Henfield virtual tour:

The beginning of the end for this beautiful piece of countryside as the surveyors mark out the land for the bulldozer in the winter of 1992.

The hammerhead at the end of Chantry Close in the summer of 1993.

By August, the builders have gained access to the site. The tree from the first picture is visible through the gap.

The site is sealed prior to the arrival of telecommumications. The telegraph pole transporter had some difficulty with the tight bend and narrow close. A mound of topsoil is evident.

Along with twentieth century telecommunications comes accomodation..

The site is re-sealed to allow grass to grow on the mound of earth. The trees are showing the first signs of Autumn in this late September image. There are also signs of some concrete foundations.

Bricks are laid as the grass gets greener in the late Autumn sunshine. Having outgrown the temporary accomodation, more is delivered.

By October 1993 the brickwork has reached ground floor window level. The trees begin to look bleak.

Early December and the surgery accomodation moves on apace in the background. Activity generally appears high in this shot.

The roof arrives.

Slates and tiles are laid before Christmas 1993.

January 1994, and the roofing contractors are nearly finished.

March now and progress has slowed down somewhat.

A bay window is added apparently as an afterthought. The contractors go bankrupt. Many of the workers at this point completed a weeks work and were not paid. I wonder if they are still awaiting payment for their labour to give the village its health centre?

The Spring of 1994 and the site is nearly complete. The new contractor was required to make his first decision - add his details to the white board or find a safer location for the orange liquid petroleum gas container....

Five years later in October 1999.

Return to home page