History of Brighton

The original fishing village of Brighthelmstone can be traced back to at least Doomsday records and was a modest and quiet place up until the mid 18th century, when Dr Richard Russell, a Sussex man from nearby Lewes, proclaimed the merits of sea-bathing and seaside air, prescribing it to his patients.

The Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales came to visit in 1783 with Maria Fitzherbert, his Catholic paramour, and immediately fell in love with the town. He hired Henry Holland to build a royal pavilion for him and formally gave the town his stamp of approval, leading to an influx of Georgian elegance.

Having become Prince Regent in 1812, George assigned John Nash the task of extending and decorating the Royal Pavilion. He added Oriental notes in the shape of domes and minarets to craft a building as unconventional and extravagant as its owner. Today one of the towns most prominent landmarks, it has opened its doors to the public to explore its lavish, dreamlike interior. More refined examples of Regency Brighton can be found in the majestic squares of Hove and Kemp Town.

Industrialisation

Industrialisation brought the train and by the mid 19th century Brighton had developed into a fashionable destination for day trippers from London and weekend getaways. The majority of Brightons noteworthy buildings and large crescents were constructed during this period and the citys reputation as a destination for the well-heeled was also cemented. Brunswick Terrace and Square in Hove and Lewes Crescent in Kemp Town are some of the finest examples of these. In addition to the Pavilion, both the West Pier and Grand Hotel date back to this period of development.

Modern times

Like much of Britain under Thatcher, Brighton had become somewhat shabby by the 1980s. On 12 October 1984, the Grand Hotel was the setting of the infamous IRA bombing and assassination attempt on the entire British cabinet during the Conservative Party conference. Five were murdered and 30 wounded.

Over the past 10-15 years Brighton has undergone a transformation at an unbelievable pace and can compete with any London Borough in pretty much every area, with outstanding restaurants, bars and pubs, music and theatre.