More History

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 18:18

More History

Written by Administrator

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
E-mail
Add new comment

Rate this item

(1 Vote)

The historic West Laine between Brighton Old Town and the parish of Hove was divided into 121 'furlongs [or field divisions] that on the Hove border next to the beach being named the West Field or Black Lands. At present this furlong contains as its one of its main features, Bedford Square. Behind this charming 'urban field' lies a warren of tiny streets, alleys and yards as well as the 20th century developments of Embassy Court and Golden lane Physically the area lies on the dip slope of the chalk covered with superficial deposits of richer soils, it was these Brickearths that gave rise to a prominent and important regional brick making industry in the period from at least 1720 until the 1820's;as well as the brickearth the low coastline meant coal could be easily landed along the coastline-especially over the bordering Hove where there was no coal tax to pay! North of the area, up on Furze Hill, the gorse provided another ingredient for the brick makers as that was used to create the grey-faced bricks seen in the town
The accounts for building Stanmer House in the 1720’s record that bricks were made in Brighton and there is evidence that this was in the area south of the present Western Road near the Hove parish border. As with any industrial area there was a rash of cheap, workers housing, pubs and breweries in the area!
With the westward growth of Brighton in the closing years of the 18th century this ‘west-end’ saw the sea frontage developed for up-market housing and Bedford Sq was started by 1800 although not complete for another 18 years. The town rates book for 1844 shows housing rates varying from £44-£100 per annum with greenhouses at £11 and stables at £14
With the sea view gone the area behind developed for low status service and storage trades, stables, coalyards, laundries, plumbers shops, greenhouses and slaughter yards and Bedford Square showed all the signs of being a perfectly normal 19th century British urban landscape housing both ‘toffs’ and toughs!

Read 516 times

Published in Bedford Square General

Social sharing