BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX COAST | Full Summary of Projects

[gothicform]

visited st bartholomew's in brighton yesterday. it has the tallest nave in the UK!
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=6679

[Black Cat]

@ Gothic: Hope you had a good trip to Brighton, the city has some very fine Victorian churches, but none are quite like St Bartholomews in the North Laines. Thanks for your excellent photos.

[gothicform]

very impressive it was in terms of scale, but if you read what i wrote on SSN i found the articulation of the church fenestration slightly clumsy. i shall be returning though when we have better weather, it's only a few train stops away (i'm between brighton and eastbourne these days). although the inner scale is hugely impressive, i feel the poor ceiling and seemingly shallow windows detract from it - it could, and SHOULD, have the soar of a great french nave.

i checked out the new england quarter too. i've been a fan of the development from afar (see references in newspaper articles to it as an example of green living) and i wanted to see if it was as good as i thought it would be. i think the poor weather probably was a bit of a downer, i will go back and experience it in the summer sun. i was quite impressed though, there even seemed to be some life about it at ground level.

[makita09]

Originally Posted by Black Cat

@ Gothic: Hope you had a good trip to Brighton, the city has some very fine Victorian churches, but none are quite like St Bartholomews in the North Laines. Thanks for your excellent photos.

pedant - its North Laine - singular, it means north field.

The Lanes, is plural, and it means lanes.

There is no The Laine, and there are no North Lanes. It is The Lanes and North Laine.

/pedant

[gothicform]

here's the brighton belle, part of one brighton

[Black Cat]

Originally Posted by makita09

pedant - its North Laine - singular, it means north field.

The Lanes, is plural, and it means lanes.

There is no The Laine, and there are no North Lanes. It is The Lanes and North Laine.

/pedant

I plead guilty as charged! http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

In my experience many, if not most, locals refer to this area as the North Laines/lanes, or alternately Gardner Street, the main shopping street of this district. In my years of growing up in the town I have never heard anyone saying they are going to the North Laine to go shopping. The streets in this area are long and many are relatively narrow, so the area does have a lane type character, and if you know the area very well you will no doubt be aware that there are some actual lanes in this part of the town.

Anyway, its a great part of town with lots of interesting small stores and bric & brac etc. as well as some lovely architecture, if sometimes quircky.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Laine
"Due to its geographical relation to The Lanes, North Laine is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "North Lanes". However, a "laine" is a Sussex dialect term for an open tract of land at the base of the Downs,[2] which is derived from an Anglo-Saxon legal term for a kind of land holding. The space that is now North Laine was once occupied by five open farming plots of a type that seem to have been generally unchanged in style since the Middle Ages. By the 19th century, the farming plots (which had been for centuries subdivided into hides and furlongs) were encircled by major municipal roads for Brighton. With building developments across Brighton beginning to encroach upon the fields, the tracks that had divided the individual hide plots were normalized into streets, and the area was soon appropriated as a new settlement and market area".

[Black Cat]

Originally Posted by gothicform

very impressive it was in terms of scale, but if you read what i wrote on SSN i found the articulation of the church fenestration slightly clumsy. i shall be returning though when we have better weather, it's only a few train stops away (i'm between brighton and eastbourne these days). although the inner scale is hugely impressive, i feel the poor ceiling and seemingly shallow windows detract from it - it could, and SHOULD, have the soar of a great french nave.
.

St Bartholomews is quite an amazing and unique Victorian church for its scale - the highest nave in Britain save for Westminster Abbey, built by Revd Arthur Wagner, who built a sister church of similar scale internally located where Churchill Square is now located. Due to controversies about the impact of its height I understand this church (whose name I cannot remember) was sunk into the ground some 30 feet so the congregation had to descend a stair to enter the nave. This church was later converted into a brewery and ultimately was demolished in the 1950s in preparation for the shopping centre development.

[gothicform]

interesting stuff there about churchill square and the church. i'll dig more...

and here's the brighton skyline

[Black Cat]

The church on the site of Churchill Square was the Church of the Holy Resurrection, built by Arthur Wagner in 1876, architect Richard Herbert Carpenter.

