The etymology of the name Brighton stems from Beorhthelm’s farmstead and found its way into more common usage in the 19th century. But the history of the famous city dates back to ancient times.
Digging far back into history, palaeontologists and archaeologists have unlocked secrets from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Celtic Iron Age in the area. The Romans built there, too.
This south coast city, located in Sussex, has undergone many identity changes during its time. It has been an important fishing village, is mentioned in the Domesday Book and has been knocked down by storms, only to be rebuilt stronger.
Leafing through the history of Brighton uncovers some fantastic nostalgia.
The Brighton seafront
If there is one focal point of the area’s history, then it, of course, has to be the seafront. It’s what most people think of at the mention of Brighton, with its long beach and piers packed with entertainment.
People flock to the south coast to explore the piers, pubs and restaurants. They dip into the old-style arcades and chill on the beach. It’s a hotspot for sport and nightlife, and Brighton is also a casino city.
Brightonians and visitors can easily still see evidence of classic eras in structures like the Western Pavillion and the Regency Town House, but they are blended with land-based casinos and gastropubs, big nods to the modernity of Brighton.
But how did the town become so popular?
In the 18th century, Brighton’s seafront became an attraction for wellness. Dr Richard Russell started a trend around the use of seawater, not only for bathing but also for drinking. This was backed in later years by other doctors, and the Brighton Baths were constructed in 1769.
This wellness hotspot was a big new focus for Brighton. It started to put the area on the map as people came to stay and heal. Royalty also started visiting and staying in places such as Marlborough House, and that was the stamp of approval that Brighton was fashionable.
King George V, who liked to show off his spending power, had one of Brighton’s most famous landmarks erected, the Oriental-styled Royal Pavilion, which was completed in 1823. The famous Georgian terraced-style housing also started to be developed further.
The rise of the hotels
Developers were keen to push this image of Brighton as a tourist spot, and iconic hotels such as the Grand Hotel and the Bedford Hotel went up along the seafront in the 19th century.
The Chain Pier, initially a landing point for visitors from across the Channel, was opened in 1823, and in 1896, met its fate as a storm rolled in and destroyed it. A model of the Royal Suspension Chain Pier can be seen at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.
The remains of the pier were set to be removed for the building of the new Palace Pier, but nature played its hand, and with another storm, washed away the remains.
Brighton’s Palace Pier was designed by Richard St George Moore, and construction on it began in 1881. It took a lot longer than it was projected to, and even suffered damage from the debris from the Chain Pier when that second storm hit its remains. The Palace Pier finally opened in 1899 and has been the star in pictures and postcards of the Brighton seafront.
The rapid growth and expansion of the railways strengthened Brighton’s popularity, as day trippers from London arrived. The Royal Pavilion was used as a hospital during the first world war, and in the post-war Georgian era, Brighton remained a popular destination for the rich.
It still is a major British tourist destination, thanks to investment, infrastructure and some great architecture. From the University of Brighton to the Brighton Marina, St Peter’s Church yand of course the Palace Pier, the former market town is now home to more than 275,000 people.
Going strong
Brighton has been fashionable for centuries, having very strong connections to the royals, which naturally strengthened its standing. That reached its peak at the turn of the century, when Queen Elizabeth II granted Brighton and Hove city status.
But it still retains that town feeling that made it what it is. Brighton is beautifully layered with so much amazing history, evidenced in its seafront, its piers and the long stretch of King’s Road that borders it.
