INTRODUCTION TO BRIGHTON EAST SUSSEX U.K.

BRIGHTON & IT'S DEVELOPMENT PART 1.

At the start of the 16th century the upper town was on a low cliff to the west of the Stein and consisted of three main street's, arranged around three side of the Hempshares, a rectangular space facing the sea.

A market place stood at the cliff's edge, and buildings nearby formed the start of Ship Street and Black Lion Street, ( FIG. 1 & 2.) there were cliff paths down to the unique broad beach, which had a collection of cottages, and narrow wooden net houses, Herring house and Capstans, which were used to haul the boats out of the sea and onto the beach.

The rest of the Parish consisted of farmlands which surrounded the town, the land was divided into five fields known as 'laines' which were sub - divided into strips called 'Paul pieces'.

When Brighton spread outside the town boundaries, land was sold off in strips to Developers, and the layout of the field system came to be imprinted on the street pattern of modern Brighton.

The old track ways through the fields became the main streets, such as Edward and St. James's Street, ( FIG3 & 4 ), and houses were built along the strips.

As deep sea fishing became more important, during the 10th century, the Town's population increased. This was a period of rapid population growth, as many people migrated to the Town's like Brighton in search of employment, as demand for accommodation grew, so existing property owners, built new cottages on vacant land within the Town.

During the reign of Elizabeth the 1st, Brighton's importance as a fishing Town grew considerably. Brighton's fishermen specialized in Herring, fleets of boats sailed around the East coast during September and October. They were also coastal traders, sailing to Newcastle with the profits from their fishing, to buy coal which they sold along the South coast.

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