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Frederick Gardens

Photo by Farid Ullah

Two up - two down cottages

By Farid Ullah, railway worker

In this photograph I let my imagination completely run wild...as...I assume these to be railway cottages. I imagine railway staff...coming in and out of these in the good old days of steam. In [the] early days of my railway career you could actually buy properties or were made a tenant of properties very similar to these type of railway, two up - two down, cottages. Sadly, that is not the case now.

Image and text from the 'My Brighton' exhibit

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

As a lover of Brighton and old railway views, I very much enjoyed the Railway Worker's tour. It gives a unique look at the city and those cottages in Frederick Gardens are very attractive. Thanks.

By Paul (18/10/2003)

I bought one of these cottages in 2002 and have enjoyed living on this street. Having chatted with others who have lived on this street for many years I've heard a few different stories about how the street evolved. I believe that at first these plots were allotments thus the title 'Gardens'. As the city grew outward, the owners of these allotments built homes progressively from No 1 onwards. You will note that they are all a little different. Where the Post Sorting Office is now, there used to be a foundry and I believe many of the workers lived in these homes. About halfway down the street is one cottage with a basement - some say that's where the foreman lived. I also know that this part of the Laine was a dodgy area and many, now sought-after, properties were once brothels. But I can attest the age of Frederick Gardens homes (mine built in 1831) having battled with rising damp through 'bungaroush' - a construction method based on cementing found objects from the beach together to form a wall! So I'm sad to leave this house - I'll be renting it out while my wife and I move back to London and then travel for a few years....but we'll be back!

By Scott McStay (22/08/2004)

My grandfather Earnest Longhurst was born in number 26 in 1901 and died in the same house 86 years later. He married Dorothy and they had a family of 3 sons and my mother who were all brought up in the two up two down abode with the family dog (Paddy). I can remember the trips to the outside loo and playing football along the street, looking into the sorting office windows or climbing on the railings of the garage whilst waiting for a lemonade and a packet of crisps from the Wick Pub at the end of the road, before My mum, dad, five sisters and I visited for our Sunday lunch which had to be done in two sittings in the kitchen. I often wonder how much rent was paid and if health and safety would allow so many in such as small space. Happy days though but try telling that to your own children nowdays ?

By Robert Sullivan (10/09/2005)

I have lived in this wonderful twitten for 19 years and have seen many commings and goings. I knew Mr Longhurst, he used to sit out in the pathway in his deckchair with his dear old cat and lots of people would chat to him about the history of the area. Now many of the cottages are rented out so it has a very transient feel to it. I just love it and would not want to live anywhere else.

By Wendy Hemsley (15/12/2005)

Does any one remember Audrey's Cafe that used to be on the corner of Over Street? We used to spend hours in there. Her husband's name was Charlie. Audrey was very good to us, letting us have a cuppa or a meal until we could pay her. I lived in Over Street for a while. My friend Eric Lomas had the flat on ground floor.

By Sandie Waller (19/08/2007)

My grandparents Ernest (born 1901) and Dorothy Longhurst (nee Smith) lived at no 26 Frederick Gardens and I spent many happy hours there in this tiny house. I remember riding my little trike up and down the alley and being able to play out without any fear of traffic or strangers. I am tracing my family history, and have discovered that Ernest's parents Alfred Loghurst (born 1860) and his wife Martha Jane Longhurst (nee Coleman) lived there too. Alfred was listed in the census in 1901 as a bricklayer on the railways. They brought up six children in this house. I have traced the Longhursts back to about 1765 and they originally came from Rusper in W. Sussex.

By Jan Sinkfield (nee Sullivan) (23/01/2008)