History of Brighton Seafront
Explore the history of one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts.
The City of Brighton and Hove is one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts. Known for its pebbled beaches and unique landmarks, this story map provides a look into the history of this area of the city.
Below is a slider showing how the city has developed over time. Over 100 years separate these images, with the landscape changing considerably in this amount of time.
Seafront in 1910 on the left, and today, on the right.
Events that helped shape the city of Brighton and Hove over time...
1st - 2nd century AD
The Roman Empire has a presence in the area, with a villa being built in Brighton. There was also a Roman road that used to go through the city. No settlement has been found but is assumed to have existed in some capacity as artefacts have been found in the city.
1514
Only being a small fishing village at this point, the village is burned down in a war with the French.
1703
The Great Storm of 1703 causes great damage to the town.
1750
Dr Richard Russell advocates for the drinking of seawater and bathing for medicinal purposes. More doctors over the next couple of decades advise this leading to increased visitors to the town.
1922
The War Memorial in Old Steine is unveiled commemorating the residents whos lives were lost in World War One.
1961
The University of Sussex is built and established.
1984
The Grand Hotel is bombed in an assassination attempt against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet who were staying there.
1987
The Great Storm of 1987 causes great damage to the town, with gusts up to 120 mph recording in neighbouring Shoreham.
1997
The towns of Brighton and Hove are formally merged and granted city status by The Queen in 2001, and became 'The City of Brighton and Hove'.
2010
The South Downs National Park becomes fully operational.
2018
The Rampion offshore wind farm comes online lying about 13km from shore, producing 400MW of electricity.
A tour of the seafront...
Brighton and Hove is a city of immense cultural and historical value. Below are some select landmarks and attractions situated along the seafront that form part of the city's rich history.
Undercliff Walk
Running from Brighton Marina to Peacehaven in the east, this scenic five kilometre path can act as a leisurely stroll to the quaint village of Rottingdean, or as a flat route for cycling. Constructed between 1928 to 1933, the walk doubles as a coastal defence against erosion from the chalk cliffs behind it. There are various facilities along the walk, such as the restaurants at Rottingdean and Saltdean. Rottingdean beach also exposes it's rock pools at low tide. The area was once used for smuggling, bringing goods from the Mediterranean. The 'Smugglers Rest' pub located on the cliff at Telscombe Cliffs is a reminder of this history.
Brighton Marina Village
Built on reclaimed land, the initial project was opened in 1978 and opened by The Queen in 1979. Over the years it has expanded further and is now a prime attraction in the city. It features a marina for small vessels, a shopping district, a walkway with various restaurants as well as a cinema. It also has high rise apartments, as well as holiday let flats further into the village.
The Volks Railway
This unique 1.6 kilometre rail line has the prestigious title of the oldest electric railway operating in the world. The eponymous Magnus Volk opened the line in 1883, to great popularity. In 1901 the line was extended to Black Rock, just before the current on foot entrance to Brighton Marina. After being shut for seven years following the Second World War, much of the stations were replaced after being damaged in the war. After an old lido at Black Rock was closed in 1978 the attraction saw waning popularity. It continued on however, and in 2015 was awarded heritage National Lottery funding which would overhaul the line and provide essential maintenance. It is now a icon of the seafront due to its age and will continue to operate well into the future.
SeaLife Centre
Opening in 1872 as Brighton Aquarium, much like the Volks Railway it holds the record for the longest operating aquarium in the world. It was designed by Eugenius Birch, who also designed The West Pier. The interior design features detailed stone archways and statues made from marble and granite. A multi use roof terrace was in use by 1876, which included a roller skating rink. After reconstruction it reopened in 1929, and was then used by the RAF in World War Two. In the '70s, it hosted dolphin and seal shows which proved to be controversial. The aquarium was bought by SeaLife in 1991 and released the dolphins back into the wild. The aquarium has three distinct themed rooms, and has over one hundred different species.
Brighton Palace Pier
One of Brighton's most recognisable landmarks, this pier is now the only pier in operation in Brighton. Built as a replacement for the Chain Pier which collapsed in 1896 due to a storm, it has remained popular despite changing its offering over the years. It had a theatre for many years, even Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin performed in their early careers at the theatre before their mainstream success in Hollywood. In 1986, the theatre was removed and amusement and fairground rides were put in its place. It is lit by 67,000 bulbs.
The Royal Pavilion
This Grade I listed former royal residence is probably the most iconic silhouette in the whole city. It was the retreat of King George IV. Designed in a classic Indian style that was common for this period, it borrowed many elements that British architects considered the classic Indian style. It was also a residence of King William IV and Queen Victoria, however Victoria believed Brighton gave her too much attention, deciding to sell up to the town and used the money to build her own retreat - Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. During the First World War, it was used as a military hospital for the Indian Army. Over the years it has undergone extensive refurbishment to restore it to its original state, and is licensed to perform weddings.
Brighton Beach
This nine kilometre stretch of pebble beach covers the entire boundary of the city, providing a wide variety of things to do. In Brighton, there are bars and venues on the path just above where the beach ends. In Hove, it is much quieter, with the beach adjacent to Hove lawns. The iconic multi-colour painted beach huts are on this stretch. The beach also serves as the hosting place of the annual Brighton Marathon as well as the accompanying expo, with the finish line right by the Palace Pier.
British Airways i360
One of Brighton's most recent landmarks to be constructed, this 162m observation tower lets you see over the sea and north over Sussex and the South Downs National Park. Built by the same team that built the London Eye, it opened in 2016 positioned right in front of the ruins of The West Pier. The building below the observation pod has a brasserie and a gift shop.
The West Pier
Opened in 1866, it was the second pier in Brighton and the first pier in England to be Grade I listed. Initially designed to attract visitors to the town, at its peak it had two million visitors per year, and had a large concert hall. In the '50s, the concert hall was repurposed into a tea room and restaurant. After this time maintenance costs to the pier began to increase, and was closed in 1970 due to safety. Various attempts were made since then to restore the pier but all ultimately failed. During the Great Storm of 1987, the pier suffered structural damage, and in 2003 the infamous fire burned any remaining parts of the building, leaving only the cast iron skeleton. It has been left in this rusty state ever since - however, there is a certain charm to the dilapidated structure. It is steeped in history and now part of the personality and uniqueness of the city.