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Mystery photos of Brighton and Hove

Can you identify this pub?
By Liz Woodford

This photo comes from my late grandmother's collection.  Her father was a member of the Collins family which included Captain Fred Collins of the Skylark fame and her mother was born into the Harman family.  Both families have lived in Brighton for many generations, maybe the people in the photo are from one of these familes.

Can anyone identify either the pub or the people?

Photo:Old Brighton Pub

Old Brighton Pub

From the private collection of Liz Woodford

This page was added on 20/03/2009.

Comments about this page

I think this pub is the Unicorn Inn, North Street.

By Julie Annets (22/03/2009)

Hi, Liz. l know this is a long shot, but l have to ask the questions! My grandad was a member of the Sky Lark crew sometime between 1905/1950s, he helped with the troops in getting them back from France in the war. Mum has told me he was a member of the Sky Lark crew and l also remember helping in my childhood winching the boat up the shingle for pleasure rides. "Anyone for the Sky Lark" in Brighton. I have one photo of him with his wife and baby in navy uniform, could be Merchant Navy. His name was Thomas Goble (nick name was Gossie), born 1884. His parents were James Goble and Mary Jeffery, married in 1871 in Brighton. I have struggled finding info on this pair since their marriage and the birth of Thomas. In 1890 Mary remarried to Henry Nutley and put her father down as Richard Harman - but he was Richard Jeffery when she married James Goble! Richard was a fisherman and Thomas was a fisherman. Can't find out what happened to James and why the change of surnames for Mary's Dad - from Jeffery to Harman? They are all Brightonians. Any help would be appreiciated. Thank you.

By Sheila Jones (22/03/2009)

I think this pub is the Cannon pub which was in Cannon Street and was demolished when Churchil Square was developed.

By Malcolm Lima (22/03/2009)

I am not saying it is it but this looks a bit like the Shepherd and Dog in London Road - see the James Gray Collection website. But if it is, there had been a few changes to the frontage.

By Dennis Parrett (22/03/2009)

The 1861 street directory mentions 'J. Barnett, Cannon Brewery, 16 Russell Street (Brewer, maltster and coal merchant)' if that's any help.

By Peter Barnard (23/03/2009)

It looks very like the exterior of The Dependent (no longer a pub, but with its exterior and sign restored) in Little Preston Street.

By Chris S (30/03/2009)

I found the names and occupations of Collins and Harman in the Kellys directory 1867.

Collins family:
Edwin - beer retailer - 48 Upper North Street
James - Masons Arms - Seymore Street
John - beer retailer - 71 Rose Hill Terrace
William -Albemarie Hotel, 7 Marine Parade

Harman family:
Richard - beer retailer - 96 Gloucester Lane
Jane - beer retailer - 110 Southover Street

By Maralyn Eden (31/03/2009)

Many thanks for all your suggestions. Haven't found any links to my known family yet but still working on it. Anymore ideas would be welcome. Sorry Sheila, but I don't recognise anyone from your family.

By Liz Woodford (31/03/2009)

Isn't this the Fiddler's elbow?

By GC (03/04/2009)

The Unicorn Inn, North Street, was demolished in 1920 and the Regent Cinema built in its place. That was demolished and Boots now stands on the site. The incline of the road is the wrong way to be the site of the Regent or Boots, so it can't be the Unicorn Inn.

By Renia Simmonds nee Lambor (03/05/2009)

The Unicorn, 133 North Street - My great grandfather (Richard Paige) had it. A number of my great aunts and grand father were born there. I am not sure if it is The Unicorn - I did find picture of it. As I understand it the pub was on the south side of North Street.

By Annette Paige (11/05/2010)

The Unicorn Inn, I imagine, was much bigger than this - it had a yard from which carters went 3 times a week to villages within a 10 mile radius of Brighton. Also, as Renia Simmonds says, the incline is the wrong way.

By Justin Young (28/08/2010)

There's a Barnett showing as landlord at the St Georges Tavern in Upper Bedford Street in the 1870s and 1880s. Don't know if that's any use?

By Rob Sinden (19/09/2011)

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