102-473: The Margate Caves are a tourist attraction in Margate . The caves were originally dug as a chalk mine in the area between Margate and Cliftonville . The caves were opened as Victorian seaside attraction in 1863 under the fictional name The Vortigern Caves. There walls were decorated with gaudy murals (or soldiers and pirates). The cave's popularity continued into the 20th century but were closed in 2004. After
204-408: A Time Ball mechanism, mounted on a mast atop the tower, which was raised a few minutes before 1 pm each day and dropped at precisely 1 pm, thereby allowing residents, visitors and ships to know the exact time. This was, of course, in the days before wireless transmission of time signals. The tower was Grade II listed in 1973. The Time Ball fell out of use many years ago, but following
306-526: A temperate climate: its Köppen climate classification is Cfb . It is characterised by cool summers and cool winters with frequent cloudy and rainy periods. Average rainfall levels increase as the land rises: the 1958–1990 mean was 740 mm (29 in) on the seafront and about 1,000 mm (39 in) at the top of the South Downs above Brighton. Storms caused serious damage in 1703 , 1806, 1824, 1836, 1848, 1850, 1896, 1910 and 1987 . Heavy snow
408-550: A Victorian jetty which was largely destroyed by a storm in 1978 . In the late 18th century, the town was chosen by the physician John Coakley Lettsom as the place in which he would build the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital , which was the first of its kind in Britain. Like Brighton and Southend , Margate was infamous for gang violence between mods and rockers in the 1960s, and mods and skinheads in
510-695: A classic British Arnold Palmer seaside mini golf course. It closed and was illegally converted to a skate park, which was later shut down by the council amid Safety Concerns. There are two notable theatres, the Theatre Royal in Addington Street ;– the second oldest theatre in the country – and the Tom Thumb Theatre , the second smallest in the country, in addition to the Winter Gardens. The Theatre Royal
612-663: A common Old English name associated with villages elsewhere in England. The tūn element is common in Sussex, especially on the coast, although it occurs infrequently in combination with a personal name. An alternative etymology taken from the Old English words for "stony valley" is sometimes given but has less acceptance. Brighthelm gives its name to, among other things, a church, a pub in Brighton, some halls of residence at
714-534: A day and fresh water springs rise from the beach within the walls. The former chairman of the Margate Civic Society, John Crofts, had a plan to develop a centre that would explore and show the link that the painter J. M. W. Turner shared with Margate. Turner described the Thanet skies as the "loveliest in all Europe." In 1994 Crofts became increasingly determined to create such a gallery and in 1998
816-544: A high amount of sunshine; a nickname for the town is "Sunny Margate". Rainfall is quite low, making Margate one of the driest towns in Kent. At the 2001 UK census : Margate had a population of 40,386. The urban area had a population of 46,980 at the 2001 census, increasing to 49,709 at the 2011 census (5.8% increase). The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white , 1.0% mixed race , 0.5% black , 0.8% Asian , 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity. The place of birth of residents
918-554: A lengthy campaign by the "Save Dreamland Campaign" group. Its Scenic Railway roller coaster is the second oldest of its type in the world, and is now Grade II* Listed . It is one of only two early-20th century scenic railways still remaining in the UK; the only other surviving UK scenic railway is in Great Yarmouth and was built in 1932. The Margate roller coaster is an ACE Coaster Classic. Cliftonville , next to Margate, had
1020-646: A local campaign starting in 2011 the caves were once again opened to visitors in 2019, with a newly built centre with a cafe, shop and exhibition space. Margate 51°23′06″N 1°23′02″E / 51.3850°N 1.3838°E / 51.3850; 1.3838 Margate is a seaside town in the Thanet District of Kent , England. It is located on the north coast of Kent and covers an area of 2 miles (3 kilometres) long, 16 miles (26 kilometres) north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville , Garlinge , Palm Bay and Westbrook . In 2011 it had
1122-472: A mix of businesses dominated by cafés, bars, theatres, and over 400 shops independent and avant-garde shops including an erotic shop and indoor flea markets. The Lanes which is characterised by a labyrinth of narrow alleyways form a retail, leisure and residential area near the seafront, following the street pattern of the original fishing village. The Lanes contain predominantly clothing stores, jewellers, antique shops, restaurants and pubs. Churchill Square
SECTION 10
#17327807301871224-640: A pool gate or gap in a cliff where pools of water are found, often allowing swimmers to jump in. The cliffs of the Isle of Thanet are composed of chalk, a fossil-bearing rock. Margate gives its name to the relatively unknown yet influential Battle of Margate , starting on 24 March 1387, it was the last major naval battle of the Caroline War phase of the Hundred Years' War . Despite the battle being named after Margate, very little actually happened near
1326-639: A population of 61,223. The town has been a significant maritime port since the Middle Ages, and was associated with Dover as part of the Cinque Ports in the 15th century. It became a popular place for holidaymakers in the 18th century, owing to easy access via the Thames, and later with the arrival of the railways. Popular landmarks include the sandy beaches and the Dreamland amusement park . During
