Thursday 28 October 2021
A Plaque to Rabindranath Tagore
Wednesday 26 May 2021
A Plaque to Elizabeth Robins and Octavia Wilberforce
Friday 21 May 2021
Smuggler's Cottage, Rottingdean
Saturday 24 April 2021
Restore the Stanmer Palm House.
Since 2019 Plumpton Agricultural College and BHCC with partners have been working to restore Stanmer's Victorian walled garden, build a new Horticultural Centre of Excellence and open as 'One Garden Brighton' which will be a destination garden for the community. After laying abandoned for years the work is now complete and the garden is open to the public for the first time in its history.
The Palm House, near the gates of One Garden Brighton, is one of only three remaining of its kind in England. They were built in the 1950s for local councils and were originally heated. The Walled Garden during this time was a nursery for Brighton & Hove City Council and a space to grow plants for the city parks.
The Palm House has not been a part of the original restoration project and the ambition is to now restore it and open it for the public to enjoy. This will involve refitting the heating system and reglazing the glass so that it can house exotic plants. Plans include adding a vaulted walkway with viewing platforms and an educational experience showcasing a wide variety of plant species. A mini Kew on our doorstep in fact.
To help get this project underway One Garden Brighton has opened a crowdfunder with a target of £500,000.
To contribute go to 'Palm House Restoration'.
Follow "One Garden Brighton' on facebook.
Tuesday 20 April 2021
Circus Street so far.
Loooking south from Ivory Place |
Morley Street frontage, residential |
Entrance to Woodland Court |
Woodland Court. Students left & at end; Residential right. |
Circus Square looking south-west towards The Dance Space. |
Looking north-west into Circus Court. Residential |
Student block. |
Looking north along Circus St. The Office near right; residential beyond. |
Looking north-west from Kingswood Street. The Office to the left; student block to the right. |
Sunday 18 April 2021
Hippodrome hope
Corroded ironwork |
Section viewed from Middle Street showing proposed new roof structure. |
External appearance viewed from the west. |
Saturday 17 April 2021
The Missing Playground - update
10 years ago council officers won their fight with the developers to ensure a playground was built on the then still vacant plot K of the station site which adjoined Stroudley Road. See "Playground for the New England Quarter". The playground was part of the original planning brief so the developers were presumably well aware of their commitment.
Notwithstanding this,10 years later, the playground has never materialised on plot K and in its place stands City View, 103 Stroudley Road.
A small play area does exist a short walk away from City View on the busy A270.
It is situated in a small area closely bounded on 3 sides by the walls of tall buildings.
Saturday 10 April 2021
The Church St./Portland St. corner.
w/c by William Thomas Quartermain 1850. Collections: Royal Pavilion, Museums & Art Gallery. |
Before demoliton c.1990 photo: Carol Homewood |
The current proposal |
The Church Street elevation To preserve the historic feel of the street the rooflines should step down with the gradient not defy it. See the 1990's photo. A storey at least should be removed. |
Planning application BH2020/02801 refers. The plans have been drawn up by TODD Architects based in Dublin & Belfast and one wonders it they have visited North Laine or are even aware the site is adjacent to a Conservation Area.
The Brighton Society are strongly opposed to development along these lines and their full objection can be read here: "A wasted opportunity in the North Laine : proposed office block at 27 – 31 Church Street."
Monday 5 April 2021
No. 10 Ship Street
It is good to see a splendid classical Victorian frontage nicely maintained.