Flora Sassoon was born in Bombay in 1859 into the wealthy Sassoon family. She married her cousin Sassoon David Sassoon, a businessman who owned Ashley Park near Walton‑on‑Thames. After his death she became a widow with considerable independence and means.
Flora was known for her sharp mind, religious devotion and unusual habits. She ran the family business after her husband’s death, travelled widely and hosted famous guests, including Sarah Bernhardt. She wrote letters in Hebrew and kept a strict kosher household even on ocean liners.
Flora in Hove.
Flora chose Hove as her home for many years, living in a house that reflected her status. She became known for quiet acts of kindness that locals still remember.
Her best‑known gift was to
St Ann’s Well Gardens.
- In 1913 she bought an extra acre of land and gave it to Hove Borough Council.
- This extended the gardens, creating space for croquet lawns (now tennis courts and a scented garden).
- She also donated turf, summer houses, statues, deer antlers, Grecian urns and other decorative items.
- The extension opened to the public on 1 May 1913, with a plaque marking her gift.
Flora’s other gestures included:
- Giving fruit to overheated police officers on summer days.
- Donating a 20‑inch clock to the old pump house in St Ann’s Well Gardens in 1908.
These acts show a woman who used her wealth to improve public spaces and daily life.
Flora died in 1936, leaving a legacy of philanthropy in Hove.
Why Flora Sassoon matters
Flora Sassoon’s story is one of a wealthy Bombay widow who found a second home in Hove. Her gifts turned St Ann’s Well Gardens into a larger, more usable space that people still enjoy today.
She shows how women from the empire’s trading families shaped British towns.
- Her land gift created tennis courts and a scented garden for the blind.
- Her decorative donations – urns, statues, antlers – added character to the site.
Stories of her kindness to police officers bring her to life as someone who saw small needs and met them.
Walk through St Ann’s Well Gardens today and you are using land Flora Sassoon bought and gave. Her plaque at the Somerhill Road entrance quietly marks that connection.