1428-491: A pun on Smith's description, became popular when the Brighton trunk murders came to the public's attention in the 1930s. The mid-19th-century nickname "School Town" referred to the remarkable number of boarding, charity and church schools in the town at the time. The first settlement in the Brighton area was Whitehawk Camp , a Neolithic encampment on Whitehawk Hill which has been dated to between 3500 BC and 2700 BC. It
1530-687: A purported cure for illnesses. In the Georgian era , Brighton developed as a highly fashionable seaside resort, encouraged by the patronage of the Prince Regent, later King George IV , who spent much time in the town and constructed the Royal Pavilion in the Regency era . Brighton continued to grow as a major centre of tourism following the arrival of the railways in 1841, becoming a popular destination for day-trippers from London. Many of
1632-414: A resident population of about 277,965 and the wider Brighton and Hove conurbation has a population of 474,485 (2011 census). Brighton's location has made it a popular destination for tourists, renowned for its diverse communities, shopping areas, large and vibrant cultural, music and arts scene, and its large LGBT population , leading to its recognition as the "unofficial gay capital of the UK" and as of
1734-487: A suggestion by Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI, a former Margate resident, Margate Civic Society raised funds to have the time ball repaired and brought back into use. This was successful, and a civic ceremony celebrated the restoration on 24 May 2014, Queen Victoria's birthday and the 125th anniversary of the Clock Tower's official opening. This was short lived though and unfortunately, the time ball stopped working again with
1836-543: Is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the city of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex , England. It is located 47 miles (76 km) south of London . Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age , Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The ancient settlement of "Brighthelmstone" was documented in the Domesday Book (1086). The town's importance grew in
1938-422: Is a shopping centre with a floor space of 470,000 sq ft (44,000 m ) and over 80 shops, several restaurants and 1,600 car-parking spaces. It was built in the 1960s as an open-air, multi-level pedestrianised shopping centre, but was rebuilt and enlarged in 1998 and is no longer open-air. Further retail areas include Western Road and London Road, the latter of which is undergoing extensive regeneration in
2040-606: Is a sort of multipurpose space. Coffee, food, yoga, a record store. It does everything,” Dom Bridges of skincare brand Haeckels, told New Statesman in 2017, adding that many were cropping up in Cliftonville , where locals wouldn't buy. There is a 16th-century, two-storey timber-framed Tudor house built on a flint plinth in King Street. Margate's Jubilee Clock Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, although not completed until 1889. It had
2142-668: Is more concentrated in some areas. The highest concentration is in the Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, and Hollingbury areas but is also found around the St. James's Street and Eastern Road areas. A 2015 government statistic showed that the area around Brighton's Palace Pier roundabout and to the east towards St James's Street in Kemptown is the seventh-worst living environment in England. On 19 January 2017, Brighton council announced they were looking at certain initiatives to try to alleviate some of
SECTION 20
#17327807301872244-455: Is one of six causewayed enclosures in Sussex. Archaeologists have only partially explored it, but have found numerous burial mounds , tools and bones, suggesting it was a place of some importance. There was also a Bronze Age settlement at Coldean . Brythonic Celts arrived in Britain in the 7th century BC, and an important Brythonic settlement existed at Hollingbury Castle on Hollingbury Hill. This Celtic Iron Age encampment dates from
2346-433: Is one of the largest such facilities in Brighton; in its early days about 6,000 people were employed, principally in industrial jobs, but in the late 20th and early 21st centuries its focus has switched to commercial and retail development, limiting Brighton's potential for industrial growth. Brighton Corporation laid out the estate on 18 acres (7.3 ha) of land around Crowhurst Road in 1950. By 1956, large-scale employment
2448-588: Is rare, but particularly severe falls were recorded in 1881 and 1967. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Brighton was in the Rape of Lewes and the Hundred of Welesmere. The new Hundred of Whalesbone, which covered the parishes of Brighton, West Blatchington , Preston and Hove , was formed in 1296. Parishes moved in and out several times, and by 1801 only Brighton and West Blatchington were included in
2550-504: Is still not in commercial use: it houses some administrative departments of the University of Brighton . It was Brighton's first ultramodern commercial property and was intended for mixed commercial and industrial use, but its completion coincided with a slump in demand for high-tech premises. Brighton is well known for its high number of independent shops, which add to the character of the city. Walking from Brighton station towards
2652-408: Is still widely used, and "Old Ocean's Bauble". Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray referred to "Doctor Brighton", calling the town "one of the best of Physicians". "London-by-the-Sea" is well-known, reflecting Brighton's popularity with Londoners as a day-trip resort, a commuter dormitory and a desirable destination for those wanting to move out of the metropolis. "The Queen of Slaughtering Places",
