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Old Town

Brighton's Old Town was probably developed from about the 13th or 14th centuries. The town was burnt by the French in 1514 and now only the street pattern remains.

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  • The Countess of Huntingdon's Church

    The Countess of Huntingdon's Church

    The original chapel of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion, was founded in Brighton in 1761, today the sect has 23 ...
  • The key to the Clock Tower 125 years on

    The key to the Clock Tower 125 years on

    The Clock Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887. The foundation stone was laid by Sir ...
  • The Killing of Sister George, 1969

    The Killing of Sister George, 1969

    “The Cannon Cinema in East Street used to be called the ABC and I remember going to see ‘The Killing ...
  • The mechanism

    The mechanism

    The contrast between the modern aesthetic and the Victorian folly is striking. The ball at the top of the Clock ...
  • The oldest houses in Brighton?

    The oldest houses in Brighton?

    I would like to research the history of my house which I moved into a couple of months ago. It ...
  • The place to be in the 1950s

    The place to be in the 1950s

    Jellied eels and fish and chips I know there are a lot of derogatory comments about West Street here, but does ...
  • The Sussex Arms

    The Sussex Arms

    The Sussex Arms in East Street was once on the edge of a small harbour occupied by fishing boats in ...
  • The Traveller's Rest

    The Traveller's Rest

    One of my favourite places is the Friese Green Traveller’s Rest, Middle Street. I love the little backpacker scaling the ...
  • The Unicorn Inn

    The Unicorn Inn

    During the 16th century, when Brighton consisted of but a few hundred people, the northernmost limit of the town was ...
  • The uniform generations

    The uniform generations

    If you stand with your back to the Clock Tower, looking towards the sea, there is a shop on the ...
  • The Victorian meets the Georgian

    The Victorian meets the Georgian

    What we’re looking at is a rather splendid Victorian acanthus capital that suddenly butts onto a piece of defensive ironwork ...
  • The Virgin record store

    The Virgin record store

    I was a student at Sussex University (Falmer) and lived in Brighton and Hove between the years 1974-1977. I remember ...
  • Then and now photos

    Then and now photos

    19th century view What a difference! These old cottages were demolished in 1875, to make room for an extension to Middle ...
  • Then and now photos

    Then and now photos

    19th century view This photograph shows the Unicorn Inn, which was established in about 1750. The building was originally a farmhouse, ...
  • Then and now photos

    Then and now photos

    19th century view This photograph was taken around 1850. As in the photo from the 20th century, the site is still ...
  • Then and now photos

    Then and now photos

    19th century view This old hotel was established in the 18th century. Like several other inns, it was demolished to make way ...
  • Then and now photos

    Then and now photos

    19th century view This photo shows the house at 78 West Street owned by Henry Thrale and his wife. In the ...
  • Tikkai tikkai tikk forekai

    Tikkai tikkai tikk forekai

    “Tikkai tikkai tikk forekai. That’s Maori for the food is very good in this house. This is the place where ...
  • Traditional pizzas from wood burning ovens

    Traditional pizzas from wood burning ovens

    There is a plaque outside No 36 East Street, where the Al Forno restaurant is today, stating that the building ...
  • Used to be the town slum

    Used to be the town slum

    This is window-shopping Brighton: full of expensive shoe shops, fashion stores, swanky restaurants and nice bars. It used to be the ...
  • Walking into the past

    Walking into the past

    It had been going through my mind recently that I should drop a note to you all about the closure ...
  • West Street 1892 - 2013

    West Street 1892 - 2013

  • West Street photographed c1927

    West Street photographed c1927

    West Street was originally rather narrow, only twenty-eight feet wide in places, and so the upper part was widened on ...
  • West Street shops in 1984

    West Street shops in 1984

  • Black Lion Street

    Black Lion Street (3)

  • Expansion from the Lower Town

    Expansion from the Lower Town (1)

    The Old Town was probably developed from about the 13th or 14th centuries around East Street, Middle Street and West ...
  • Old Town Maps

    Old Town Maps (2)

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