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Russell Street (demolished)

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Russell Street (demolished)' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Russell Street (demolished)' page

Photographs from the private collection of Ron McMillan

Murrell's Dairy
From Ron McMillan, British Columbia, Canada.

(Russell Street was demolished to make way for the Churchill Square complex.)

This photo is of the Murrell Dairy, located at 6 & 7 Russell Street during the 1800's.

The business was there for most, if not all, of the 19th century, but was later demolished I understand. Possibly a cement plant was located there in the 1940's? Any additional information about the site or the immediate neighbourhood during the 19th and early 20th centuries would be appeciated.

Response:
My 1928 directory lists 6 Russell Street as Mrs Harris, fruiterer, and 7 Russell Street as Edward W Morris (no trade mentioned).
Jan
(My Brighton and Hove volunteer)

E-mail sent to site 25/6/2002
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

My great grandfather, George Croft, was a Hatter and in 1881 lived (and worked?) at 2 Russell St. They were in Croydon by 1891. If anyone has any info on this family, please let me know. Thanks.
By Peter Gray (04/05/2004)
I am interested in the history of bakers named 'Lower' in Brighton in early 1800s. I know of at least 5. My GGGgrandfather, George Lower, was a baker at 16 Little Russell Street from 1818 until the 1850s. Any information on this area would be appreciated.
By Vic Phillips (12/11/2004)
My great-grandpa, Henry Markwick, lived at 22 Russell Street; he was a fish hawker. My grandmother was also born at that address in 1883. When my grandmother was married she moved to 22 Claremont Row.
By Richard Groves (29/04/2005)
I'm curious to know more about a neighbouring street called Grenville Place. Like Russell Street, it vanished to make way for Churchill Square in the 60s. However, my grandmother and great aunt had a house there in the 1950s and were glad to see the place go. Seems it was appallingly haunted! Doors would open and close, footsteps would be heard going up the stairs, and the cellar of the house gave off such a forbidding chill that nobody ever went down there. My father estimated that the house would have stood roughly on the site of W.H.Smiths outlet in the original Churchill Square. Does anyone have any memories of this street?
By Alan Knight (14/08/2006)
We have many Markwick ancestors - fishermen & fish hawkers - who lived in Russell Street, Brighton.
By Karen Markwick (29/08/2006)

Lived at no 44 from 1952-1965 when we were compulsorily purchased by the Council with little compensation. Can't remember hauntings, but it was a chilly dark house.

By L Freedman (18/11/2006)

My husband's great grandfather's uncle Richard Campbell lived at 41 Russell Street on the 1871 & 1881 census. Also two of his sons lived in the same street, Richard at number 46 on the 1871 census, and Joseph and number 44, both were fishermen.

By Josie Campbell (11/03/2007)

Hi my name is John Wignall and I was born at 29 Grenville Place in 1942, Shows my age. Yes you are right it could be creepy when it got dark, especially as most of the shops in Western Road had back entrances  in Grenville Place and these were not too well maintained and the gardens were very overgrown. Needles to say good times were had in those days the like of which we will never see again. If any of you fellow Brightonions would like to contact me please feel free to email me. John.Wignall@Ntlworld.Com.

By John Wignaall (03/05/2007)

This message is for Alan knight, I believe that your grandmother's house was on the corner of Grenville Place and Little Russell Street. I also believe that your grandmother was friends with my grandmother as we lived only about four doors down at 29 Grenville Place. Your late uncle was the big boy (as he seemed to be) that would give me a ride on the crossbar of his bike, I left a similar message to this in the spot on the Jewish religions, if you would like to get in touch with me please contact on my email address john.wignall@ntlworld.com

By John Wignall (27/06/2007)

My name is Brandon Murrell and I was wondering if I am related to the people who owned Murrell's Diary or if I know the place. Was it located in Brighton Ont.?because I live about 10 minutes from there. Please contact me when you get answers.

By Brandon Murrell (24/01/2008)

I was interested to see your posting. My 3xgreat grandfather, William Beattie Johnstone, lived at various addresses in Russell Street from 1848 until at least the 1871 Census, by 1881 he was in Southover St. For most of the time he was a Marine Store Dealer although in 1848 his occupation is given as Cork Cutter on his son George's birth certificate, living at 11, Great Russell Street, Brighton. A Marine Store Dealer wasn't a Ship's Chandler but a kind of rag and bone or scrap dealer! By the 1851 Census - occupation given as Marine Store Dealer, 12, Great Russell Street. 1861 Census - occupation given as Dealer in Marine Stores, 10 & 11, Russell Street. 1871 Census - occupation given as General Dealer, 9, Great Russell Street.  By 1881 his eldest son David was a General Dealer at 20, Upper Russell St where he remained until his death in 1904. I too would be interested to hear more of this street and its occupants.

By Sue Flanagan (22/03/2008)

I too am related to William Johnstone who seems to have arrived in Brighton from Scotland via Warwickshire. William and his wife Elizabeth (born in Cheltenham) seem to have been general traders and son David also later worked as a marine dealer. David remained locally although he married a girl from Southwark, Elizabeth Ellen, and, lived latterly in the Artisan Dwellings off Windsor Street. One of their children was a seaman (also living in Upper Russell St) while the other two were general labourers and coal merchants. It was one of these, Thomas Goldring Johnstone, who is my direct ancestor.

It's fascinating that families seem to have, at some stages been incredibly mobile, but then settle for generations within a mile or two. Many of William Johnstone's descendents still live in Brighton.

By Nigel Moss (10/09/2008)

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