2754-460: Is the largest area, has an estimated resident population of 277,965 residents. It is ranked the 59th most populous district in England. Compared to the national average, Brighton has fewer children and old residents but a large proportion of adults aged 20–44. Brighton has long had an LGBT-friendly history . In a 2014 estimate, 11–15 per cent of the city's population aged 16 or over is thought to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. The city also had
2856-460: Is tied closely to the sea and it has a proud maritime tradition. Margate was a "limb" of Dover in the ancient confederation of the Cinque ports . It was added to the confederation in the 15th century. Margate has been a leading seaside resort for at least 250 years. Like its neighbour Ramsgate , it has been a traditional holiday destination for Londoners drawn to its sandy beaches. Margate had
2958-512: The High Speed 1 line. Peak hour trains run to St Pancras, via Chatham and Gravesend , and to London Cannon Street . The station, and all trains that serve it, are operated by Southeastern . Most bus services in Margate are operated by Stagecoach South East ; with routes linking the town with Canterbury, Herne Bay and Ramsgate and many more. Frequent Loop buses, ensure that travel around
3060-520: The Middle Ages as the Old Town developed, but it languished in the early modern period , affected by foreign attacks, storms, a suffering economy and a declining population. Brighton began to attract more visitors following improved road transport to London and becoming a boarding point for boats travelling to France . The town also developed in popularity as a health resort for sea bathing as
3162-458: The Royal Pavilion showing "quite a pool of water across the Steyne". Despite 16th-century writer Andrew Boorde 's claim that "Bryght-Hempston [is] among the noble ports and havens of the realm", Brighton never developed as a significant port: rather, it was considered as part of Shoreham . Nevertheless, the descriptions "Port of Brighthelmston" or "Port of Brighton" were sometimes used between
Margate Caves - Misplaced Pages Continue
3264-541: The University of Sussex . Writing in 1950, historian Antony Dale noted that unnamed antiquaries had suggested an Old English word "brist" or "briz", meaning "divided", could have contributed the first part of the historic name Brighthelmstone. The town was originally split in half by the Wellesbourne , a winterbourne which was culverted and buried in the 18th century. Brighton has several nicknames. Poet Horace Smith called it "The Queen of Watering Places", which
3366-672: The Wellesbourne (or Whalesbone), which flowed from the South Downs above Patcham . This emptied into the English Channel at the beach near the East Cliff, forming "the natural drainage point for Brighton". Behind the estuary was a stagnant pond called the Pool or Poole, so named since the medieval era. This was built over with houses and shops from 1793, when the Wellesbourne was culverted to prevent flooding, and only
3468-709: The West Pier (1866), and the Palace Pier (1899). Prior to either of these structures, the famous Royal Suspension Chain Pier was built, to the designs of Captain Samuel Brown. It lasted from 1823 to 1896 and is featured in paintings by both Turner and Constable . Due to the boundary changes, the land area of Brighton expanded from 1,640 acres (7 km ) in 1854 to 14,347 acres (58 km ) in 1952. New housing estates were established in
3570-410: The 14th and 19th centuries, as for example in 1766 when its notional limits were defined for customs purposes. The East Cliff runs for several miles from Pool Valley towards Rottingdean and Saltdean , reaching 24 m (80 ft) above sea level. The soil beneath it, a mixture of alluvium and clay with some flint and chalk rubble , has experienced erosion for many years. The cliff itself, like
3672-441: The 18th century. It is home to several major companies, some of which employ thousands of people locally; as a retail centre it is of regional importance; creative, digital and new media businesses are increasingly significant; and, although Brighton was never a major industrial centre, its railway works contributed to Britain's rail industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in the manufacture of steam locomotives. Since
3774-416: The 1980s. The Turner Contemporary art gallery occupies a prominent position next to the harbour, and was constructed there with the specific aim of revitalising the town. The Thanet Offshore Wind Project , completed in 2010, is visible from the seafront. Margate is an unparished area with charter trustees . In 2021 there was a proposal to convert the unparished area into a civil parish and replace
3876-487: The 1990s has been referred to as "Silicon Beach". By 2007, over 250 new media business had been founded in Brighton. Brandwatch is a social media monitoring company based in offices near Brighton station. Computer game design company Black Rock Studio was founded in 1998 and was taken over by Disney Interactive Studios , who closed it down in 2011. The Gamer Network, whose portfolio of websites relating to computer gaming (including Eurogamer ) and creative industries
3978-399: The 1990s, as Brighton regained the fashionable status it held in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1997, the town of Brighton and its neighbouring town Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove , which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium celebrations in 2000. As of 2017 , the Brighton and Hove district, of which Brighton
