HISTORY OF BRIGHTON GREEN
The history of Brighton Green began with a native of Great Britain, Leslie Lindsey, Sr. As a young child, he came to the United States. He eventually settled in Richmond and became engaged to Elizabeth Carr. During this engagement period, they bought 30-plus acres of land at the end of Piney Lane, off Buford Road in Bon Air. Mr. Lindsey excitedly drew up plans for his first home and worked as general contractor for the construction. In all, it took about two years to build this large house with its commanding presence on the hill. Elizabeth and Leslie were married on December 18, 1951 and moved into their new home in March 1952. Mr. Lindsey named his estate “Brighton Green,” after his homeplace in Brighton, England.
The Lindseys’ son, Leslie, Jr., remembers his first home as “a friendly place.” In the winter, neighborhood children went sleighriding down the hill – there was no fence around the property then! A big vegetable garden was cultivated beside the house, but it disappeared when Piney Lane was extended.
In October 1959 Mr. Lindsey died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 44. The children, Leslie, Jr. and Roxanne, were then 6 and 3 years of age. Older residents of Richmond may remember Mr. Lindsey’s business, “Lindsey’s Radio Shop,” located on Cary Street. After his death, the business was sold, but the name was retained. Today it no longer exists.
Mrs. Lindsey remained in Brighton Green for several years after her husband’s death, then moved with her two children to a smaller home. Today she continues to live in the Bon Air area. Her son, Leslie Jr., is a prosecutor for the Chesterfield Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Roxanne is the Director of Developmental Disabilities Services in Southern Pines, NC.
It was a cold, wintry day, around Christmas 1957 – nearly two years before Mr. Lindsey’s death – when Mr. Bernard Savage walked up the path to the big manor house, “Brighton Green.” The purpose of this visit was to offer to buy 25-30 acres of land that the Lindseys owned. Mr. Savage wanted to build a subdivision on the property. The offer was accepted, and the Lindseys retained five acres of land around their house for their private use. Mr. Lindsey graciously gave permission to allow the name of his homeplace, Brighton Green, to be used as the name of the subdivision.
The first homes were started in 1958. The Brighton Green Land Corporation was formed by the partnership of Bernard Savage, George Sowers, Sr. and Oscar Napier. In time, additional tracts were purchased from Mr. Bayliss and Mr. Cole to allow development of the entire area.
Mr. Savage has on file in our office the original sales brochure used for marketing homes in Brighton Green. “Brighton Green is the Bon Air Community designed for your generation” was the key phrase in that brochure used to describe the subdivision. Home prices ranged from $23,000 - $30,000.
One of the original residents of Brighton Green bought a home on Piney Lane. She remembers it as a dirt road which did not officially extend to Midlothian Turnpike. There was a bridge across Powhite Creek (right below the Lindseys’ estate). At times of heavy rain the bridge would wash out, and the road was impassable. This lady’s husband was forced to buy a Jeep in the early 1960s so he could maneuver up the rough path to Midlothian Turnpike – that was the only way to make it to work during bad weather.
In those early days, all the mailboxes for the residents of Brighton Green were near this bridge; they weren’t at each individual home. In time, home mail delivery was begun, Piney Lane was paved (how the homeowners were excited!), and Piney Lane became Pinetta Drive (this did not please them!).
Do you have friends who live on the streets of Anbern, Janlar, or Harmad? Share with them the following information: Anbern is the combination of Anne and Bernard Savage; Janlar was named for the Savages’ two children, Janice and Larry; Harmad originated from the names of the two builders in Brighton Green, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Madison. Now, Janice is married to Dr. Edward Gardner, a local Bon Air dentist, and they have four children. As Associate Broker with Savage & Company, Larry is also president of Savoy Builders. He and his wife, Cindy, have four daughters and live in Midlothian.
Just as it was in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brighton Green is still a thriving, family-oriented neighborhood, although its appearance is dramatically different from 40+ years ago. Piney Lane as a dirt road has changed immensely to a very busy Pinetta Drive, which is used by everyone as a cut-through from Buford Road to Midlothian Turnpike. On snowy days you no longer can sleigh down the Lindseys’ hill, as the current owners of this property have a fence around the yard to keep others out. And the state has done a lot of work on Powhite Creek to keep the creek within its banks. Gone are the days (fortunately!) of needing to take a different route home to avoid the washed-out road.
If you’re a West-ender who has never been to Brighton Green, come pay us a visit on this side of the river. Check out the old Lindsey Estate, Powhite Creek and the streets of Anbern, Janlar, and Harmad. You’ll enjoy stepping back in history 50 years.
