caroline smith Friday, 10 March 2017 14:02
caroline smith 11 minutes ago
I did see the ebay photo, but it was after the sale had ended, contacted the seller to see if I could buy it as it was unsold but didn't hear back, which is a shame. With regards to the garden, unfortunately when we bought it, it was so overgrown we had to have 28 trees cut down and clear everything except trees with TPO's, give me a few years and I promise I will start to make it look like a garden again! Still renovating the house....its taking some time!! Two years in, hopefully be finished by the end of this year
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Paul Seward Sunday, 12 March 2017 16:40
Wood Avenue indeed named after Alderman R.G. Wood in a similar gesture as George Gurr Crescent, Penfold Road and others. I'm very interested in Caroline's mention of a bunker as I know that there is a similar construction not far away. More anon on that one.
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Paul Seward Friday, 17 March 2017 13:07
Having visited the bunker I reckon that it is an air raid shelter. It has a six-inch thick concrete roof, with the entrance facing the house. Being built on sloping ground, Leas Crag was probably not suitable for an Anderson. The construction close by has been blocked off but I have arranged with the owner to open it up again at some stage. It is boarded up at the end but the accessible sides are constructed of railway sleeper interspersed with brick, so probably another homemade shelter.
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Christine Friday, 17 March 2017 13:25
Thank you for checking this Paul, it's so nice to be proved right! 
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Nicola dyos Wednesday, 14 February 2018 01:37
Hi leas crag was owned by my great aunt Mrs Lena
Leducq my mum has very fond memories of Holiday there I believe i might have some pictures of it somewhere I will find them and post to you
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Pat Saturday, 24 February 2024 11:55
Hi Nicola. Was your great aunt Lena Leducq married to Alphonse Louis Leivin August Leducq? Her maiden name would have been McCarthy. If so her father was my great uncle.
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