4080-491: The 1990s. Two large headquarters buildings were vacated in quick succession when British Bookshops left in March 2011 and The Argus newspaper moved out of its headquarters in 2012—although the Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company signed a contract to move its 1,250 employees into the latter building. Brighton has a high density of businesses involved in the media sector, particularly digital or " new media ", and since
4182-685: The 1st century AD, the Romans built a number of villas in Brighton and Romano-British Brythonic Celts formed farming settlements in the area. After the Romans left in the early 4th century AD, the Brighton area returned to the control of the native Celts. Anglo-Saxons then invaded in the late 5th century AD, and the region became part of the Kingdom of Sussex , founded in 477 AD by king Ælle . Anthony Seldon identified five phases of development in pre-20th century Brighton. The village of Bristelmestune
Margate Caves - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-454: The 2021 census, 10.7% of the population of Brighton and Hove over the age of 18 identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, the highest percentage in the entire UK. Brighton has been called the UK's " hippest city" and "the happiest place to live in the UK". The earliest attestation of Brighton's name is Bristelmestune , recorded in the Domesday Book . Although more than 40 variations have been documented, Brighthelmstone (or Brighthelmston )
4386-431: The 3rd or 2nd century BC and is circumscribed by substantial earthwork outer walls with a diameter of c. 1,000 ft (300 m). Cissbury Ring , roughly 10 mi (16 km) from Hollingbury, is suggested to have been the tribal "capital". Later, there was a Roman villa at Preston Village , a Roman road from London ran nearby, and much physical evidence of Roman occupation has been discovered locally. From
4488-577: The Brighton Town Commissioners (of which he was a member). Brighton Corporation spent £40,000 to extend it in 1897–99 to the Classical design of Brighton Borough Surveyor Francis May. Despite this, the building was too small for municipal requirements by the mid-20th century, and extra council buildings were built in locations throughout Brighton Borough Council's existence: the most recent, Bartholomew House and Priory House next to
4590-480: The Hundred. In its original form, Brighton parish covered about 1,640 acres (660 ha) between the English Channel, Hove, Preston, Ovingdean and Rottingdean . The borough (but not the civil parish) was first extended from 31 October 1873, when 905 acres (366 ha) was annexed from Preston civil parish. In 1894 the part outside the borough became Preston Rural civil parish and Preston civil parish continued in
4692-701: The Leader of Kent County Council met a number of people from the art world to discuss the idea. They hoped that the centre would regenerate the once-thriving town of Margate and offer an alternative to Margate's traditional tourist trade. In the late 1990s, the County Council offered to fund the building of the Turner Gallery. Additional funding was contributed by the Arts Council England and South East England Development Agency . In 2001
4794-440: The Old Town (the present Lanes area) were well developed and the town grew quickly: the population rose from c. 1,500 in 1600 to c. 4,000 in the 1640s. By that time Brighton was Sussex's most populous and important town. Over the next few decades, though, events severely affected its local and national standing, such that by 1730 "it was a forlorn town decidedly down on its luck". More foreign attacks, storms (especially
4896-480: The Turner Contemporary was officially established. The view from the gallery is similar to that seen by Turner from his lodging house. To reduce the cost, Thanet District Council chose a new site inland from the harbour wall. The scheme was supported by the artist Tracey Emin , who was brought up in Margate. The building itself was designed by David Chipperfield Architects after the abandonment of
4998-571: The UK's most "Godless" city. The largest religion is Christianity , with 43 per cent reporting an affiliation. The second-largest religion is Islam , with 2.2 per cent, which is lower than the national average. As part of the Jedi census phenomenon in 2001, 2.6 per cent claimed their religion was 'Jedi Knight', the largest percentage in the country. In December 2021, new data released by Shelter , revealed that "one in 78 people in Brighton and Hove are homeless". The report also records
5100-481: The acquired areas, including Moulsecoomb , Bevendean , Coldean and Whitehawk . The major expansion of 1928 also incorporated the villages of Patcham , Ovingdean and Rottingdean , and much council housing was built in parts of Woodingdean after the Second World War. By the 1970s, the town had acquired a reputation as a retirement destination, with an elderly population. However, this was reversed in
5202-579: The amalgamation of Brighton and Hove, economic and retail data has been produced at a citywide level only. Examples of statistics include: Brighton and Hove's tourism industry contributes £380m to the economy and employs 20,000 people directly or indirectly; the city has 9,600 registered companies; and a 2001 report identified it as one of five "supercities for the future". In the past couple of years tourists to Brighton and Hove have fallen in numbers. Over 2016, day visitors to Brighton and Hove dropped by an average of 2,400 per day. In August 2017, new figures for
SECTION 50
#17327807301875304-416: The areas added to the borough became part of Brighton civil parish. From 1 April 1952, more of Falmer and part of the adjacent Stanmer parish were added; 20 years later, land and marine territory associated with the new Brighton Marina development also became part of Brighton. Except for a small addition of rural land in 1993 (from Pyecombe parish), Brighton Borough's boundaries remained the same until it
