Festive Lights

Kensington Gardens 

Duke's Lane

Brighton Square

Brighton Place

Donatello's

Druids Head

Market Street

East Street

North Street.

Diplock's Yard

Diplock's Yard, 73 North Road

North Road began to be built up in the 1820s and the first street directory in which it appears is for 1867.  In that year number 73 is occupied by the Regent Iron & Brass Foundry, and it continued being used in the iron trade until c1892. From 1895 to c1916 it was occupied by a plumber.  In c1895 David Diplock a "truck proprietor" sited his business there. It remained in the Diplock family until 1975, hiring out small barrows and trucks. In 1958 it was being operated by the Misses Diplock.

Last year Diplock's Yard was the subject of a planning application to erect a part single, part two storey building to provide 8 office units. The application was refused, and an appeal against the refusal was dismissed.

So Diplock's Yard remains an historic yard to widen our shopping experiences and enliven our streets.

Addendum: 20 Dec. 2016. My optimism proved to be unfounded.

The Preston & Patcham Society - a new website

The Preston and Old Patcham Society was founded in 1973. Their work is concerned with maintaining a sense of continuity in the community and matters related to conservation issues.

The Society embraces the area between Ditchling Road, Springfield Road, Dyke Road, Snakey Lane, Patcham village, Withdean, Westdean, Varndean and the surrounding downland.

See:- http://prestonandpatcham.org.uk/

Westdene Library

One of Brighton’s far-flung community libraries, Westdene in Bankside, has been spruced up and re-opens at 9am on November 29.   It has been closed for alterations to create a new classroom for Westdene Primary School next door.

Under the council’s Libraries Extra initiative it will now be open seven days a week and staffed on Tuesdays.  On other days library members can enter with their library card and PIN number. Facilities include a range of books, electronic media, computers, printing and free wifi.  There is also a new public toilet.

The library will also be on the lookout for volunteers.  For information on this or any other aspects of the library visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/libraries or call 01273 290800.

The opening hours are:-

Monday - 9am to 7pm (Libraries Extra)
Tuesday - 9am to 5pm
​Wednesday - 9am to 7pm (Libraries Extra)
Thursday - 9am to 5pm (Libraries Extra)
Friday - 9am to 5pm (Libraries Extra)
Saturday - 9.30am to 5pm (Libraries Extra)
Sunday - 11am to 5pm (Libraries Extra)

Thanks to 'Libraries Extra' Brighton is  bucking a national trend where access to libraries is shrinking due to budget cuts. Most Brighton & Hove community libraries are now operating ‘Libraries Extra’ scheme which provides:-
- a dedicated phone helpline
​- easy-to-use self-service kiosks to borrow and return items
- volunteer help on some days
​- constant monitoring by a security company with CCTV and live audio
- a dedicated intercom to the security company in case of emergency

To use Libraries Extra, members need to upgrade their membership card for free at their local library. They must bring two proofs of identity, one with an address, and agree to new terms and conditions of membership.

'Blue' Plaques - a web page

Brighton's blue plaques, of which there are more than 120 and increasing, now have their own webpage on the Council's 'Visit Brighton' website. 

The link is:-

http://www.visitbrighton.com/inspire-me/famous-people/blue-plaques.

On this page you can find a link to download a complete list of plaques grouped by area.

For a list of plaque names in alphabetical order see also:-
http://brightonbits.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-citys-commemorative.html.

On the website you can also find out how to nominate someone for a blue plaque and a link to download a nomination form.