I remember getting the No 46 bus from Beaconsfield Road to the Old Steine to visit my great aunt who owned a sweet/grocery shop in George Street. She was an elderly spinster called Emily Scrace - she passed away in 1965 I think. She always gave me a lollipop when it was time to go home.

My grandparents, Godfrey and Nellie Smith (nee Grace), and my Dad lived at 27 George Street in 1933.

Does anyone have any memories of a little hippie/alternative shop called The Wraggle Taggle Workshop that once was in George Street in the early seventies? I often used to go in there and buy the odd little thing, mainly joss sticks. They had some interesting craft items. One in particular always struck me - a cabinet having a ying/yang symbol carved on its door that opened down the middle of the symbol when the doors were pulled. Brighton was rather a hippie town at the time. I believe they also stocked The Brighton Voice, a community magazine.

Yes. I remember the Wraggle Taggle Workshop from my first years in Brighton (around 1970/1). My friend and I made some dresses to sell in the shop but I can't remember ever making any money from them!

Thanks Jan. I was starting to think I was the only one who remembered the place. I did not think that the shop made any money generally in fact. I think that at least a few of the inhabitants of the shop were students at the time.

Alice Florence Spicer, also named Jolly Alice in Blackpool lived at 29 George Street, Brighton 1920s to 1950 when she died.

I remember the shop. Later there was also a vegetarian restaurant there. What was it called? I helped with the Brighton Voice for a while. Are there any other people around who did?

Cintia, I remember Brighton Voice well and still have a few copies. I believe The Public House Bookshop was one of its outlets. However I had nothing to do with it other than buying the odd copy. Elsewhere on this site I have read that the Brighton History Centre has a few for inspection.

There was a veggie restaurant in George Street in the early 80's called Saxons. I remember a very striking woman of the same name who ran the place. Eventually moved the operation to Western Road above a shop, where it did not prosper. She was ahead of her time!

I remember walking with my Mother on Saturday mornings from Park Road Terrace - by the Red Lion Pub down to George St, always stopping at the Winkle Lady's house to buy a pint of Winkles when they were in season for my Father. He would sit in front of the TV watching the football results shelling winkles and dipping them into malt vinegar before eating them, hoping he had won the Pools.

I well remember the winkle lady in George Street, her name was Mrs Kelly and she lived in George Street Gardens. I lived at 4 George Street Gardens and my younger sister, Kathleen Scrase (nee Wickham), could always be fouind at Mrs Kelly's whenever she went missing. Mrs Kelly had three sons and tended to favour my sister and I'm sure she would have liked to keep her. One of her sons, Trevor, emigrated to Australia where he did very well and made his fortune.

I too remember a sweet shop down George Street. When my sister Joan and I never had any sweet coupons left, we used to buy nippets from there. I also remember Mrs Kelly very well and fetching my sister from there. My Mum always bought our shoes at Mr Pullinger's. It was a great place to live years ago. Lovely people who all helped one another.

I live on George Street now, its wicked!

Ah, old ma Kelly, I remember her well. She lived a few doors away from us, always had a huge roll up hanging out of her mouth while talking to you, what a character. A pretty young girl called Edwina used to sit on her steps.

Barry the shoe who runs Pullinger's Shoe Shop is a diamond and it's the place to get your shoes repaired in Brighton. Also, I used to be involved in Solstice Bookshop in Trafalgar Street in the late 70s to the early 80s, and sold Brighton Voice and had our windows broken for our efforts. the local fascists hated us. We were pals with the veggie shop in George St but I don't remember the name except was there a Barry there too? I now run Bonett's in St George's Road. Other great places in George Street are the Jog Shop, Freedom Bikes and Figaro's Cafe.

Could anyone please tell me where George Street Gardens, Brighton is please? I can't find it on a map, my great grandad lived there in 1915.

