The oldest shop?

M.L.Banfield & Sons Ltd.
Expert Locksmiths & Architectural Ironmongers

Banfields, established in 1856 and situated at 1, Little Western Street since 1874, is surely a good contender for the title of the city's oldest shop.

Projects progress

Two prestigious building projects are scheduled for completion in 2018

After a seemingly quiet period work is in full swing on the Seafront Shelter hall.

The Hannington Lane development seen from Brighton Place

 Hannington Lane seen from Meeting House Lane

The new North Street entrance to Hannington Lane with the exposed Puget's Cottage behind.

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.

East Street to lose Cath Kidston.

'Cath Kidston' East Street frontage

East Street Arcade.

Cath Kidston, the ‘Modern Vintage’ international retailer, has signed a lease with Redevco, for 1,700 sq ft of ground floor sales plus ancillary storage, at 6-7 North Street.  Cath Kitson, which began in 1993, has been trading at East Street Arcade since 2011. The move is being made in search of more display space. 

6-7 North Street is part of the Hanningtons estate currently being redeveloped and refurbished by Redevco.

It is unfortunate that North Street's gain has to be East Street Arcade's loss.

Puget's Cottage exposed

For a few months, before the new buildings conceal it, the west elevation of  Puget's Cottage is fully exposed.

The south elevation.

Footings going in at the west end of the new lane.

Huntingdon House refurb.

Huntingdon House before the scaffolding

Google Earth

Following the demolition of Timpsons and work to reveal and restore the historic 17th century Pugets Cottage, Redevco’s contractor Westridge has started to refurbish Huntingdon House on North Street. Huntingdon House is named after the Countess of Huntingdon's church which was demolished in 1972.

Pre-1972

Photo:RPM

Pre-1972

Photo:RPM

Redevco started redeveloping the 1.3 acre site, which includes the former Hanningtons department store or ‘Harrods of Brighton’, in February.

A building at the rear of the site has been demolished and existing space reconfigured and significant investment and improvements should appear over the next few months including larger, bolder and more permanent signs to Meeting House Lane.

It is expected that by the end of Summer 2018, Brighton will have a new Lane and new spaces for shops, restaurants and cafes.

Architect's visualisation of the refurbished building

The Boots corner.

The 100 year-old+ White Lion Hotel building

Photo:RPM

The 1974 modernist building

Photo: RPM

The re-designed, re-clad building. 2017

Boots have had some presence on this corner since 1903. Their modernist store which replaced the White Lion Hotel building & Regent cinema in 1974 at least had architectural integrity. It was designed by Derek Sharp of the Comprehensive Design Group. But its understated. elegant modernism was all but ruined by a re-design in 1998, changing it into a semi-industrial carbuncle. The cladding hasn't weathered well and the ridiculous  mortar-board roofs still look gimmicky and out-of-place. Hopes that it might be replaced by what seemed a fine new store for John Lewis were dashed earlier this year with a change in their plans.

Grenville Place

The north-east corner of Grenville Place with Upper Russell Street in 1967

Photo:RP&M

From left to right is the back of Home & Colonial Stores; no.2, a hairdressers and, on the corner, the back of Dorothy Normans

The corner of North Street with Farm Yard. 2017

Before Churchill Square the frontage of the Western Road shops was level with what is now the Metro Bank at the end of North Street.

Andrew's Cottage

6 Little East Street

These shop windows date from c1800. They were combined into one shop in 1845 for Samuel Andrew's rope & fishing tackle business and his family continued to run the business for the following 100 years.

The photo above by George Girling was published in the Sussex County Magazine for December 1944. It seems safe to assume that the gentleman pictured is Henry Andrew, one of Samuel's descendants. He certainly looks the part. 

2017

It is amazing to consider that these shop fronts with all the original detailing and delicate glazing bars have survived, apparently intact, for over 200 years. The cottage is grade II listed.

An overlooked, but attractive, corner of the Old Town

Brighton Square development

Awaiting approval are planning applications BH2017/00762 & 00768 which are for the change of use of 12 -16 Brighton Square from retail to a single restaurant and the installation of appropriate new shopfronts. The shops in question are those on the north side of the square, shown to the right in the above photo.

BH2017/00762 also applies for the installation in the centre of the square of a large awning to provide for sheltered dining. The central fountain would be removed and its dolphin sculpture moved to the central apex of the awning above the rainwater collecting pipe. In this position it seems that it will be largely invisible to passers-by at ground level.

Present view from no.16 looking SW.

Proposed 'awning' from no.16

The awning viewed from the terrace to the south.