The history of Brighton Green began with a native of Great Britain, Leslie Lindsey, Sr. As a young child, he came to the United States. He eventually settled in Richmond and became engaged to Elizabeth Carr. During this engagement period, they bought 30-plus acres of land at the end of Piney Lane, off Buford Road in Bon Air. Mr. Lindsey excitedly drew up plans for his first home and worked as general contractor for the construction. In all, it took about two years to build this large house with its commanding presence on the hill. Elizabeth and Leslie were married on December 18, 1951 and moved into their new home in March 1952. Mr. Lindsey named his estate “Brighton Green,” after his homeplace in Brighton, England.
The Lindseys’ son, Leslie, Jr., remembers his first home as “a friendly place.” In the winter, neighborhood children went sleighriding down the hill – there was no fence around the property then! A big vegetable garden was cultivated beside the house, but it disappeared when Piney Lane was extended.
In October 1959 Mr. Lindsey died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 44. The children, Leslie, Jr. and Roxanne, were then 6 and 3 years of age. Older residents of Richmond may remember Mr. Lindsey’s business, “Lindsey’s Radio Shop,” located on Cary Street. After his death, the business was sold, but the name was retained. Today it no longer exists.
Mrs. Lindsey remained in Brighton Green for several years after her husband’s death, then moved with her two children to a smaller home. Today she continues to live in the Bon Air area. Her son, Leslie Jr., is a prosecutor for the Chesterfield Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Roxanne is the Director of Developmental Disabilities Services in Southern Pines, NC.
It was a cold, wintry day, around Christmas 1957 – nearly two years before Mr. Lindsey’s death – when Mr. Bernard Savage walked up the path to the big manor house, “Brighton Green.” The purpose of this visit was to offer to buy 25-30 acres of land that the Lindseys owned. Mr. Savage wanted to build a subdivision on the property. The offer was accepted, and the Lindseys retained five acres of land around their house for their private use. Mr. Lindsey graciously gave permission to allow the name of his homeplace, Brighton Green, to be used as the name of the subdivision.
The first homes were started in 1958. The Brighton Green Land Corporation was formed by the partnership of Bernard Savage, George Sowers, Sr. and Oscar Napier. In time, additional tracts were purchased from Mr. Bayliss and Mr. Cole to allow development of the entire area.
Mr. Savage has on file in our office the original sales brochure used for marketing homes in Brighton Green. “Brighton Green is the Bon Air Community designed for your generation” was the key phrase in that brochure used to describe the subdivision. Home prices ranged from $23,000 - $30,000.
One of the original residents of Brighton Green bought a home on Piney Lane. She remembers it as a dirt road which did not officially extend to Midlothian Turnpike. There was a bridge across Powhite Creek (right below the Lindseys’ estate). At times of heavy rain the bridge would wash out, and the road was impassable. This lady’s husband was forced to buy a Jeep in the early 1960s so he could maneuver up the rough path to Midlothian Turnpike – that was the only way to make it to work during bad weather.
In those early days, all the mailboxes for the residents of Brighton Green were near this bridge; they weren’t at each individual home. In time, home mail delivery was begun, Piney Lane was paved (how the homeowners were excited!), and Piney Lane became Pinetta Drive (this did not please them!).
Do you have friends who live on the streets of Anbern, Janlar, or Harmad? Share with them the following information: Anbern is the combination of Anne and Bernard Savage; Janlar was named for the Savages’ two children, Janice and Larry; Harmad originated from the names of the two builders in Brighton Green, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Madison. Now, Janice is married to Dr. Edward Gardner, a local Bon Air dentist, and they have four children. As Associate Broker with Savage & Company, Larry is also president of Savoy Builders. He and his wife, Cindy, have four daughters and live in Midlothian.
Just as it was in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brighton Green is still a thriving, family-oriented neighborhood, although its appearance is dramatically different from 40+ years ago. Piney Lane as a dirt road has changed immensely to a very busy Pinetta Drive, which is used by everyone as a cut-through from Buford Road to Midlothian Turnpike. On snowy days you no longer can sleigh down the Lindseys’ hill, as the current owners of this property have a fence around the yard to keep others out. And the state has done a lot of work on Powhite Creek to keep the creek within its banks. Gone are the days (fortunately!) of needing to take a different route home to avoid the washed-out road.
If you’re a West-ender who has never been to Brighton Green, come pay us a visit on this side of the river. Check out the old Lindsey Estate, Powhite Creek and the streets of Anbern, Janlar, and Harmad. You’ll enjoy stepping back in history 50 years.
