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Preston Park

Preston Park Chalet

Magic from my mother's bedroom

By Wendy Cooper, blind person

"Preston Chalet I could see from my mother's bedroom when I was small and it was the fascination of seeing it lit up at night. It was so magical and I just think it was so pretty. I also remember, I think it must have been the Festival of Britain, when they had some pageant down at Preston Park. I remember seeing people dressed as Roman soldiers and having chariots and pulling them round Preston Park."

Image and text from the 'My Brighton' exhibit

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

I love the Preston Park Chalet! I go there all the time with my mates and we get ice creams if it is hot - although we all agree it is a little over priced.

By Rachel Brott (23/05/2004)

I first tasted ice cream here.

By Raymond Bird (29/09/2004)

I remember in the early sixties when a film was being made at the tennis courts with Hayley Mills as a teenage star and the chalet was used as the place where the cast and crew gathered, costumed, ate etc. I spent many days in the park over a number of years of my childhood as my mum managed the Rotunda Cafe at the other end of the park. I knew virtually every inch of the park then, I must have had the biggest playground any kid could wish for every day of my holidays! The park-keepers looked out for me and I knew a lot of the lawn bowlers. I have very happy memories of that park. As I got a little older I was allowed to venture over the road to the Rockery - as long as I did not cross the road alone - I thought that place was magical with all the stepping stones and weeping willows, goldfish and birds.The gardens north of Preston Park had a pet cemetary, a blind garden (every plant was highly scented for the blind to appreciate) and two, or maybe three, enormous rectangular fishponds - I think this was all part of Stanmer House. I know if ever I return to the UK this will be one of the places I would love to re-visit, I only hope it's the same as I remember. I love this website, just found it this evening and it's conjured up all sorts of great memories for me, thank you.

By Barb Rose (South Australia) (30/05/2005)

My Aunt & Uncle lived in Grange Close overlooking Preston Park in the 1970s. My memory of childhood holidays is spending hours having adventures in the Rock Gardens and then making a wish on the 'Fairy House' in the Park before I went to bed!

By Pamela Dart (17/10/2006)

On the south side of the Chalet, up on the balcony, was the office of the Park Police. For a few years I was "Village Bobby" for the area that included Preston Park and the "Parkies" was always a good tea spot. This fine body of men was headed up by a retired Brighton Borough Police Skipper, who delighted in demonstrating how he used to train his young probationers in the art of "Smoking a crafty fag, under the cape".

By Raymond (Dickie) Bird (10/01/2007)

You've just brought back so many memories. The 'fairy house' used to change colours at night and my sister and I used to gaze at it entranced, from our bedroom window. This must have been in the mid seventies.

By Naomi (08/06/2007)