5406-469: The beach at the bottom of the valley, which was partly protected from erosion by an underwater sandbar . Changes in sea level affected the foreshore several times: 40 acres (16 ha) disappeared in the first half of the 14th century, and the Great Storm of 1703 caused widespread destruction. The first sea defences were erected in 1723, and a century later a long sea wall was built. Brighton has
5508-499: The borough from Patcham parish in 1923 for the construction of the Moulsecoomb estate, and in 1928 the ward was divided into four: Hollingbury, Moulsecoomb, Preston and Preston Park. Elm Grove and Patcham wards were created at the same time, bringing the total to 19. There were further changes in 1952, 1955 and 1983, at which time there were 16 wards. This situation continued until 1 April 1997, when Hove and its wards became part of
5610-646: The borough. On 1 April 1889 Brighton became a county borough. On 1 October 1923, 94 acres (38 ha) were added to Brighton borough and to Preston civil parish from Patcham parish: Brighton Corporation was developing the Moulsecoomb estate there at the time. On 1 April 1928, Brighton civil parish was extended to include Preston civil parish. On the same date the borough grew by nearly five times by adding Ovingdean and Rottingdean parishes in their entirety and parts of Falmer , Patcham and West Blatchington; it also exchanged small parts with Hove municipal borough. All
5712-663: The cause of protests since 2004. The premises were significantly damaged in January 2009 when protesters broke in. In 1985, the Borough Council described three "myths" about Brighton's economy. Common beliefs were that most of the working population commuted to London every day; that tourism provided most of Brighton's jobs and income; or that the borough's residents were "composed entirely of wealthy theatricals and retired business people" rather than workers. Brighton has been an important centre for commerce and employment since
5814-735: The charter trustees with a town council. Since 2024, the Member of Parliament for East Thanet has been the Labour MP, Polly Billington . Margate was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1857. This was abolished in 1974, since which date Margate has been part of the Thanet district of Kent . The town contains the seven electoral wards of Margate Central, Cliftonville West, Cliftonville East (both Cliftonville wards were formally Margate Cliftonville from 1973 to 2003), Westbrook, Garlinge, Dane Valley and Salmestone. These wards have seventeen of
5916-465: The city as having the third highest rate of homelessness in England, with London claiming the top spot followed by Luton . In a previous charity report issued in November 2016, three areas in Brighton & Hove, East Brighton, Queen's Park, and Moulsecoomb & Bevendean ranked in the top ten per cent nationally for deprivation. Although deprivation in Brighton is distributed across the city, it
6018-646: The city of Brighton and Hove, of which 12 are in Brighton. Regency, St Peter's & North Laine, Preston Park, Withdean, Patcham, Hollingdean & Stanmer and Hanover & Elm Grove are part of the Brighton Pavilion constituency; Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, East Brighton, Woodingdean and Rottingdean Coastal are covered by the Brighton Kemptown constituency. The newly created Borough of Brighton consisted of six wards in 1854: St Nicholas, St Peter, Pier, Park, Pavilion and West. When
6120-430: The coastal town - the battle is named after Margate as this was where an English fleet of 51 vessels that was anchored at Margate Roadstead first spotted a Franco - Castilian - Flemish wine fleet of around 250-360 vessels . The English gave chase after the undermanned wine fleet and finally defeated the fleet a day later on 25 March 1387 off the coast of Cadzand , Zeeland , Netherlands . The town's history
6222-467: The design by Snøhetta + Spence architects. Building work started in 2008 but the project's initiator, John Crofts, died in 2009. The Turner Contemporary Gallery officially opened on 16 April 2011. Across the road from the gallery in Margate Old Town there is a community of independent shops. Accessed from the seafront via Market Street, Duke Street and King Street this area is clustered around
SECTION 60
#17327807301876324-406: The devastating Great Storm of 1703 ), a declining fishing industry, and the emergence of nearby Shoreham as a significant port caused its economy to suffer. By 1708 other parishes in Sussex were charged rates to alleviate poverty in Brighton, and Daniel Defoe wrote that the expected £8,000 cost of providing sea defences was "more than the whole town was worth". The population declined to 2,000 in
6426-474: The drive to Margate and the memories evoked on the way. The Victorian author William Thackeray used out-of-season Margate as the setting for his early unfinished novel A Shabby Genteel Story . Margate features in the 2021 novel Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee . The novel is set a little in the future from the present day in "the once refined but now rundown seaside town of Margate." Brighton Brighton ( / ˈ b r aɪ t ən / BRY -tən )
6528-412: The early 18th century. From the 1730s, Brighton entered its second phase of development—one which brought a rapid improvement in its fortunes. The contemporary fad for drinking and bathing in seawater as a purported cure for illnesses was enthusiastically encouraged by Richard Russell from nearby Lewes . He sent many patients to "take the cure" in the sea at Brighton, published a popular treatise on
