Market Street

Principal street for food shops in the 18th century

Reproduced with permission from the Encyclopaedia of Brighton by Tim Carder, 1990

Please note that this text is an extract from a reference work written in 1990.  As a result, some of the content may not reflect recent research, changes and events.

m) MARKET STREET : This street is named from the market that was held on the Bartholomews in front of the old Town Hall from about 1730, but the northern part, once known as Golden Lion Lane, was partially developed around the seventeenth century with further growth in the latter eighteenth century; building in the southern part was stimulated by the presence of the market, and was further encouraged by the new market hall that opened in 1774. Market Street then came to be the principal street for food shops, particularly meat and dairy produce. In 1984 though, the southern half was completely obliterated by the construction of Bartholomew Square and the Hospitality Inn, but the northern part of Market Street , together with Brighton Place and Nile Street , was pedestrianised in February 1989 (formally inaugurated April 1989). {10,14}
That part to the north of Brighton Place, the former Golden Lion Lane, is lined with late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century buildings. The Market Inn changed its name from the Golden Fleece in 1990. A four-storey, listed, brick building with two first-floor bow windows, it was once known as the Three Chimneys because the owner was the Prince of Wales's chimney-sweep. Nos.3-7 are faced with mathematical tiles , and the eighteenth-century nos.48-48a are also listed. The bridge over the street linking two buildings of the Hanningtons store was constructed in 1989. {15,44}
At the junction with Brighton Place, Market Street widens out to form one of the most attractive parts of Brighton, and is lined with late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century listed buildings. No.11 has a bow window and is faced with mathematical tiles with flint on the eastern side. The mid-nineteenth-century no.47, unusual in red and grey chequered brick, is also listed. The Sussex Tavern faces both Market Street and East Street , and was said to be the haunt of smugglers; it was known as the Spread Eagle until 1816. The Pump House , nos.44-46, dates from at least 1776 and possibly from much earlier. Probably named from the town well that once stood nearby on the Knab, the present facade of black mathematical tiles and bow windows dates from the early nineteenth century. Adjacent are the shops and offices of the Nile Pavilions, designed in a mixture of classical and Art Deco styles by the Robin Clayton Partnership and erected in 1987-9. {44,123}
To the south of Brighton Place, nos.18-22 Market Street are a row of rather plain buildings, but no.23 is faced in black mathematical tiles and is listed. No.24 is rather ugly, but has a good ironwork and glass canopy over the pavement and elaborate decoration above the door. On the western side, no.41 is a four-storey, early-nineteenth-century, listed building with bows and glazing bars. {44}

Any numerical cross-references in the text above refer to resources in the Sources and Bibliography section of the Encyclopaedia of Brighton by Tim Carder.

Original page updated with photos and links 30/08/07