My mother's great-great-grandfather, Walter Flinn [b1799], and family lived on George Street in the 1860s. He was a dyer, on whose trade was founded the firm of Flinn & Son Dyers and Cleaners that later had the big works in Portslade. He one child, Joseph [b1850], who in turn had four children and the two boys, Joseph Walter [b1872] and Frederick [b1875] went on to manage and develop the firm until WW2.Joseph [b1850] was apprenticed to George Salter, dyer, of 67 Western Road Hove in 1866. My grandfather Joseph Bennett [b1900], the son of Joseph Walter, was works manager until 1960 when he retired after declining to move to the Bootle HQ of Johnsons of Liverpool who owned the firm. Some on here may remember him. He lived at St Keyna's Ave, Hove from the late 20s. Walter had emigrated from Dublin in the early decades of the 19th century where the family had been silk dyers since the early 18th century at least, possibly longer. The family probably arrived in Ireland from northern Europe in the 17th century as they were Huguenots [Protestant] who left France or the Low Countries, fleeing Catholic persecution. I think Walter must have been the "Flinn" and Joseph the "son" in Flinn & Son.

We lived at Flat 3, 40 George Street, over the top of a storage unit that had the machines and gear taken off the Palace Pier during the war. We went to Park Street Seniors until late 1943/44 when my Dad moved to Whitehawk. I used to go to Boys Club further up Edward Street. I remember the British Restaurant near Chapel Street and the Pie Shop on the other corner.

I lived at 5a George Street, above Pullingers shoe shop, when Jimmy Pullinger owned it. The access to our flat was the alley way that was between the greengrocers (Hardwicks) Jojo and Julie's grandad's; and Dan the barbers (a whack round the head with the brush if you moved your head). The alley way came out between old Ma Kelly's house and the Queens Arms - I think it was called George Street Gardens. Little George Street was just further up on the same side, my family lived there also for many years.

I remember that alleyway well, walking down it to deliver a Valentines card to the boy who lived above Pullingers - many, many years ago.

My ancestors, surnamed Howell, lived in Little George Street: they show in the 1841, 1851, 1861 census rolls. Where was Little George Street relative to George Street? I take it it is just a small alley way off to one side of George Street? On George Street, how do the house numbers progress, lowest to highest, relative to Edward and St James Streets? I assume Edward Street was the northern end and St James's Street the southern. I have never been to Brighton, just looking at a modern map and trying to figure things out. I live in Las Vegas and hope to visit this area someday.

Editor's note: The Message Board is the best place to ask a question.  It is monitored by our local historians and others who have a wide knowledge of Brighton and  Hove. Best of luck with your research.

I was born in William Street ,which is just down the road from George Street. There was a pub called the Dog Tray on the corner of an alleyway called Sun Street. I spent many an hour standing outside there waithing for dad to come out, happy days. I knew Ol Ma Kelly and her sons Trevor and Frank and also the Rolfes that lived in George Street. Does anyone remember old Spider mMtchell who used to push a wheelbarrow up to the saturday market?

Does anybody know what happend to the Rolfe family. Mickey Rolfe was one of my best mates, along with Tony, and Danny.

Jimmy Pullinger, my Uncle, is now 97 years. My mother was born in the bedroom above the shop (who sadly only passed away recently), when my Grandfather owned it, and where whose own mother, my Great Grandma Louise Pullinger repaired shoes in her day.

I now live at number 57 George Street. Does anyone know any history of the property?

I am the grandaughter of Alice Spicer who lived at number 29 George Street for many years. I lived my first 4 years at 29 George street along with my parents and my twin brother. Alice had three sons, my father Albert, an older brother Alf and a younger brother Pat who is still alive and living in London. There were also two sisters, Gladys who sadly past away some years ago and Barbara who is still alive who lives in Kent. Alf was well known on the Brighton jazz scene.

Duffy, Mickey, Tony and Danny Rolfe are my Nan's (Sheila Wheatland's) nephews. Their parents were Florence (Florrie) and "Shrimp". To our knowledge they still live down there. They all married too.

Thank-you for letting me know that my old Cyprus and don't get an oportunity to get back. Please give them all my best, and tell them that I always think about the old days, also that iIremember all the good people that we grew up with.

Hi, I now work in Bom-Bane's cafe at no 24 George St, and live above it. Does anyone have any memories of the bike shop, or Andy's all-day breakfast cafe - or anything or anyone else who lived and worked at no 24? Thanks

Micky Rolf here. I was born in George Street in 1944. My three brothers are still in the Brighton area. Good to see Duffy is still about and Alan Purton, I remember you. Well, I hope you are both OK.

I was born in William Street and lived in Mighell Street just up the road from George Street. I went to St John's School and remember Uncle Jack the school board man. Does anyone remember the Douglas family?