6630-603: The fifty six seats on the Thanet District Council . At the 2007 Local Elections , nine of those seats were held by the Conservatives, seven by Labour and one by an Independent. Margate experiences an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ) similar to much of the United Kingdom. Like almost all of southern Britain, Margate experiences mild temperatures, and is complemented by
6732-586: The first UK City to adopt the Homeless Bill of Rights . The bill was passed by 31 votes to 11, with 7 abstentions. Brighton lies between the South Downs and the English Channel to the north and south, respectively. The Sussex coast forms a wide, shallow bay between the headlands of Selsey Bill and Beachy Head ; Brighton developed near the centre of this bay around a seasonal river ,
6834-423: The highest percentage of same-sex households in the UK in 2004 and the largest number of civil partnership registrations outside London in 2013. Brighton is identified as one of the least religious places in the UK, based upon analysis of the 2011 census which revealed that 42 per cent of the population profess no religion , far higher than the national average of 25 per cent. Brighton has been described as
6936-520: The increasing homelessness seen on Brighton's streets and were hoping to open the first in-house temporary housing for homeless people in the city. Homelessness figures released by Crisis in December 2018 reported a record high in the UK, with figures in Sussex , including Brighton and Hove, reported as being "high". At a meeting of the full B&H Council on 25 March 2021, Brighton and Hove became
7038-596: The isle is easy. These services leave every 5-7 minutes (day times) from Cecil Square, in both directions; towards Cliftonville and towards Westwood Cross . A National Express route, which operates between London Victoria and Ramsgate, calls at Margate seafront, Northdown Park and Cliftonville. For at least 250 years, Margate has been a leading seaside resort in the UK, drawing Londoners to its beaches, Margate Sands. The bathing machines in use at Margate were described in 1805 as; four-wheeled carriages, covered with canvas, and having at one end of them an umbrella of
7140-480: The late 20th century, the town went into decline along with other British seaside resorts, but attempts are being made to revitalise the economy. Margate was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as lying within the hundred of Thanet and the county of Kent. Margate was recorded as "Meregate" in 1264 and as "Margate" in 1299, but the spelling continued to vary into modern times. The name is thought to refer to
7242-629: The major attractions were built in the Victorian era , including the Grand Hotel , the Hilton Brighton Metropole , the Palace Pier and the West Pier . The town continued to grow into the 20th century, expanding to incorporate more areas into the town's boundaries before joining Hove to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove in 1997, which was granted city status in 2000. Today, Brighton and Hove district has
7344-425: The name of the road (Pool Valley, originally Pool Lane) marks its site. One original house survives from the time of the pool's enclosure. Behind Pool Valley is Old Steine (historically The Steyne ), originally a flat and marshy area where fishermen dried their nets. The Wellesbourne occasionally reappears during times of prolonged heavy rain; author Mark Antony Lower referred to an early 19th-century drawing of
7446-624: The new unitary authority of Brighton and Hove . Brighton Town Hall occupies a large site in the Lanes . Medieval Brighthelmston had a town hall, although it was called the Townhouse and functioned more like a market hall. A later building (1727) known as the Town Hall was principally used as a workhouse . Work on the first purpose-built town hall began in 1830; Thomas Read Kemp laid the first stone, and Thomas Cooper designed it on behalf of
7548-587: The old Margate Town Hall in the centre of the Market Place. There is also a small museum in the town hall complex which provides information about the history of Margate. In 2012 Margate was chosen as one of the towns to benefit from the Portas Pilot Scheme aimed at regenerating some of Britain's high streets. New businesses started flocking to Margate in the late 2010s. “There’s been a whole bunch of businesses opening up ... Cliffs ... which
7650-538: The pole it is affixed to having been left unrepaired. More recently it has been left leaning at a very precarious 75-degree angle. Draper's Mill is a smock mill built in 1845 by John Holman. It was working by wind until 1916 and by engine until the late 1930s. It was saved from demolition and is now restored and open to the public. Margate features at the start and as a recurrent theme in Margate writer Iain Aitch 's travelogue, A Fete Worse Than Death . The author
7752-455: The rest of Brighton's soil, is chalk. Below this are thin layers of Upper and Lower Greensand separated by a thicker band of Gault clay . The land slopes upwards gradually from south to north towards the top of the Downs. Main transport links developed along the floor of the Wellesbourne valley, from which the land climbs steeply—particularly on the east side. The earliest settlement was by
7854-416: The same materials which is let down to the surface of the water, so that the bather descending from the machine by a few steps is concealed from the public view, whereby the most refined female is enabled to enjoy the advantages of the sea with the strictest delicacy. The Dreamland Amusement Park is situated in the centre of Margate, operating since 1920, it was closed in 2006, and reopened in 2015 following
