Russian History in Southbourne

During 2010 a number of local centuries were celebrated in Southbourne. An omission was the death of the Russian author of War and Peace.

Leo Tolstoy is said to have stayed at Tuckton in 1894. He would have been the guest of Countess Tchertkov who was enjoying the health-giving properties of burgeoning Southbourne-on-Sea. Shortly after this, her son, Vladimir Tchertkov, expelled by the Russian regime, came to Tuckton. He was a disciple of Tolstoy’s philosophical teachings and brought with him manuscripts of banned publications. By 1901 he was joined by other exiles and they set up a commune at 61 Saxonbury Road. They bought the former pumping station in Iford Lane to house printing presses which ran off thousands of copies of Tolstoy’s works.
In 1908 Vladimir was given permission to return to Russia. Although still controversial he remained there until his death in 1937 aged 82.

During the troubled times of the Great War, the 85-year old countess fell foul of the Tsarist regime. Escaping rouble-less from Russia, she returned to ‘Slavanka’ in Belle Vue Road. Her local friends provided for her to remain at Southbourne where she practised and promoted her Christian doctrine. In 1921 ‘Slavanka’ was sold to a syndicate and became a Christian Conference Centre, with the Countess remaining until she died on 25 January 1922.

The original house was later expanded to accommodate the Centre’s facilities but it closed in 2006. ‘Slavanka’ was subsequently demolished and the site is now occupied by Sunrise Senior Living. A plaque on the outer wall commemorates the work of Countess Tchertkov.

Article written by local historian John Cresswell.