Did you know? - the Hollow

St James Passage in 1976
Image produced with permission from Brighton History Centre

This twitten was (is?) called ‘the hollow’. However, my father who was born and raised in Hanover Terrace always called it ‘the holler’ on the basis that as you walked under the arch YOU HOLLERED. Anyone not understanding this is advised to visit the spot and undertake a practical demonstration.

Comments about this page

  • I enjoyed hearing about the ‘hollow’ passage in Hanover Street. My maternal grandfather, Alfred Edward Atkins, known as Tom Atkins, lived in Hanover Terrace at the time of his marriage to my grandmother, Lily Phillips, at The Church of The Annunciation in 1899. Tom and Lily emigrated to Canada in 1907 and settled in Penetanguishene, Ontario. Penetang has a steep main street and is on the water (Georgian Bay), so it reminded my grandparents of Brighton! I’d enjoy hearing more about the Hanover area. Thanks.

    By Emma Fooks (08/04/2006)
  • I was born in 37 Hanover Terrace in 1956.  My sisters were Jen and Pat; mum and dad were Vi and Fred Hall , Our house was always brightly painted, usually the only one like it in the street.  It was blue and pink at one time! Dad was colour blind bless him. Pat worked at Curtess shoes and had an old Ford Popular car. I remember a nun from the Annunciation church used to visit. We had old sash windows, and the Berrys next door had a builder’s yard. Ambrose’s was on the corner. I remember Mr Ambrose and his dirty clothes. But we still ate the sweets. When he retired, dad sent me up there to buy all the fruit and nut bars and his Erinmore tobacco!

    By Val Harber (nee Hall) (02/09/2007)
  • I was born at 99 Hanover Terrace in 1937, and lived there until I was married at The Annunciation in 1958. My sister and brothers used to run races between Hanover Street and Terrace using the Hollow passage as a shortcut. I remember the lovely roses growing in the small gardens in Hanover Street.

    By Violet Hammond (06/01/2008)
  • I loved this passage way on Bonfire night. I used to nick my older brother’s bangers and get my mum’s or dad’s matches and set a few bangers off in the passage, it used to get all the people who lived next to it and near by angry – a few of the fathers used to chase me (never got caught). Then they would tell my mum and dad what I had done. I guess I was a real pain in those days, but I loved it and I did no harm. Maybe Val Harber’s dad was one of the fathers who would chase me; who knows!

    By Donald Waller (20/04/2012)
  • Well I never, Donald Waller! My dad didn’t chase you but I did! You lived on the corner of Hanover Terrace – didn’t you join the Navy? We all used to go down your cellar where you would terrify the living daylights out of us all – Tony Saunders, Carol Jacobs, Sharon Wiate… gosh how time flies. Great days and memories.

    By Val Harber (14/02/2015)
  • Donald and I were best mates. I remember that passage well as I used to cut through it to get to North Road baths for training every lunchtime at school. 

    By Peter Paolella (11/11/2017)
  • Wonderful memories of Hanover terrace
    I recently went through there in my sons huge truck oh how he squeezed through I do not know.
    We slowed at my old house, so small, how mum an dad bought three girls up in such a tiny house !
    How I would have loved to have gone in ! But the tears flowed just sitting in the truck looking was enough stirring of memories and people lost now.
    Brighton Marathon was on so we had to make a detour right across to elm grove oh my word my old school too.
    What an unexpected day of memories.
    Now at 66 and a widow you look back rather than forward but lovely memories and thankful of a good start in Hanover terrace.

    By Val (10/09/2023)

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