7956-539: The seafront, first, is the North Laine area, stretching from Trafalgar Street, Kensington Gardens, Sydney Street, Gardner Street and Bond Street and is mostly pedestrianised. It is a retail, leisure and the residential area immediately north of the Lanes. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Laine" meaning "fields", although the misnomer "North Lanes" is often used to describe the area. The North Laine contains
8058-635: The seafront, the boundary runs up Little Western Street (pavement on eastern side, in Brighton), but it is not visible. Northwards from Western Road, it runs to the west of Norfolk Road, Norfolk Terrace, Windlesham Road and Windlesham Gardens in the Montpelier area, then along the south side of Davigdor Road to Seven Dials . From there it runs along the west side of Dyke Road as far as Withdean Road in Withdean , at which point it crosses Dyke Road so that
8160-505: The section north of that is part of Hove parish. The boundary continues to follow Dyke Road towards Devil's Dyke on the South Downs. Brighton is covered by two constituencies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom : Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven and Brighton Pavilion . In the 2024 general election , Brighton Kemptown elected Chris Ward , Labour ; Brighton Pavilion elected Siân Berry , Green Party . There are 21 wards in
8262-486: The subject, and moved to the town soon afterwards (the Royal Albion , one of Brighton's early hotels, occupies the site of his house). Others were already visiting the town for recreational purposes before Russell became famous, and his actions coincided with other developments which made Brighton more attractive to visitors. From the 1760s it was a boarding point for boats travelling to France; road transport to London
8364-407: The territory was extended to include part of Preston parish in 1873, the new area became a seventh ward named Preston. The seven were split into 14 in 1894: Hanover, Kemp Town (renamed King's Cliff in 1908), Lewes Road, Montpelier, Pavilion, Pier, Preston, Preston Park, Queen's Park, Regency, St John, St Nicholas, St Peter, and West. Preston ward was extended in 1923 to incorporate the area taken into
8466-474: The town had a relatively high number of workers in the construction, hotels & restaurants and health & social care industries and a relatively low number in real estate and finance. Margate railway station is sited 73 miles 69 chains (118.9 km) down the line from London Victoria . Trains from the station generally run to Victoria, via Chatham , and to London St Pancras , via Ramsgate , Canterbury West and Ashford International on
8568-556: The town hall, were finished in 1987. The town hall ceased to be responsible solely for Brighton's affairs when Brighton and Hove were united in 1997, but it is still used by Brighton & Hove City Council—particularly for weddings and civil partnerships. The presence of a British subsidiary of the United States arms company EDO Corporation on the Home Farm Industrial Estate in Moulsecoomb has been
8670-423: The town was considerably higher than the national rate of 3.4%. The industry of employment of residents was 17% retail, 16% health & social work , 13% manufacturing, 9% construction, 8% real estate, 8% education, 7% transport & communications, 5% public administration , 6% hotels & restaurants, 2% finance, 1% agriculture and 6% other community, social or personal services. Compared to national figures,
8772-570: The town's seaside heritage in a range of exhibits and displays, and is now opened at weekends by a team of volunteers. First discovered in 1798, the Margate Caves (also known as the Vortigern Caves) are situated at the bottom of Northdown Road. They reopened in 2019. The Shell Grotto , which has walls and roof covered in elaborate decorations of over four million shells covering 2,000 square feet (200 m ) in complex patterns,
8874-618: The year showed Brighton's tourism had fallen by a further 1 per cent on the previous year. Brighton's largest private sector employer is American Express , whose European headquarters are at John Street. As of 2012, about 3,000 people work there. Planning permission to demolish the old Amex offices and build a replacement was granted in 2009, and work started in March 2010. Other major employers include Lloyds Bank , Legal & General , Asda (which has hypermarkets at Hollingbury and Brighton Marina ), Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company and call-centre operator Inkfish. In 2012, it
8976-699: Was 6% aged 0–4 years, 16% aged 5–15 years, 5% aged 16–19 years, 31% aged 20–44 years, 23% aged 45–64 years and 19% aged 65 years and over. 11% of Margate residents had some kind of higher or professional qualification, compared to the national average of 20%. At the 2001 UK census , the economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 33.8% in full-time employment, 11.8% in part-time employment, 8.0% self-employed , 5.5% unemployed , 2.2% students with jobs, 3.9% students without jobs, 15.5% retired, 8.3% looking after home or family , 7.9% permanently sick or disabled and 3.6% economically inactive for other reasons. The rate of unemployment in
9078-523: Was 94.2% United Kingdom, 0.9% Republic of Ireland , 0.5% Germany , 0.8% other Western Europe countries, 0.7% Africa , 0.6% Eastern Europe , 0.5% Far East , 0.5% South Asia , 0.5% Middle East , 0.4% North America and 0.3% Oceania . Religion was recorded as 71.6% Christian , 17.1% no religion, 0.7% Muslim , 0.3% Buddhist , 0.3% Jewish , 0.2% Hindu , 0.1% Sikh ; 0.3% had an alternative religion and 9.8% did not state their religion. For every 100 females, there were 92 males. The age distribution
