Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/382

Rh BBIOHTON. 372 BRIGHTON. erection in 1784 of the magnificent palace, known as the I '.n ilion, tor the Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.) nned the success of the undertaking. Brighton, which stands in the first rank among English water- ing-placce, and fourth amongst towns, in situated on ilio coast of the English Channel, at the foot of the South Downs, nearly midway between the promon- s of Beach y I! :>ca Bill. The town stretches about 3 miles along the coast, the eastern part occupying the summit of the lofty chalk cliffs, and the western part low ground sloping gently upwards from the sea. The cliff is now defended from encroachments of the sea by a fine wall of immense strength and admi- rable construction, erected at a cost of 100,000. It extends from Kemp Town, at the east end of the parish, to the Chain Pier, and is about 60 foot in height and 23 feet in breadth at the base. The pier, a prominent fea- ture of the town, was erected in 1822, from designs by Captain Brown, E.N., at a cost of 30,000. It is a noble structure, consisting of four spans of equal length, sus- pended by eight massive chains carried over iron towers, which rest upon foundations of piles driven deep into the rock. The pier is 1,137 feet in length and about 11 feet broad. At its head is a transverse platform 60 feet long and 20 broad, paved with granite, and resting on piles. The pier is approached by an esplanade, 1,200
 * i length, which connects it with the ornamental

ground called the Steyne. The Marine-parade, extending westward from Kemp Town for about a mile, forms a fine promenade with extensive prospects. It is united with the gardens and lawn in the centre of the grand crescent by a tunnel. This crescent is one of the prin- cipal features of Brighton, presenting a frontage towards the sea of 1,540 feet. The opening between the wings is 840 feet, and each of the wings 360 feet. The glacis is terminated by an esplanade, commanding a beautiful and sheltered prospect of the ocean. The Pavilion, situated next the west end of the Steyne, is a structure of singular and fanciful stylo, something like the Krem- lin at Moscow. It is surmounted by many cupolas, pin- nacles, and minarets. The stables are in the Moorish style, and are crowned with a dome of glass. The front of the building is about 200 feet in length. Since 1849 it has belonged to the corporation, who purchased it for 53,000, secured upon the local rates, and converted it, with the extensive grounds attached to it, into a place of public recreation. The Steyne, formerly an open area chiefly used by fishermen for drying their nets, is tastefully laid out and planted, and is the site of many handsome residences. It contains a bronze statue of George IV. by Chantroy, set up in 1827, and the Vic- toria fountain, erected in 1846. Brighton consists of about 400 streets, extending nearly 3 miles from east to west, and contains many fine squares, terraces, and ranges of handsome houses, principally erected since the commencement of the present century, during which the growth of the town has been rapid and immense. Among them may be named the Royal- crescent, the Marine and Pavilion parades, Brunswick square and terrace, Hanover-crescent, &c. Kemp Town, in the east, named after its founder, Thomas Bead Kemp, was commenced in 1821, and stood at first apart from the town. There are barracks for cavalry and infantry, and the town is protected by a battery of six guns. A new townhall, with three double porticos, was built about 1830, at a cost of 50,000. It stands in Market-street, near the middle of the town, and in- cludes a council-room, court-room, police offices, and many other apartments. The great room is frequently used for public meetings, and the upper story contains a handsome assembly-room. The market-house, opposite the townhall, is built in the form of the letter T, and is open daily for the sale of meat, poultry, fish, and vege- tables. There are two banks : the one situated in North- street is called the- Brighton Union Bank, and draws on Loyd and Co., Lothbnry ; the other is a branch of the Ixindon and County Bank, and is situated in Pavilinn- buildings. The wants of invalids and the comfort of visitors are provided for by baths of various descriptions, numerous hotels and lodging-houses (some of which are establishments of immense extent ami t) gancv), literary inM.itut.ious, mechanics' ii N of iirt, reading-roon : libraries. But perhaps the i museum, which occupies a nuble suite of i....n.. i' north wing of the Pavilion, ami was op. Owen on the 6th of November, 1861. I lions of antiquities, natural history, geology, &c. The theatre is situated in New-street, during the season for dramatic perfon July and March. There are three assembly n the Old Ship Hotel, another at the townhall, on J tin i Newburgh Rooms, Cannon-place. The park, wli entered through a Human arch, i - of the Downs, in the direction of Rock Gardi n i. It id agreeably laid out with flower-beds and shrubs, proaeafcjj ing a contrast to the barren downs which rise above it. Here is the German Spa and pump-rooin, open from March to October, where most of the continental v .. are manufactured, and the famous aeltzer-u town is lighted with gas, and well sup. ..it' r raised from wells by powerful engines, situated in fltfl Lewes-road, in the parish of Preston, where the reservoir! and works cover 15 acres. The mains and si i are said to exceed 100 miles in length ; but the rate of supply was high and unsatisfactory until the sinking qB the 'Warren Farm Well," which' to the depth of l,'2So feet, at which dipth current of pure water was reached on the 16th of .March, 1862, and gave occasion for a general i< . by the ringing of the church bells. is almost exclusively connected with its character as watering-place. Its communication with the metropolis which, previously to the introduction of railways, em3 ployed above 30 coaches daily, has be> n i an > increased to on enormous extent. The railway terminal, situated at the north end of Quit ;. i >p;uious pile of buildings, with a colonnade and an illumin&Utt clock. It has recently been much enlarged, ai . with its offices and work-sheds, covers 20 acn s, giving regular employment to above 1,000 men in tin Wilding and repairing of rolling-stock, and 150 men in tho traffic department. The railway it> three lines, radiating from Brighton ;. mon centre, and communicating with London, 1' and Hastings. The main line to the metro|>olis wai completed in 1841, and passes by Pangdean, II a ward's Heath, Horsley, i roydon, and Sydenham, k. London Bridge; or by tho Victoria Junction to the magnificent station in Victoria-street, V. which was opened for traffic in 1861. It is carried through several tunnels, the principal of which art Clayton and Mcrsnuin tunnels, tho former above a mile and a quarter, the latter above a mile in length. The others are Patcham tunnel, near Brighton, a ipm a mile long, and that near Ha. ward's II. .:K. ."J7 yards. Branch lines run from Three Bridges to Hors'iam and Potworth on th. . and East Grinstead on the K ; and from Hayward's Heath to Lewes ami N". ' ''.hers run to the CryMal Palace, Wimbledon, Epsom and Lcutli isses i from Brighton by Shor< h.un, Worthing, Arundcl, and) Chichester, to Portsmouth, a diskmr. <>t i"i mil. - the eastern by Lewes, Polegate, and Bexhill, to Hu.-' a distance of 26 miles. Kr. .m I'olegate short bra run northward to Huilsham, and southward to i bourne. This railway is on the narrow guage, but is so well managed that it has rendered Brighton th" most! accessible, as it is the most fashionable, of sea-bu places, having a magnificent sea-frontage of ' to be surpassed in grandeur by any .it. rimr-p! Europe. Tho numl>>T of visitors during the summer ir said to amount to above 20,00(1 weekly; excursion train*) from London runnini; at ites. It is said) that tho lodging-houses in Brighton are capable ol accommodating 30,000 visitors. The- traffic through Brighton to Paris, at one time considerable, has fallerj off, tho routes by Folkstone and Newhavuu U-inj