Black Rock (Brighton and Hove)

Last updated

Black Rock from Brighton Marina sea wall. Blackrock from Brighton Marina sea wall.jpg
Black Rock from Brighton Marina sea wall.

Black Rock is an area of beach and promenade located to the west of Brighton Marina and south of Sussex Square in Kemptown in the city of Brighton and Hove. It is one of the terminus stations of the Volk's railway, hosts a 200-year-old living wall, designated as a local wildlife site and including ninety plants such as Euonymus japonicus , [1] and has area of vegetated shingle on the beach, recreated using plants such as Crambe maritima (sea kale), Glaucium flavum (yellow-horned poppy) and Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet) under the guidance of horticulturalists at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank. [2]

Contents

History

It is not known where origin of the name Black Rock arose, but it has been suggested that the name derives from black coal stains on the beach and white chalk cliffs. Apparently, when Brighton Council introduced charges for landing coal on the beaches within their remit, colliers (vessels carrying coal) landed the "black rock" on the beach just outside their boundary, at Black Rock.[ citation needed ]

From at least the early 19th century, Black Rock was the site of an inn and a few houses overlooking cliffs to the east of the then town of Brighton. [3]

In 1922, Ralph Seymour, signal officer for Admiral David Beatty during WWI, committed suicide at Black Rock by jumping into the sea. [4]

Black Rock Pool, 1961 Black Rock Pool 2 Brighton 1961.jpg
Black Rock Pool, 1961
Black Rock Pool, 1961 Black Rock Pool 1 Brighton 1961.jpg
Black Rock Pool, 1961

In 1936 an Art Deco lido was constructed at beach level, but this was closed in 1978 and demolished in 1979. [5] [6] [7]

The area is served by an extension of the Volk's Electric Railway, which has remained in use thanks to the proximity of the marina, although the line was shortened when the marina and associated coastal defences were built in the early 1970s. [8] The cliff-top houses were also lost to allow for the marina's approach roads. A new Black Rock railway terminus station for the Volk's Railway was constructed in the 1990s, controversially slightly off-centre when compared with the terraces behind it which lead up to Lewes Crescent, Kemp Town.[ citation needed ]

Future

Brighton and Hove City Council have plans to develop the site with a predominantly leisure use. [9] From 2007 there have been plans to construct a multi-purpose sports arena with adjacent ice rink, however in July 2012 the Council considered those plans were no longer viable and has since sought a new development partner. [10] [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemp Town</span> 19th-century residential estate in Brighton

Kemp Town Estate, also known as Kemp Town, is a 19th-century Regency architecture residential estate in the east of Brighton in East Sussex, England, UK. It consists of Arundel Terrace, Lewes Crescent, Sussex Square, Chichester Terrace, and the Kemp Town Enclosures. The estate was conceived and financed by Thomas Read Kemp, designed by Charles Busby and Amon Henry Wilds, and constructed by Thomas Cubitt. Work began in 1823 and it was completed in 1855. It has given its name to the larger Kemptown region of Brighton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton</span> Seaside resort on the south coast of England

Brighton 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 mi (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 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 a purported cure for illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hove</span> Seaside resort in East Sussex, England

Hove is a seaside resort in East Sussex, England. Alongside Brighton, it is one of the two main parts of the city of Brighton and Hove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton and Hove</span> City and unitary authority in England

Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority with city status in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administered by Brighton and Hove City Council, which is currently under Labour majority control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven, East Sussex</span> Port town in East Sussex, England

Newhaven is a port town in East Sussex in England, lying at the mouth of the River Ouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacehaven</span> Town in East Sussex, England

Peacehaven is a town and civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is located above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs approximately six miles (9.7 km) east of Brighton city centre, on the A259 road. Its site coincides with the point where the Greenwich meridian crosses the English south coast. Peacehaven is next to Telscombe Cliffs, a later western extension to Peacehaven, which lies within a separate parish and has a separate town council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemptown, Brighton</span> Area of Brighton, Sussex, England

Kemptown is a small community running along the King's Cliff to Black Rock in the east of Brighton, East Sussex, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volk's Electric Railway</span> Narrow gauge heritage railway in Brighton, England

Volk's Electric Railway (VER) is a narrow gauge heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of the English seaside resort of Brighton. It was built by Magnus Volk, the first section being completed in August 1883, and is the oldest operational electric railway in the world, though it was not the first electric railway to be built. It was preceded by electrification of Miller's line in 1875, Werner von Siemens' 1879 demonstration line in Berlin and by the Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway of 1881, although none of these remain in operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehawk</span> Human settlement in England

