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Kemp Town

Welcome to Kemp Town!

Your editor for Kemp Town is Sue Craig. If you've got any queries about this area, or can add any information, photos or memories, please send My Brighton and Hove a message via the Comments form at the bottom of this page.

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments about this page

What about the Sudeley cinema, which now is converted into flats? I was a regular there in the late thirties and saw many films, including serials which were popular then, though I cannot remember any titles.
By Bob Green (08/11/2004)
I lived until 4 years old in Whippingham Road, and a lot of my ancestors came from Kemp Town. My great grandmother, Charlotte Phillips, was born in Cavendish Street in 1849, and returned to the same street where she died in 1918. Her father, William Phillips, was a greengrocer when she was born. Have you any historical details of this street?
By Vic Phillips (16/01/2005)
As a kid growing up on the Bristol Estate, Kemp Town was an area I frequented a lot. I used to pass the Sudeley cinema all the time and would love the 'colorful' posters outside. Most of these seemed to be for adult films. They used to make my day on the way to and from the seafront.
By Simon James (08/04/2005)
I remember the cinema in Sudeley Street, but it was called the Continental, at least in the fifties and sixties, when I was growing up. I went there once with my class to see Henry V, an old film even then, starring Laurence Olivier. But being only 12, I didn't really appreciate it. The cinema was lit with gas mantles - very quaint and old-fashioned!
By Sylvia Schwarz (11/05/2005)
London born - I was brought as a 4 year old to Roedean to escape the bombs. I lived there and schooled at Black Rock Primary till 1945 when we moved to Essex Street. Though missing the Downs, I revelled in the seafront. Volks railway carriages were stored under the lower esplanade. I had a season ticket to the Lido and played in water with Eddie - the son of a black comedian. Many friends in the area, including meeting Max Miller. I still miss Banjo Groyne.
By John Sullivan (03/10/2005)
Just a quick story about the Odeon - my dad was in there when it was hit. His friend was killed, my dad was about 12. My mum and dad lived in Bute Street for about 46 years - and I used to walk past the station every day. I also remember Kemp Town brewery.
By Les Thomson (09/10/2005)
My grandmother was born in 1873 in Kemp Town at Number 2 Essex Street Stables. Does this street still exist and is there any historical information on the stables itself?
By Frank Coulter (22/03/2006)
I'm trying to find out what happened to the area around Dorset Place as a big chunk has been redeveloped. On maps it appears that Cavendish Street could have run right through to Edward Street; can't find any evidence of this but there are lines of old walls and drains dotted about. Does anyone know if this site was among the casualties of the bombs in '43 and if so what was there before?
By Mark (16/04/2006)
Has anybody any photos or memories of the Kemp Town Brewery? I visited and stayed at the brewery a lot in the late 1950s. My Uncle Reg and Auntie Eve lived and worked at the old brewery and I have many happy memories of my stays in Brighton. Does anybody remember my uncle and aunt or their son Micheal? My Aunt Eve had a sister who lived in Brighton in Lower Rock Gardens, her name was Winnie and she had a son called David.
By Ray Walkling (13/06/2006)

We lived in Princess Terrace and our house was demolished by a bomb in June 1940. My grandmother was killed but our younger family escaped. This was the first mainland bombing of the war.

By Wendy Hargreaves (22/01/2007)

I currently work in the Co-op in Kemptown. I have heard stories of this premises being haunted by a children that where supposedly killed by their grandmother. Can anyone shed any light on this story?

By James Green (10/06/2007)

I have lived in Kemp Town  for over 30 years, now in the converted Mews that was once the Kemp Town  brewery. I would like to know more about Chapel Terrace Mews. Any info please contact me or call me on 07890 836734, please.

By Geoff Weiner (08/05/2008)

I lived in Kemp Town during the late fifties and sixties in St Georges Terrace. I worked at the Kemp Town Brewery on the dray's. Alfie Miles was my cellar man and Albert Mitchell, trouncer. I stayed with KTB even after they moved to Newhaven.

By Ron Newsam (04/06/2008)

I recently 'discovered' the My Brighton & Hove site quite by chance, and posted a message looking for people that I worked with at Kemp Town Brewery (Wine & Sprits Dept) in Montague Place. Unfortunately, I forgot to save the exact site where I posted! Is there any way you tell me what the site was?
Editor's note: Have searched for your postings and nothing comes up under your name.  Perhaps the best thing to do would be to either add a comment on one of the relevant pages - or post a query on the Message Board.

By John Adams (06/09/2009)

This is for Ron Newsam. Hi Ron, you don't know me but you might know my uncle John. Known as Jack Groves, he was a brewer's foreman in the 1950s - but I am not sure it was Kemp Town brewery. Any info would appreciated, many thanks.

By Richard F Groves (24/10/2009)

I have written about my memories at KTB Ltd from 1941 to 1964. Would anyone like to read them, quite a few pages?

By Mr Dennis Clark (26/05/2011)

My Grandfather owned the College Brewery later the Rock Brewery then Kemp Town Brewery. J A Body was an England International Rugby player 1872/73 England v Scotland. The London Oval and Glasgow formed the very successful London Gypsies RFClub then the Brighton Wasps who amalagmated with the Brighton Shoolflies to become Brighton Town Rugby Club now the Brighton Blues RFC. He lived with his 10 children and servants at 10 Cromwell College Brewery, 13 then 15, Montague Place 1854+ North & Marshal 1855/71 Marshall, Charles 1872/79 Hilder & Body 1880/81 Body, J.A. 1882/94 Hodges & Ritchie 1895/1900 Willett, William & Son 1901 taken over by Rock Brewery Brighton Ltd and used as a store by them and later by Kemp Town Brewery . Demolished in 1988

By Ivor Body (26/06/2011)

This is for Dennis Clark. I started work at KTB in Aug 1962 in the Vehicle Workshop at age 15 yrs. I transferred to Newhaven in Sept 1965 and was made redundant in May 1993. My stepfather Harry Skinner also worked at KTB as a checker until he retired 1960/61. I would like to read your memories at KTB. By John Lander (11/8/2011)

By John Lander (12/08/2011)

I lived at 163 Marine Parade from 1940 until 1955. The Nevill House Hotel abutted our house. Many famous celebrities of the time would visit our house and chat with my grandmother. Some that come to mind are Laurence Olivier, Anna Neagle, Robert Fleming, Nigel Green and Flora Robson (who was a dear friend of my grandmother's). My sisters and I would play "dare" to see who could cross Marine Parade the fastest without getting hit by a passing car! We also threw our old guy over the sea front railings one Guy Fawkes night so we would not have to carry him down all the steps to the Banjo Groyne beach for the bonfire and firework festivities. Needless to say he did not arrive intact and the old clothes and rags used for stuffing him got caught on the wild flowers that grew up on the cliffs. They remained there for weeks until a storm came and blew them away.

By Gwen Healy (nee Barnes) (13/01/2012)

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