The Regency Society has objected to these proposals: 

http://regencysociety.org/brighton-square.html 

Another application BH2017/00797 refers to the flats above the shops and is for the replacement of the present hanging tiles and white weatherboarding with dark grey weatherboarding in place of tiles and for white painted render to the bays. Unfortunately this is already approved. It seem a completely unnecessary modification; merely chasing a modern fad. Weatherboarding never weathers so well as tiles and white cement render quickly becomes weather-stained.

Hannington Lane on track for completion mid 2018

View of proposed lane from Brighton Place

Work is progressing well on the creation of a new Lane in Brighton. Contractor Westridge Construction, hired by European retail real estate investment manager Redevco, has been removing the former Timpsons store on North Street brick by brick. This week passers-by were treated to a glimpse of the historic 17th century Pugets Cottage – revealed for the first time in 140 years – and a view through to what will be the new Hanningtons Lane.

Redevco started redeveloping the 1.3 acre site, which includes the former Hanningtons department store or ‘Harrods of Brighton’, in February. As well as a new Lane, the masterplan for Hanningtons Estate also includes the creation of a new entrance to the Lanes from North Street and the redevelopment of existing buildings to provide exciting new spaces for shops, restaurants and cafes.

Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco comments, “Our Masterplan approach should provide a catalyst for the whole area. The new Lane will provide contemporary spaces that retailers can’t find elsewhere, which will draw new names in and create a destination that helps support existing businesses. We have demolished a building at the rear of the site and reconfigured some existing space, but the demolition of Timpsons is an exciting milestone in the development programme.”

Redevco’s leasing agents KLM Retail and GCW are in discussions with target retailers and this exciting new retail and leisure destination is on track for completion mid 2018.

The area is an important landmark between the attractions of the Lanes, North Laine, East Street, the Cultural Quarter and Brighton Beach and Pier. The vision is to blend a visually unique and engaging scheme into the existing network of narrow alleyways, lanes, eclectic boutiques, restaurants and cafes/bars that already make Brighton so popular.

See also: Puget's Cottage begins to emerge.

Jason Kitcat reviews the Budget,

The Hanningtons Estate - work begins

The main Hanningtons site

Redevco, the European retail real estate investment manager, starts work on the redevelopment of the former Hanningtons department store in Brighton today (Monday 6th February). The 1.3 acre site is being redeveloped into an exciting new retail and leisure destination and will be completed by mid 2018.

Redevco acquired the majority of the site in 2015 and an adjacent mixed-use property at the end of last year, taking the total amount invested in Brighton to £72 million.

Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco comments, “We are creating a new Lane, a new entrance to the historic Lanes from North Street and are redeveloping existing buildings on North Street, to provide exciting new spaces for shops, restaurants and cafes. The vision is to blend a visually unique and engaging scheme into the existing network of narrow alleyways, lanes, eclectic boutiques, restaurants and cafes/bars that already make Brighton so popular."

“We also have an opportunity to invest substantially in the quality of the buildings on North Street and our Masterplan approach should provide a catalyst for the whole area.”

The design incorporates local materials and will reveal the historic Puget’s Cottage, currently hidden behind the Timpsons shop front on North Street, for the first time in 140 years.

Westridge Construction has been appointed as main contractor and architect Morgan Carn Partnership has created a pioneering and unique scheme, which blends the history and character of the Lanes, with the needs of modern retailers.

Construction work will initially focus on the rear of the scheme, enabling existing retailers to continue trading with minimum disruption.

The site of Hanningtons Lane where work has begun

Access from Meeting House Lane now prohibited

A virtual tour of the Hannington's Lane development

Old Town consultation

Brighton Place

The council is consulting on a draft Character Statement for the Old Town Conservation area, which is located in the heart of Brighton. It covers the historic extent of the medieval fishing town of Brighthelmstone, defined by the historic boundaries of North Street, East Street, West Street and the seafront. The Conservation Area was designated in 1973 and extended to include the promenade and beach area in 1977.

Market Street

Clarence Yard

Comments are welcome on the draft Character Statement for Old Town and should be made via the council’s Consultation Portal. The closing date for comments is 30 November 2016. Make your comments here, where the draft Character Statement can also be read in 'Supporting Documents'.         

Background 

A conservation area character statement sets out the special interest of the area. A good understanding of what makes a conservation area special is key to its continued conservation; it gives justification to the designation and forms the groundwork for a later management plan (which will be subject to separate consultation). An up-to-date character statement is important for making robust and enforceable planning decisions, and carries considerable weight at any planning appeal. Such statements can also offer constructive guidance for owners, businesses and their agents when preparing development proposals.

Duke Street

The John Lewis proposals

The proposal includes significant gains for the public realm in one of the most congested part of the city.

