Restored arches win award

A scheme to reinforce a section of the A259 trunk road and restore a row of historic fishermen’s arches on Brighton seafront has won a Sussex Heritage Trust Award for outstanding conservation work. All the original structures had to be demolished and recreated using steel-reinforced concrete.

To restore the arches specially-made bricks were used along with hand-crafted wooden doors and window frames.   New cast iron railings were made using traditional techniques and Victorian patterns. The project by Brighton & Hove City Council has created shops and a public toilet from 26 Victorian arches beneath the upper prom.

Work on the £3.5m scheme started in November 2012 and completed when the shops began opening last summer.

In a second phase, a further 33 arches further east are now being restored and due for reopening in summer 2016.

Boarded up arches to the east of the West Pier site.

See also: Seafront repairs ongoing.