Upper Russell Street (2)

Before it was cleared in the 1960s, for the building of Churchill Square, Upper Russell Street ran parallel to Western Road from Clarence Square to near the top of Regency Road where it turned sharply north to join Western Road alongside the Lamb & Flag (now Crowns) pub. It could not join up with the west end of Regency Road because it was on a higher level. Instead a rough grassy bank existed between the corner of Upper Russell Street and Regency Road, probably about 10 feet below. 

Upper Russell Street now lies under the Churchill Square 1 car park where it roughly follows the ground floor central east-west feeder lane.

Google Earth view of the area today.

Below are two photos from the RP&M Collections of the northward running section of Upper Russell Street in the 1950s.

The side of the still existing Lamb & Flag can be seen in the distance.

On the right of the photo is the southernmost building of this section of Upper Russell Street which flanked the bank down to Regency Road.

See also:
Upper Russell Street.

Gigins, bakers & confectioners.

Grenville Place.

Welcome back HMV

The new HMV store on the lower mall of Churchill Square is like a welcoming cave of treasures. Evidently the pleasure of browsing for physical objects hasn't yet been displaced by cyberspace.

Progress on the Waterfront Project

The Black Rock site

BHCC have appointed architects WilkinsonEyre to lead a team of world-renowned experts to develop a masterplan for the city's Waterfront project, an important element of which is the provision of a new conference and entertainment venue at Black Rock.  The site under consideration, next to the Marina, is owned by the BHCC.

WilkinsonEyre who  designed the famous Gateshead Millennium bridge and the Olympic Basketball Arena for London 2012, will carry out initial work to draw up a masterplan study of Black Rock and how it relates to the surrounding seafront sites.

Providing a new events venue will enable the Churchill Square shopping centre to be enlarged and extended to the Kings Road, so strengthening its position on the south coast and ensuring competing shopping centres do not take away market share. The architectural practices appointed to transform Kings Road & Churchill Square are ACME, who are currently completing Leeds Victoria Gate and a masterplan for Chester city centre; and Leonard Design Architects, who have played a key part in major regeneration schemes in London.

The masterplan will make sure the sites are developed to a high standard that enhances the city's heritage. Conservation groups will be involved to ensure consideration of the seafront's historic landscape is included in the plan.

The Council is also considering both day-to-day and event-specific transport options for the development. The proposals will seek to link Brighton station, existing hotels and tourism infrastructure with the development sites.

Recent negotiations between the Council and Standard Life Investments (the owners of Churchill Square) on the Waterfront development should enable an agreement to be put to the Policy & Resources Committee for approval in Spring 2016. This will allow contracts to be exchanged and work to begin in earnest.

Location of the Black Rock site in relation to the Kemptown CA.

Five-string banjo

Dave Hum, a class act playing at what used to be the end of Upper Russell Street. That was before nearby Churchill Square was built. The large open space in front of the Churchill Square shops is private property, hence the popularity of this particular spot, on the nearby public highway, with street entertainers.  

Dave's playing could be heard from way up Dyke Road. Call me unsophisticated by I find the sound of a 5-string banjo, expertly played, irresistible. . .

Dave's website:-
http://www.davehum.com/

The Old Steine cannon (2)

This view looking north from the Victoria Fountain in about 1935 shows, on the right, the old cannon that was referred to in an earlier post.

Does anyone know what happened to it?

It may have come from the old seafront battery for which Cannon Place, and Artillery Street (now under Churchill Square), were named.

Had it survived to the present day it would surely be a prized relic of the City's past.

The Samaritans Christmas Collections

Every Christmas Waterstones  kindly allow the Brighton, Hove & District Branch of the Samaritans to hold a gift-wrapping weekend at the store in North Street. Volunteers are on hand all day to expertly gift-wrap wrap your purchases and hope you will want to contribute to the charity in exchange. This year it was held on the weekend 19th & 20th December and on the Saturday a further collection was held in Churchill Square supported by carols played by members of the Patcham Silver Band.

The total collected for the weekend was £1108. A resounding success.
Samaritans have been quietly operating 24/7 behind the scenes in Brighton for over 40 years providing emotional support and friendship to those in distress. It is manned entirely by volunteers but operating costs still amount to over £100 per day so the need for funding is continuous and weekends like this make a vital contribution.

Heartfelt thanks are due to Waterstones, The Churchill Square Management, Patcham Silver Band, for braving the cold and playing with freezing fingers, and the generous Brighton public.

Happy Christmas to all.

New Apple Store

At the risk of providing free advertising this is good news for all us Apple fans. Their new store in Churchill Square opens on Saturday 25th July at 10 am. Free T-shirts for early visitors. This is just the kind of "culture" boost that a way-out place like Brighton deserves.