On permission of Carol Mills
Before World War II, this address was used as the headquarters for the Trade Association and the Labour Party. A lot of the upper floors were used by Plummer Roddis (later acquired by Debenhams), a very high-class department retailer in the town which used it as a hostel for unmarried female staff (think Are You Being Served?)
After the war, with Clement Attlee’s government, the building was used by the Department of Labour. With the creation of the NHS, the Department of Health moved in. Local families could go there to collect the free cod liver oil and concentrated orange juice for their children.Find out more about the Evolution of Eastbourne’s ‘Little Chelsea’ area.