Hello Tina. I don't think you would know me but I was born in William Street as well at number 10. Our family name is Newman. If you ask older persons in your family I'm sure that they will know me, I was a friend of Mickey and his sisters Pat/Linda/Sharon, and also Terry, Linda's mum would make toffee apples for us kids and always had some left over bits for us as well. Please ask Linda as I've heard that she runs a pub in town, write back and let me know??

Didn't fancy the whelks and cockles Gerry used to keep at the back of his shop, Al, did you? Smelled a bit off to me?

My grandfather was Albert Hussey who was the picture framer in George Street. The shop front and awning are visible in the picture.He died in 1973 and his wife, Win, fifteen years later. My mother, Barbara, is alive and is 85 and lives in a nursing home in West Wickham, Kent. The shop is now The Brighton Gallery so there has been a framing shop on that site for over 130 years. Great to read about the street on here.

Micky Rolfe, yes I remember you well, and obviously Shrimpy with his tight grey hair, he always reminded me off a lovable spiv - but then I suppose with all the knocker boys around the area, that was bound to be the look. Tina Douglas, well I was at the same schools, slightly younger, and in Kevin's year. I used to watch Albert Hussey making the picture frames.  What patience he had, I used to nearly fall asleep just watching, a slow process indeed. The cockles and whelks smelling Barnie? I always thought that eminated from your socks.

My Mum went to school with Aunt Flo Rolfe, that is what we used to call her. Shrimp always stood on the corner just at the bottom of George Street gardens opposite the Thurlow pub. My oldest brother used to be friends with Derek Rolfe, another friend of his was a boy we used to call Monkey, he was a Newington. Mum, whose single name was Rose Dove, lived in William Street. Her Dad was a coster monger and sold fish in Lewis with one of his brothers. Mum said they would walk with their barrow all the way to Lewis, then visit every pub on the way back. Other of my Mum's friends were Flo Saunders nee Tidy & Violet Townsend nee Lamper. Aunt Flo's people were fishermen and Aunt Violet used to make up watercress bundles. I went to St Johns, Terry Douglas, Freddy Bean were all in my class, I used to be scared of them. Terry now lives in Kingston I think. He was a knocker boy, we used to see him at a bakers up Ditchling Road.

I loved reading these comments especially about Pearl Kelly, the winkle lady. She was my Nan. Unfortunately she passed away when I was young in a fire in George street. It's amazing how many people knew her.

I have just read this page about George street and its bought tears to my eyes. It brings back so many memoires. Alan Purton's mum, dad and brother lived in our house no 37 at the top of George street. I remember his family very well, also the Rolfe family, Douglas and the other people. I have been trying to contact Duffy on Friends reunited, I now live in Turkey but will always think of Brighton as home. Does anyone remember Riding School Lane were the paint factory and the stables were? Where's Chris Alan?

Me again - Kathy Cornford as I was known in them days (married Catt). All these things the boys are talking about I remember so well. Aunt Flo Rolfe used to look after me a lot when I was a kid. Someone is asking where George street gardens was - it was on the opposite side to George street in Edward street. Mrs Kelly used to live there, the houses had their gardens at the front of the house across from the houses. Jimmy's the hairdressers is still on the the corner of George street - it must have been there about40 years or more.

The cul de sac in George Street near bottom (St James Street end) was called Little George Street. There were about eight cottages one side and four houses the other side. Alan Purton's grandmother lived there. I called her aunt Tilly. I remember her well, she pierced my ears with a darning needle and threaded cotton through them because I didn't have any earings. I was about seven years old. Oh what memories this site is bringing back.

There were two other small alleyways of off George Street. I remember the one at the top of the street (Edward Street end) lead into Dorset Street which is where the car park for Morrisons is. The other one was at the bottom end of the street which you could go in down the side of the Queen's Arms public house and come out by Dan's the barbers shop. The alleyway was where the back entrances were to the shops at the bottom end of George Street. Alan Purton lived also in George Street. There was a garage called Bakers. The family who owned it lived opposite Pat and her brother used to do puppet shows for us and charge us for it. I remember the Argus came once and took a photo of us all watching it. I think we were only about 9 or10. My house no 37 oppisite the Thurlow's was one of three houses that were the same. They were three stories high and also had a basement. We had electric lights but no sockets also no bathroom or hot water. We got the hot water by boilng up water on the gas cooker and the toilet was outside in the yard (how cold was that in winter?) Young people today don't know how lucky they are, but they were still good times.