"One of five churches founded by Henry Wagner's son Arthur, this had a short life: it closed in 1908 and was used by the West Street Brewery and (from 1912) for meat storage. The site is now hidden under the Churchill Square development of 1963–72 (rebuilt 1996–98). Richard Herbert Carpenter's red-brick Early English design made little impression from street level because the building was almost completely underground; it was commonly known as "The Underground Church".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ramMorrice2008

The Church of the Resurrection
The Church of the Resurrection, which was larger than S. Bartholomew’s, stood in Russell Place as a simple chapel of ease to St Paul's.

The adjacent Cannon Brewery objected to the proposed height of the building, so the architect, R.H. Carpenter, built it partly below ground. It was reached by thirty-two steps. The red-brick exterior was extremely plain, while the interior had a north aisle and a very tall nave.

The church was consecrated in 1878 but closed in about 1912, and it was then used as a meat market until it was demolished in 1968.

http://www.saintpaulschurch.org.uk/B...e_Resurrection

A historic postcard of the interior: http://www.saintpaulschurch.org.uk/B...s/image024.jpg

Also, with an exterior picture: http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum...ection1965.htm

Additional info: http://www.sussexparishchurches.org/content/view/78/34/

[RSWB]

CGI of the new Ibis hotel currently under construction on Queens Road.

[SF-02]

Queen's Road could really do with a complete re-working. Simpler, cleaner, and more consistent street furniture and paving the whole way down, and building frontages improved. It wouldn't cost a lot to improve the first impression of Brighton massively.

[gothicform]

Originally Posted by SF-02

Queen's Road could really do with a complete re-working. Simpler, cleaner, and more consistent street furniture and paving the whole way down, and building frontages improved. It wouldn't cost a lot to improve the first impression of Brighton massively.

queen's road is a hideous dump. you step off the train and walk down and immediately think "my god, what a shithole". if i were the council i'd pedestrianise a rather large part of it.

[Black Cat]

The north end of Queen's Road has always been a little scraggy, but I preferred it as it was in the 70s when it still had a few old commercial type buildings, not to mention Sergeant Yorke Casino:
http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/...jg_31_167.html

Its unfortunate that none of the replacement buildings on Queen's Road of the last couple of decades display any merit architecturally; some are awful simplistic pastiches of Brighton's characteristic late Georgian/early Victorian bay-window fronted architecture.

[Villa27]

I love Brighton but I wish the council would adopt a zero tolerance policy towards people dropping litter , (chewing gum in particular ) especially around the lanes and the wonderful seafront ! Birmingham have a much more rigorous approach in dealing with this problem and I wish Brighton's council would follow suit.

[delores]

There's so much potential in Brighton it really is a fantastic place but it's also badly looked after by a council who seem to have no vision or ability to make it into something so much better.

[Black Cat]

The council have done some good things in recent decades, such as restoring the Royal Pavilion and generally have taken measures to improve the Lanes and North Laines (The North Laine) areas, but what is unforgivable is the treatment of the seafront;
- destruction of the West Pier (owned by a non-profit that struggled for decades for support, the council should have recognized its value much earlier and helped it restoration in the 70s or 80s.
- loss of the beautiful theatre on the Palace Pier (this Pier is owned by the council and is leased - the theatre was dismantled at the request of lessors in the 1980s on the understanding that it would be reinstated - but never has been and the cast iron parts subsequently "went missing")
- loss of the Black Rock Pool (wrecked by the Marina construction, never properly repaired, allowed to deteriorate and then demolished);
- decline of the seafront arches (piecemeal repairs and conservation for some, but all needs some rejuvenation;
- decline/loss of some garden areas, loss of the paddling pool
- very poor maintenance of the cast iron elements of the seafront balustrade (even when it is repainted, the old paint is simply covered over - a proper job is never done)

Given that the seafront is so important to the life and economy of the city, is an incredible legacy from the 19th and early 20thC, the record of the council is appalling. Throwing millions at a new attraction such as the 360 tower is a sign of desperation, yet the funds never seem to be there for the rest of the seafront.

I haven't even mentioned the loss of the Ice Rink, now largely forgotten, but one of the worst decisions the council ever made.

Despite the deteriorated state of the seafront, the city has many great qualities, but focus should be given to reinstating and maintaining the city's seafront heritage properly, complete with two very fine Victorian/Edwardian era piers, and have a wonderful large open air pool once more at Black Rock.

