Martin mentioned the widening of Edward Street/Eastern Road spreading over two years or so. The first stage was done in 1962/3. I worked in the Borough Surveyor's Department then. Work stopped for about 6 weeks due to the cold and snow (the worst winter on record). Other problems were: the Dog Tray pub, that projected beyond everything else and forced us to make a very narrow footpath beside it; the Southdown Bus Garage exit, that made us change the camber on the road so the buses didn't scrape their overhangs as the wheels dropped into the gutters; one of the side roads to the east of the Law Courts slipping and fracturing a gas main; and finally, one of our workers managing to put a pickaxe through the main elecricity feed twice. A third time it was cut by a JCB. My son drove me to Brighton in December 2002 so he could get some running shoes. We parked by the Law Courts and walked across Edward Street - the first time I had revisited since I left Brighton in 1963. A strange feeling indeed, 40 years on.

It was actually All Souls that was demolished in Eastern Road. St. Anne's stood in Burlington Street. Designed by Benjamin Ferrey, a pupil of Pugin, who designed much of the Palace of Westminster. St. Anne's was a nice building faced on its exterior with Kentish ragstone. The interior featured much carved stonework by the Victorian firm, Farmer and Brindley, including many carved heads which I rescued with hammer and chisel when the building was demolished. It was closed in the mid 80s in spite of having the largest congregation in Kemptown and having had the most money spent on it in recent years.....typical of the C of E! The chuch also had some fine stained glass including a spectacular east window by O'Connor from the 1860s; a beautilul iron and brass screen enclosed the choir. This was designed and made by William Bainbridge Reynolds, one of the finest 20th century metalworkers. This has recently been restored and is in the music room of a local house. The organ (by Father Willis) is still in store. Perhaps the saddest thing to relate is that the building had a fine stone reredos...a carved representation of the Last Supper behind the altar. It was coloured and gilded. The demolition firm had freed the central panel for removal, but St. George's church (who took over the parish) wouldn't have it. The east wall was demolished on it. I managed to rescue three smashed heads from the rubble.

Michael is mistaken about St. Georges church not wanting the stone reredos from St. Anne's. I was churchwarden at St. Georges at the time, and the demolition firm told us that they couldn't extract the reredos at all, so it had to go. I have some fine photos taken of it, and several of the church before its closure. Unfortunately, the whole east wall of the church was collapsing outwards under the weight of the roof, and it was just too much of a job to rebuild.

This is really an intrusion on your web page, but I'm searching for details of St. Mark's Chuch which I believe was in the same area. I have 'found' a wedding taking place at the church in 1876 and wondered if the church was still in existence or renamed.

I agree with the comments about Eastern Road - the widening added nothing to traffic movement but has created a bland and displeasing character to Kemptown. Town planners - who are they accountable to?

Sorry to learn that St Anne's was demolished. Can you tell me what happened to the graveyard? I was hoping to find the gravestone of an ancestor, Richard Drought.

I lived in eastern road in 1929 at number 38 which was situated next door to All Souls Church. I recall the race days when we would stand on the corner of Feashfield Road and Eastern Road chanting to the returning racegoers, 'Here we are Sir - chuck it over Sir'. I never picked up a penny, the only thing I ever came away with was stamped on knuckles which I received from the other kids. Ah they were the good old days.

Does anyone recall Brighton Institution for the Deaf, Nos. 122-138 Eastern Road? Is this the same building as Brighton College Junior School which is right opposite Brighton College?

Re comment by Alan Moore (05/06/2004) 'I'm searching for details of St. Mark's Chuch and wondered if the church was still in existence or renamed.'

St Mark's became the school chapel for St Mary's Hall, the Girls Public School in Eastern Road, maybe 25 years ago. My brother used to have organ lessons there from the organist Mr Victor Bradley. Visit: http://www.stmaryshall.co.uk/categoryRender.asp?categoryID=3568&cCID=4380 . The plan is to rename it 'St Mary's Hall Chapel & Arts Centre', but I think they should have kept the original dedication in its name - how about St Mary's Hall Arts Centre and Chapel of St Mark?