Every time I read about George Street it brings back more old memories. I remember a family whose name was Davis. I think she was related to the Spicer family, she used to stand at her basement steps watching us play. She always wore one of those cross over aprons like a dress with no sleeves, I don't think you can buy them now. She lived at number 32 George Street.

Its me again - more memories. I remember that in George Street there was a block of two storey flats that had a workshop underneath at street level. You had to go up a flight of stairs to them. If my memory serves me right they belonged to the Palace Pier and people who worked on the pier lived in them. There was a Mr Holden he was I think one of the bosses, also there was another flat next door to there with a workshop and a lady lived above there. She had a rather steep lot of stairs to go up. We all called her Auntie Daisy, I can't remember her surname.

I remember all these things as well Cathy, I know you know me.

There are 2 things that come to mind when I think of George Street. First was the shop on the corner of St James’s Street and George Street. This was the shop that dressed me in fashionable clothes for the late 60’s, the shop was Silver’s. My dad bought me my first pair of Levi 501s in Silver’s and for the next few years I brought my Levi STA-PREST trousers and Ben Sherman shirts there. Those are iconic labels of the late 60’s, if you coupled them with a pair of loafer shoes and a Harrington jacket - you would really look the part. The second image that comes to mind was a hardboard cut-out of a hairdresser standing outside of the shop, written on the cut-out was ‘Haircut sir’. I seem to remember the hairdresser’s name was Dan. I think the cut-out hairdresser was still there in the 80’s, but I can’t remember when Silver’s ceased trading.

Yes, I remember you too Duffy. Do you remember when we were at St John's School when we were changing classes one day and you were running on the stairs and knocked me over and I ended up at the Sussex County? That's going back some years - it was the old hospital then on Eastern Road. Things have changed a lot around that area from what it was like when we were kids - no police station, no Amex, no Job Centre, only a lot of waste ground. It would be nice to hear from you. Have you any old school photos you could put on this site?

Lovely to hear from you Cathy. I certainly do remember St Johns and the incident you mention and also all the waste ground where we all played. Our friends were the Douglas, Weaver. Ancells. O'Donnels, Newintons. Ah - too many to name. What about Barnes the wastepaper yard in Henry Street? Full of rats. I'm sorry that I haven't any old pics as I've given them to my niece for her to research into the family history.

SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU DUFFY. I SAW FREDDY ANCEL WHEN I WAS BACK FOR A VISIT, DO YOU REMEMBER THE FAMILY? THEY LIVED IN WILLIAM STREET I THINK, MAYBE THEY WERE RELATIVES OF YOUR'S. I TOLD HIM ABOUT THIS SITE HE SAID HE WOULD GET HIS FAMILY TO SHOW HIM IT. DO YOU REMEMBER THE THURLOW PUB THAT CHANGED ITS NAME TO 'THE JURYS OUT'. GOOD NAME BEING OPPOSITE THE LAW COURTS. THEY USE TO BE IN THE TOWN WHICH HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN OVER BY BRIGHTON COUNCIL. I THINK IT MAYBE A PROTECTED BUILDING OTHERWISE I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED DOWN BY NOW. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT IS? KEEP IN TOUCH DUFFY, WE ARE LIVING IN TURKEY. WHERE ABOUTS IN CYPRUS ARE YOU?

lovely to hear from you Cathy - contact me on my e/mail.

Hi Duffy, I remember the pub that Linda had with her husband. It was called the Basket Makers in Cheltenham place, but that was a few years back now. From what I hear Linda lives at Rottingdean now. I see Brenda Wilmshurst when I'm in England, she use to live at the top of George Street Gardens in the pub which was called the Italian Arms. Do you remember her? Have you looked at the group school photos of St Johns? I picked out some of the girls but could only recognize a couple of the boys. I'm sure I must in them but I don't recognize myself. 

Glad to hear from you Duffy, like to keep in touch but haven't got your e.mail address. Mine is kathleencatt@yahoo co.uk. Do you remember Peter Leach? He use to live on Carlton Hill - he is still involved with fishing. The fish market that use to be at the bottom of Carlton Hill is now in Portslade on the seafront. 