Whitehawk is a suburb in the east of Brighton, England, south of Bevendean and north of Brighton Marina. The area is a large, modern housing estate built in a downland dry valley historically known as Whitehawk Bottom. The estate was originally developed by the local council between 1933 and 1937 and included nearly 1,200 residences. Subsequently, the Swanborough flats were built in 1967, and in the 1970s and 1980s much of the estate was rebuilt by altering the road layouts and increasing the number of houses. Whitehawk is part of the East Brighton ward of Brighton and Hove City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Coastway line</span> Railway line in Sussex, England

The East Coastway line is a railway line along the south coast of Sussex to the east of Brighton, England. Trains to the west of Brighton operate on the West Coastway line. Together with the West Coastway and the Marshlink line to the east, the line forms part of a continuous route from Havant to Ashford. The Brighton Main Line route to Eastbourne and Hastings, via Plumpton and Cooksbridge, shares the East Coastway line east of Lewes station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telscombe</span> Human settlement in England

Telscombe is a town and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It consists of three distinct settlements, separated from each other by an open area of downland called Telscombe Tye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Brighton</span>

The history of Brighton is that of an ancient fishing village which emerged as a health resort in the 18th century and grew into one of the largest towns in England by the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Marina</span> Area of Brighton, East Sussex

Brighton Marina is an artificial marina in Brighton, England. It features a working harbour and residential housing alongside a variety of leisure, retail and commercial activities. The construction of the marina itself took place between 1971 and 1979, although developments within it have continued ever since. The marina covers an area of approximately 127 acres (0.51 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Brighton and Hove</span>

Public transport in Brighton and Hove, a city on the south coast of England, dates back to 1840. Brighton and Hove has a major railway station, an extensive bus service, many taxis, coach services, and it has previously had trolley buses, ferries, trams, auto rickshaws and hydrofoils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roedean</span> Village in Brighton and Hove

Roedean is a village in the city of Brighton and Hove, England, UK, east of the seaside resort of Brighton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltdean</span> Village in Brighton, East Sussex, England

Saltdean is a coastal village in the city of Brighton and Hove, with part outside the city boundary in Lewes district. Saltdean is approximately 5 miles (8 km) east of central Brighton, 5 miles (8 km) west of Newhaven, and 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Lewes. It is bordered by farmland and the South Downs National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs</span>

Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs is a 165.4-hectare (409-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest and Geological Conservation Review site, which stretches along the coast between Brighton and Newhaven in East Sussex. An area of 16.4 hectares is the Castle Hill, Newhaven Local Nature Reserve

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public services in Brighton and Hove</span>

Brighton and Hove, a city and unitary authority in the English county of East Sussex, has a wide range of public services funded by national government, East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and other public-sector bodies. Revenue to fund these services comes partly from Council Tax, which is paid annually by residents: this tax provides the city council with nearly 20% of its income and also helps to fund the local police force, Sussex Police, and the county's fire service, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Some of Brighton and Hove's utilities and infrastructure are provided by outside parties, such as utility companies, rather than by the city council.

References

  1. ↑ "Workers who hacked back Brighton's historic green wall were following council orders". Brighton and Hove News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Black Rock rejuvenation". www.brighton-hove.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "CoastView - Black Rock, Kemp Town (Brighton Marina)". www.sussex.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Gordon, Andrew (2000). The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command. Naval Institute Press. p. 93-4.
  5. ↑ Trimingham, Adam (18 July 2011). "No cash to splash". The Argus. Retrieved 1 February 2018. It was a bad day at Black Rock when the famous open-air swimming pool closed in 1978 ... It was built in 1936 ...
  6. ↑ "Rekindling love for the Lido". BBC. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2018. Brighton Black Rock Lido: Built 1936. Closed 1978.
  7. ↑ "Category:Black Rock Pool". The Brighton Toy and Model Index. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "A short history of the Volks Railway". www.brighton-hove.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Black Rock proposal". Brighton & Hove City Council. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "The Policy & Resources Committee Black Rock report" (PDF). Brighton & Hove City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "SSSI Citation — Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 28 May 2008.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

50°48′53″N0°06′02″W / 50.81472°N 0.10056°W / 50.81472; -0.10056

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.