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Photographed c1950s?

This undated photograph is of Marshall’s Row which is off London Road and leads to the Open Market.

Do you remember when Marshall’s Row looked like this? Maybe you had your shoes mended at the shop here.

If you can suggest a date or can share your memories with us, please leave a comment below.

Marshall's Row: off London Road undated
Image reproduced with kind permission of The Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton and Hove

Comments about this page

  • The footwear repairer was F. Warner and the picture was probably taken around 1955. Next door was the blacksmith, Arthur Dawkins, who was there until the mid 1960s.

    By Andy Grant (06/05/2011)
  • I didn’t get my shoes mended there but as a small boy I watched many horses getting their shoes replaced, this was in the late 40s / early 50s. It was a fascinating place to a small boy. Whenever I now see a farrier working, the smell of burnt hoof as the shoe is fitted brings the memories of those days flooding back. I should think this photo is mid to late 50s.

    By Dan O Shaughnessy (06/05/2011)
  • Marshall’s row looked like this when I was a kid in the late forties and the fifties. My dad had a stall in the Open Market. I stood for hours watching the blacksmith Arthur Dawkins shoeing the horses and making things from iron. Indeed in the photo that is Arthur Dawkins just about to cross the road bless him. Long time since I have seen his face but my memories go back straight away to those lovely times.

    By Mick Peirson (07/05/2011)
  • There were always crowds of children watching the blacksmith. The mothers used to shop in the market and the older kids would stand around the stable watching him shoe the horses.

    By Iris Gilman (08/05/2011)
  • I recall the blacksmith and the forge when in use but have no memories of ever seeing a horse shod there. In fact I was led to believe that the sturdy box frame seen in the picture was not for hoses at all, it was for oxen, who it seemed, were a little less docile when it came to having shoes fitted.

    By Roy Grant (09/05/2011)
  • Roy’s comment about oxen reminded me that while working in the nursery fields at Stanmer in the 1960s, we often found discarded ox shoes (I still have a few ). We called them cues – I don’t think oxen were used much after the 1920s.

    By Dan O Shaughnessy (10/05/2011)
  • Arthur Dawkins always shod the horses inside the forge where everything was at hand and there was less distraction from the crowd that stood watching. The horses were tied to the wall that had iron rings especially for the job. Arthur would have a stern word with anybody making any unnecessary noise around the forge. I can remember Arthur swearing at the horses if they did not behave themselves. He was a no- nonsense man at all times. Mike Peirson

    By Mick Peirson (22/04/2012)
  • Hi Mick Peisson( wrong spelling) did you live near the end of Elder street? I’m Alan Cribb, 20 Elder Street,born 1945 and went to St Barts. Like you I spent many hours watching the horses being shod. Many good memories here.

    By Alan Cribb (14/05/2018)

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