If we are going to have a high tower, rather than the 360 tower, the focus should be back on a very high rise replacement for the Brighton Centre incorporating a conference centre and other facilities at the base, a viewing tower at top, and a hotel and/or residences inbetween, perhaps akin to the Blackpool Tower in some ways. I would love to see a competition for such a project.

[delores]

Your absolutely right, Brighton's seafront is unique yet ever since I have been there looks like it's falling apart, there should be an ongoing restoration fund for the seafront and it should be maintained too not just left to rot. The paving should be of a much higher quality and buildings along the seafront restored where possible.
The 360 tower should be forced to fund the rebuilding of the west pier, It is scandalous that this amazing attraction has been left to become a ruin. To me this is just another reason why Brighton is often seen as tatty and downtrodden. If they want money or need it why have there been no applications to the heritage lottery fund? I'm sure if there was a good business case something could be done to restore Brighton's heritage and attractiveness.

[RSWB]

A new eco-friendly office building designed by Conran & Partners is to be built on the site of the Astoria cinema on Gloucester Place.

[RSWB]

Work has commenced on the new Western road frontage of Churchill Square shopping centre (which will be carried out in phases). Along with the new facade there will be internal alterations to the centre and a flagship Topman/Topshop taking up the space formerly occupied by Barratts shoes, Krisp, Lego and Blue inc.

Whilst it's not a magnificent change it will certainly go some way towards addressing the rather disproportionate low level scale of the centre (when compared to its surroundings) by increasing the height of the centre along Western road and creating double height glass frontages to give a more large-scale appearance.

[RSWB]

From the Argus (14/02/2013)

'Greater Brighton' sees councils join together to save money

1:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway


A “Greater Brighton” has been formed to rival London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Politicians representing 500,000 people from Goring to Cuckmere Haven have joined forces for the first time to attract funding of hundreds of millions of pounds.

It comes as part of a bid by Brighton and Hove, Lewes, Adur and Worthing councils to the Government for devolved powers to “kick start” the economy across the south coast.

Bosses at Brighton and Hove City Council said even if the City Deal bid is unsuccessful, “Greater Brighton” will continue to represent the region on a national and international stage.


This would put it on a par with cities like London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham when competing for investment.

But council leaders denied that working together meant they were giving up individual identities.

City council leader Jason Kitcat told The Argus: “This is first and foremost about influencing government and business.

“Joining together pushes us beyond that valuable 500,000 population mark which opens up possibilities on the funding front. It’s not about losing any identity.

“If you look at London and Manchester, they have a regional identity but there is also a local one.

“It’s about recognising that the area is all connected.”

Up-and-coming

But Adur district councillor Liza McKinney said: “Brighton has always had its eyes on us. I think their argument centres on the port and they have already nabbed the airport off us.

"I think it would be pitchforks and riots in the street if they joined Shoreham and Southwick with Brighton.”

The Greater Brighton region was one of just 20 up-and-coming areas invited to submit bids in the second stage of the City Deal.

The councils joined the city’s two universities, business leaders and key companies, such as E.ON, American Express, Ricardo, and EDF, to draw up a plan. It is focused on boosting “eco tech” industries.

The proposals include reviving stalled redevelopment sites such as Newhaven Port, Preston Barracks and Shoreham Harbour.

Regional powerhouse

Bosses also want to have flexibility to set local tax rates and remove red tape to help smaller and medium sized businesses.

The exact powers will be decided after negotiations with Whitehall officials and ministers.

Coun Kitcat said: “We are bidding to cement our position as a regional powerhouse for digital and eco-tech businesses whilst ensuring key development projects can regain momentum.”

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin said he had been working with Brighton and Hove for a number of years. He added: “We will do anything that will bring money into our communities. But it certainly will not affect our identity.”

Raising profile

Lewes District Council leader James Page said: “There’s no question of losing identity. We’re bringing quite a substantial amount to the party. There are examples, such as the ultrafast broadband bid, where Brighton has missed out due to population levels.

“If we can help out Brighton and raise the regional profile then so be it.”

Tony Mernagh, of Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “We have to be able to be bigger than just Brighton in order to be attractive to both industries and central government.”

City bosses believe an announcement on whether Greater Brighton will reach the next stage will be made this week.

A spokeswoman for the Cabinet Office said no date had yet been set.

If successful in the initial stage, a final bid will be submitted to the Government by June 2013.