Wonderful Woodingdean - The Story of Brighton's Secret Suburb

1st August 2023

Wonderful Woodingdean - The Story of Brighton's Secret Suburb

Just like most large urban areas, the city of Brighton and Hove is made up of many different districts and neighbourhoods which all come together to create the diverse character that it’s famous for.

Only in existence as a city since 31st January 2001, Brighton and Hove were once quite distinct towns with a shared a boundary. Today under a unified council authority there are more than 290,000 residents living in locations that vary from a modern urban city centre through to coastal and downland areas.

Woodingdean

Woodingdean is a semi-rural suburb to the east of the city. It lies to the other side of Brighton Racecourse away from the main centre of built-up areas and is surrounded by the greenery of open land known as 'downland'.

With spectacular views down to the sea and with many houses backing on to open farmland, the 'feel' of the area is very different to the hustle and bustle of Brighton and Hove's busy city centre streets. 

The former workhouse school in Warren Road, which is now the site of the Nuffield Hospital, was one of the first major buildings in Woodingdean. A little known fact is that in the grounds you can find the Woodingdean Water Well, claimed to be the deepest hand-dug well in the world. Excavated between 1858 and 1862, it goes down to a depth of 1,285 feet but is now permanently capped.

Development

After the First World War plots of land on the South Downs, north of the parish of Rottingdean which had formerly been used for sheep-farming, were sold for development. Often bought by soldiers returning from the war, a number of small holdings sprung up.

The residential areas of today mainly result from these 1920s building plots, but it was in 1928 when things really started to move up a gear as Woodingdean became part of Brighton County Borough.

The biggest development boom was carried out during the 1950s and 1960s when the current layout of roads and housing were laid out. The result was the distinctive 'kidney shaped' residential area still seen in aerial photographs today.

Woodingdean living

With such a defined identity in a setting where open countryside is only minutes away on foot and the sea in constant view, it's no surprise Woodingdean is such a popular place to live. 

We pride ourselves on being a truly local estate agency that really knows and loves Woodingdean. In fact we can boast that our Associate Director Sharon Wareham M.N.A.E.A. is the longest serving local estate agent.

When you choose to live somewhere you really need an estate agent who can tell you exactly what you need to know - about the schools, the local amenities, even to be able to point you in the direction of the best local services and businesses to help you settle in your new home.

Our owner David Maslen lives in Woodingdean so knows firsthand exactly why so many people want to do so too.

If you're thinking of moving to the area or are looking for a local estate agent who knows exactly how to market your home to the right buyers, get in touch today - call on 01273 27 88 66, email [email protected] or pop into our local office at 62-64 Warren Road, Woodingdean BN2 6BA

 

Testimonials

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • Very pleased with the service. Many thanks to Sharon and the boys!

    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • Cannot express our appreciation enough of all the efforts made by the Woodingdean team - they were fantastic.

    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

  • Thank you for everything!

    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Fiveways

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Hove

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • The whole team were excellent, each one of them felt like family. Sharon had a lot of sorting to do at times but coped very well, a true profession...

    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Milner Road

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

  • The Woodingdean team were very friendly and approachable.

    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Cromwell Road

  • Please thank Paula at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne The Avenue

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Ringmer Road

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • Good team. Straightforward. No nonsense.

    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

  • A good team at Woodingdean helped us through a stressful time.

    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • Very impressed with the service. Sharon Wareham works tirelessly, very professionally and is always there for advice. 

    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Titian Road

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • A very positive experience - I had most contact with the Fiveways office and they were so friendly and helpful.

    Ms A King Balfour Road

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Nick and Paula are total stars! They were incredibly supportive and present throughout. Thank you!

    Miss O'Haire Hove

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

  • Sharon, Harvey and James were all excellent - very professional. Totally opposite to what I have experienced with other agents. Maslen have restore...

    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

  • Brilliant. Well done to Sharon and the Woodingdean team.

    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • Maslens as a whole were really friendly and professional. I have to thank and congratulate Paula Carter for being superb at her job and exceeding m...

    Ms Warren Hove

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brading Road

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

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