9180-437: Was about 400. By the 14th century there was a parish church , a market and rudimentary law enforcement (the first town constable was elected in 1285). Sacked and burnt by French invaders in the early 16th century—the earliest depiction of Brighton, a painting of c. 1520, shows Admiral Pregent de Bidoux's attack of June 1514—the town recovered strongly based on a thriving mackerel -fishing industry. The grid of streets in
9282-460: Was born in the town. T. S. Eliot , who in 1921 recuperated after a mental breakdown in the town of Cliftonville , commented in his poem The Waste Land Part III - The Fire Sermon : Margate features as a destination in Graham Swift 's novel Last Orders and its film adaptation . The character Jack Dodds had asked to have his remains scattered at Margate, and the book tells the tale of
9384-636: Was built in 1787, burned down in 1829 and was remodelled in 1879 giving Margate more national publicity. The exterior is largely from the 19th century. At this current time, both Theatre Royal and Winter Gardens are closed. Theatre Royal closed on 28th April 2022, with the Winter Gardens following suit on 14th August 2022. An annual jazz festival takes place on a weekend in June. In September, an annual car show commences known as "Oh So Retro" featuring classic and retro vehicles, trade stalls and family-friendly entertainment. Margate Museum in Market Place explores
9486-407: Was founded by these Anglo-Saxon invaders, probably in the early Saxon period. They were attracted by the easy access for boats, sheltered areas of raised land for building and better conditions compared to the damp, cold and misty Weald to the north. By the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 it was a fishing and agricultural settlement, a rent of 4,000 herring was established, and its population
9588-541: Was founded in 1999, is based in Brighton. By the early 21st century, the market for office accommodation in the city was characterised by fluctuating demand and a lack of supply of high-quality buildings. As an example, the Trafalgar Place development ( c. 1990), "now considered a prime office location", stood partly empty for a decade. Exion 27 (built in 2001), a high-tech, energy-efficient office development at Hollingbury , remained empty for several years and
9690-428: Was further encouraged by the patronage of the Prince Regent (later King George IV ) after his first visit in 1783. He spent much of his leisure time in the town and constructed the Royal Pavilion during the early part of his Regency . In this period the modern form of the name Brighton came into common use. A permanent military presence was established in the city with the completion of Preston Barracks in 1793. It
9792-406: Was improved when the main road via Crawley was turnpiked in 1770; and spas and indoor baths were opened by other entrepreneurial physicians such as Sake Dean Mahomed and Anthony Relhan (who also wrote the town's first guidebook). From 1780, the development of the Georgian terraces had started, and the fishing village developed as the fashionable resort of Brighton. The growth of the town
9894-521: Was joined to Hove Borough in 1997 to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove. The old boundary between Brighton and Hove is most clearly seen on the seafront, where the King Edward Peace Statue (1912) straddles the border, and in a twitten called Boundary Passage which runs northwards from Western Road to Montpelier Road. There is a Grade II-listed parish boundary marker stone in this passageway. Between Western Road and
9996-615: Was provided at a bakery, a typewriter factory and a machine tools manufacturer among others. Most of the large factories closed during the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s, employment fell to 1,000, and structural changes started in the mid-1980s with a move towards small-scale industrial units (the Enterprise Estate was finished in October 1985) and then retail warehouses. Asda 's superstore opened in November 1987, MFI followed two years later, and other retail units were built in
10098-456: Was rebuilt in 1830. The population increased rapidly throughout the 19th century from 7,339 in 1801 to 46,661 in 1841, and by 1901 the population had reached more than 120,000. The arrival of the London and Brighton Railway in 1841 brought Brighton within the reach of day-trippers from London. Many of the major attractions were built during the Victorian era , such as the Grand Hotel (1864),
10200-418: Was rediscovered in 1835, but is of unknown age and origin. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building . The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is a Grade 2 listed tidal sea bathing pool built in 1937. The pool covers over four acres and its dimensions are 450 ft long, 300 ft wide at the seaward end and 550 ft long at the landward end. The water in the pool is refreshed by the incoming tide twice
10302-678: Was reported that about 1,500 of Gatwick Airport 's 21,000 workers lived in the city of Brighton and Hove. Brighton is a popular destination for conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs, and has had a purpose-built conference centre—the Brighton Centre —since 1977. Direct income from the Brighton Centre's 160 events per year is £8 million, and a further £50 million is generated indirectly by visitors spending money during their stay. Events range from political party conferences to concerts. The Hollingbury Industrial Estate
10404-438: Was the standard rendering between the 14th and 18th centuries. "Brighton" was originally an informal shortened form, first seen in 1660; it gradually supplanted the longer name and was in general use from the late 18th century, although Brighthelmstone remained the town's official name until 1810. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Most scholars believe that it derives from Beorthelm + tūn —the homestead of Beorthelm ,
#186813