THE EARLY DAYS

  FIG 1. SHIP STREET

The History Of Brighton Before The 16th 
Century Is Little Known. That Which Is 
Known, Suggests That It Was A Small 
Agricultural And Fishing Village Called 
Brighthelmstone, Larger Than Preston Or 
Patcham, But Totally Eclipsed By Lewes 
11 Miles To The Northeast.

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.

                                                                                                          

FIG 2. BLACK LION STREET

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.

FIG 3. EDWARD STREET

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.

                                                     

FIG 4. ST. JAMES'S STREET

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 Specialised 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. NEXT