The existing Boots builds right to the edge of the site, which provides minimum space for the public realm on North Street and Queens Road and no pavement on Windsor Street.

The proposal sets the new building back from the ownership line to create more pavement space to all roads.

A new main entrance will be provided at the corner of North Street and Queens Road. This is further set back and splayed to create an easily accessible entrance with 10m of space between it and the pedestrian crossing.

In setting the façade back on North Street, views of the Clock Tower that were blocked by the existing building will now be visible, enhancing its relevance to the spatial orientation of the city.

On the top floor of the building an external terrace will be provided that will give views to the sea and pier.

For full proposals see:- John Lewis in Brighton & Hove.

A John Lewis for Brighton

John Lewis have long expressed an ambition to have a presence in Brighton and, in December 2014, they acquired the conspicuous corner property, 129-133 North Street, occupied by Boots.

Now, prior to submitting a planning application later this year, John Lewis are holding an exhibition of its plans and inviting the public to share its views on their proposals.

The exhibition will take place at 133 Queen’s Road (next to Boots)
on Friday 16th September from 11am – 8pm.
and Saturday 17th September from 11am – 4pm.
The exhibition boards will also be online at: www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/brighton
and comments can be left online from 16th – 26th September 2016.

If plans are approved, the new shop would provide in the region of 250 new jobs.

John Lewis Brighton would likely offer an edited selection of its fashion, beauty, home, electrical and consumer electronics goods and services to Brighton, while computer terminals would enable shoppers to browse the wider John Lewis assortment online.

John Lewis operates 45 John Lewis shops across the UK (32 department stores, 11 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership and all 30,000 John Lewis staff are Partners in the business. John Lewis, ‘Best Clothing Retailer 2015’ , ‘Best Electricals Retailer 2015’ and Best Homewares Retailer 2015’’¹, typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com stocks over 280,000 products, and is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK.

The Restoration of the Seafront.

5 & 6 Castle Square

June 2014

2009

This whimsical pairing, which so enlivens the streetscape, was created in the late Georgian period. In 1822, no.5, on the left, was occupied by A.N.Burkett, "Chemist to His Majesty", no.6, on the right, by a Miss Venner, "Dressmaker". This was the time when the Nash Royal Pavilion was reaching its final form, Prinny had just succeeded his father, and celebrity life in Brighton would no doubt have ensured good incomes for both these business. No. 5 later became a newsagent and circulation library.

It is good to see an old-established Brighton name "Gunn" still trading from no.6 and this seems almost to be reflected in the sensitive choice of light cream and what might be brunswick green for the external decor. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about no.5 which has suffered from some horrible paint jobs over the years. Even the present colour jars against the creams used on either side and the modern fascia is completely unsuitable for a listed building. One wonders why the Council do not exert more control over shop fronts, particularly on listed buildings, and require a more restrained, in-period style. This seems to happen in other cities with an architectural heritage and readily complied with by the owners.

The shallow 1st floor bay of no.5 is roofed with a metal semidome and the central window is separated from the side windows by pilasters in the form of bundled rods, or fasces. This is a feature of Empire-style furnishings of the period examples of which can be seen in the Pavilion.

No. 6 has a rather extraordinary mansard roof of slate the RH side of which is nearly vertical.

Spring Street - then & now

c. 1908

2010

Spring Street was built in the 1820's and named after a stream which may have shared its source with the artesian well ½ mile away at Wick Hall, now St. Ann's Well Gardens. This well, once prolific, ceased to flow in the late 19th century.

On the corner of Hampton Street, the 1908 photo shows the original 'Shakespeare's Head' public house, at 1 Spring Street. This was rebuilt in its present  form in 1935 as part of the Mitre House development in Western Road. Both Mitre House and the Shakespeare's Head are currently undergoing comprehensive redevelopment. On the opposite corner is 9  Hampton Street which later became a branch of Forfars.

Further up the west side of Spring Street, no.2 was occupied by chimney sweeps Graves & Son for most of the first half of the 20th C. In 1932 no.3 was converted to a newsagent, confectioner, tobacconist, 'Ives' and remained so until 1960. Beyond no.4 the houses 5 to 11 were owned by the catholic church St. Mary Magdalene, the presbytery of which can be see at the top of the street.  Houses 5 to 11 were demolished some time in the second half of the century as part of the development of St. Mary Magdalene's school. Some of them were later rebuilt to modern standards but in fairly sympathetic style.  

On the opposite side of Spring Street (east) many properties were adapted to commercial use throughout the 20th C. including; a greengrocer, tailor, cycle shop, hairdresser, cafe, watchmaker and dairy. The last can be made out in the 1908 photo called 'Gearings Dairy'. It later became 'Jenkins Dairies'