Pre WWII there was a garage on St James Street owned by a gentleman whos name resulted in the nickname "Ten-a-penny". On leaving school in the early 1930s, my late father was an apprentice at this garage. A well known local bookie garaged his Essex Super Six at these premises but had not paid the rent for some few weeks. As a result the garage owner said to the bookie "Pay up or I'll stick your motor in the middle of "Jimmy Street" and wait for something to 'it it". Bookie said to my dad "Do you want a car son. Pay what I owe and it's yours". As a result my dad's first car was a quality american job that cost him 12/6d (52 1/2p) in unleaded money. Sadly dad died 15 years ago so I can't verrify the story. It's as I remember him telling it.

From 1946-1954 I lived at 22a St James Street. Our entrance was up an alleyway to the side of Clarks Bread Shop and Tearooms. Our 'front room' was the first floor over the shop and when as kids we played in the room we of course made a noise which resulted in thumps from the shop to quieten us. Sainsburys and Meads were close by and there was a large chemist shop over the road where, courtesy of the two children of the owner, we were introduced to the magazine 'Health and Beauty'. We were so close to the beach as the street is only one street back from the waterfront. I remember Max Miller at the bottom of the road looking at the naughty postcards. Often Arthur English was with him. What about Gizzies Ice Creams just up from Lyons on the opposite side? The day trippers at Edlins? Even in those days it was dangerous to ride a bicycle with those double decker buses and the road so narrow. Our house was very old but I guess it will go when the 100 year lease expires. When we had the house it had about 60 years to go. My parents had a Morris Traveller and it was garaged on one of the side road in one of a line of rental garages.

In St. James' Street can anyone remember the public baths and swimming pool? Was it in this street and when did it close?

My parents let the top part of our house to holidaymakers during July and August each year so we could not use our bath. Us children went to the Public Baths that were at the top of St.James's Street almost to Kemp Town. We loved the big baths. The lady in charge would turn the water on from outside and not let you be in there too long. I remember it was all white tiled floors and walls. I think it was 2d and you took your own towel and soap. I can't remember a swimming pool though.

I am very interested in St James's Street in Brighton as most of
my ancestors seemed to live in this street,according to the 1871 census.
They lived at numbers 45, 51, 78, and they had various occupations ranging from Confectioner to Fishmonger and Fruiterer. Can you tell me anything more about the Moy Family or St James's Street during the late 1800's

My mother's great-grandfather, Joseph Flinn, and family lived on St James's Street in the 1880s/90s. He was a dyer and founded the firm of Flinn & Son Dyers and Cleaners that later had the big works in Portslade. He had four children and the two boys went on to manage and develop the firm until WW2. Joseph's father Walter had emigrated from Dublin in the early decades of the 19th century where the family had been silk dyers since the early 18th century at least, possibly longer. The family probably arrived in Ireland from northern Europe in the 17th century as they were Huguenots [Protestant] who left France or the Low Countries.

Hi,I am looking for a bookies named Kiki, it was on the edge of Kemp Town in Upper St James's Street; can anyone help or have knowledge of this shop. My Grandfather Frank Gray had his picture up in the shop as he was a jockey around 1900-1920. Any info would be appreciated.

My grandparents and aunt lived at 9a St James Street. My grandfather Percy Wilkinson was a retired music hall artist and was a member of the Water Rats, his stage name was Delevine. After he died in 1936 my grandmother Esther became a fashion buyer at Hanningtons. My mother and her two sisters lived there too.