Brighton origins

Our recent holiday took us to the Brighton area, where I wanted to ascertain if the properties that my forebears lived in were still in existence.


My great great grandfather, Thomas, b.1821, was a smith and worked at the foundry in St. Nicolas. This is very close to the heart of modern day Brighton. The site, a whole block, is now occupied by the District Letter Office and main Post Office. 


In 1851, he was living at 24 Spring Street with his wife Eliza Dimond and their first two children, Jane (b.1846) and Thomas (b.1849).

Number 24

Spring Street, Brighton (2012)

 In 1861, Thomas snr. was now living at 47 Spring Gardens, close to the foundry. He now had six children with him, Thomas, Charles (b.1852), William (b.1854), my great grandfather, Frederick (b.1857), Henry (b.1859) and David (b.1861). I presume Jane was in service and living-in elsewhere. This house no longer exists and is a parking space for one of the local businesses in "the Lanes".

Spring Gardens, Brighton (2012)

                         No. 47 would have stood at the bottom on the left hand side looking down


In 1871, they had moved just one street to 4 Over Street, still adjacent to the foundry. This is a large 3-4 storey terraced house and may well have been shared with a family called the Dickensons. Thomas jnr. had left home by now but the others remained 'at home', including my great grandfather.

Number 4

Over Street, Brighton (2012)

Just down the hill (to the east) from Over Street and the new Post Office lies a busy area of small shopkeepers and pubs, popular with modern day tourists. The area backs on to the Brighton Pavilion.

Pub art

Brighton Pavilion on a miserable day (May 2012)