Hi List, Can anyone shed any light on Ventnor accommodation from the 1940-1960's? My grandmother Clara Florence SMITH used to manage a Guest House or Bed & Breakfast (my version) in Ventnor at 29 Albert Street back in the 1940-50's. Does this street still exist? Is it still accommodation - or a private house these days? Clara later managed a Guest House/Hotel called Basildon and apparently overlooked the beach. Does anyone recall where this was? Regards, Ron Cooper From Down Under In the Land of Oz

Hello Ron, No 29 Albert Street still exists, and I pass it every Monday when I go to Ventnor Heritage Museum. I don't know for how much longer, though, as number 25 (and possibly 27) was supposed to have been demolished for a new car parking scheme and has been empty for some time Anyway, no 29 Albert Street is the right hand cottage in a block of three at the junction of Albert Street and Market Street. You can just make it out on a map of Ventnor for 1866 at: http://www.old-maps.co.uk/gazetteer.htm#h Look at the enlarged version of the map. From St Catherine's Church roughly in the centre of the map, scroll to the right to show Albert Street running west to east. Approximately half way along the street is a road running north/south connecting Albert Street with High Street. This is Market Street. At the right of the junction is a block of cottages - 25, 27 and 29 Albert Street. My Kelly's Directory for 1931-2 shows Basildon as being in Alpine Road. On the map, just below St Catherines Church, Church Street joins Alpine Road which curves off to the north west from Church Street. In 1911 Ann CASS (nee PRICE) the widow of William CASS was living at 27 Albert Street, and her daughter, Elizabeth Emma CASS the wife of Charles LOWE was living at the same address in 1918. William CASS and Emma Elizabeth CASS are descendants of William BULL and Jenny YOUNG, my husband's 5 x great grandparents. Coincidently, the directory shows a Miss CASS living at no 29 in 1931-2. I don't know yet if there is any connection with the CASS family mentioned above. Janet Griffin