Well thanks to Duffy and your site I have been in touch with family I didn't know I had half way across the world and also a dear old friend who I haven't seen in years and who is great friends with relatives I didn't know I had, and also old friends from George St. We have been talking about William Street, the creache park in Sussex Street- oh what fun we used to have all of us .There was another friend who we spoke about who I would like to be in contact with- Sheila Cork. If you are around Sheila my e.mail address is kathleencatt@yahoo.co.uk. I'd love to hear from you.

I'm so glad that Kathy has had the great news of which she has been searching for a very long time. I only played a small part in it, must be wonderfull for her.

Today I met up with a dear old friend who I havn't seen for years and we talked about our childhood living in and around Edward Street and what fun we had. One of our close school friends still lives in, I think it was called Steine Street. It was the street before Princess Street at the bottom of Edward Street. Also Duffy who puts comments on your site was also one of our group of friends. Its changed so much around that area, so we have all got a lot to thank your site for, for bringing back the memories.

Cintia and Adam: It was indeed called Saxons and the owner was known as simply Saxon. I knew her quite well and went in for lunch everyday as I worked in the remainder bookshop called the The Bookshop in East street. Saxon was indeed very striking in fact I'd say she was very beautiful and was as you said very ahead of her time and knocked socks off the vegetarian cafe competition like Ceres near the town hall. Her food was great so great in fact the restaurant attracted many followers of the Guru Marahji ji followers who were based in Brighton. This maybe although I'm not totally sure, was the reason for her moving to Western Road. Cheers and thanks for the memories Mike.

I now live on George Street, number 36 and we used to be part of the Thurlow Arms, as was. In answer to a comment above as to whether the Pub is a listed building I can answer that - YES it is grade 1 listed. Though strangely our house isn't, nor do the dates tally - which is why I have found this site, as I am trying to find info on the history of our house, as despite once being part of the pub, it doesn't date from the same time as the pub - curious. I'll be following the forum link above in the hope of finding an answer.

Is it true that there was talk of demolishing George Street some years ago now?

Reading all the comments about George Street. Living around the corner in St.James Street in 1946 us children loved the Barrow Boys. Sold all the veges and fruit etc.They were of course working the barrows illegally. When the cops turned up the lads would just lift the barrows up and just stand there. Then they were untouchable by the cops. The police would then be on their way and it was business as usual. I had a Raleigh bike for my 12th birthday 1948 and that was purchased second hand for 10 shillings from the bike shop in George Street. Have fond memories of George Street in the 40s and early 50s. Remember the gypsies selling flowers (possibly flogged from the other side of town) and the clothes pegs.

Wonderful memories on this page from you all, but I would like to ask a question if I may? Are the Rolfes and the Rolfs one in the same or is it just the way the name is said, like my name is Collings but when tracing my tree have found lots of Collins' gets very confusing.

Hi Peter. Before the 20th century, a large proportion of the population were illiterate. At an event where a name was formally documented, such as a birth, marriage, death, or census return, many were recorded phonetically by the presiding official (ie: they wrote down what they believed they had heard). Thus, Collings might have become Collins, Rolfe became Rolf, Read became Reed, etc etc. A regional accent from someone from another part of the country would introduce even more significant variations - in my wife's family Dunning became Denney.

Hi Lynette, I don't know where you got the information about the Thurlow Arms, but it is incorrect. Brighton Council's own website has a list of all listed buildings and the Thurlow Arms is grade II listed (not grade I), with other properties in George Street numbered 1-8 on the western side being similarly listed. If you wish to know about the history of your house and the Thurlow Arms, please post a message on the message board and I'll endeavour to find out about it.

Andy, thanks for solving the question of Rolf's etc. I had thought it would come down to the way it would be translated to officials for them to write down and record for posterity.

I was at school with Micky Douglas. That was St. Johns school in Carlton Hill in the late 40s and early 50s.

I lived at Flat 3, 40 George St. In 1943/48 I went to Park St seniors and started work at Brighton Loco Works in 1945. Moved to Portslade after getting married and then Shoreham. Now living in Redcar, North Yorks. Last time I saw Goerge St. it was much the same apart from the Edward St. end. Have not been back for some years now.