Theatre of Trees
Well-known member
Taken from Yeakell & Gardner's map of Sussex that was surveyed between 1778-1783
The full map can be found here:
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/geo/research/historical/webmap/sussexmap/Yeakell_36.htm
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[Brighton] Brighton and Hove c.1783
- Thread starter Theatre of Trees
- Start date
Taken from Yeakell & Gardner's map of Sussex that was surveyed between 1778-1783
The full map can be found here:
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/geo/research/historical/webmap/sussexmap/Yeakell_36.htm
Lincoln Imp
Well-known member
- Feb 2, 2009
- 5,964
That's the earliest one I have seen. Thanks.
Barham's tash
Well-known member
I can lose myself in things like this for hours at a time easily.
What is incredibly striking is the number of segregated fields despite the seemingly very low population. Fascinating.
Hamsey, nr Lewes, was I believe a plague village and that during the time of the plague only two households remained - seems positively metropolitan here.
Finally, would have been really interesting to see how they came to the conclusion as to things like the shoreline - as with all maps these are in plan form yet they can't possibly have known how it looked from above and yet it's strangely accurate.
What is incredibly striking is the number of segregated fields despite the seemingly very low population. Fascinating.
Hamsey, nr Lewes, was I believe a plague village and that during the time of the plague only two households remained - seems positively metropolitan here.
Finally, would have been really interesting to see how they came to the conclusion as to things like the shoreline - as with all maps these are in plan form yet they can't possibly have known how it looked from above and yet it's strangely accurate.
Lyndhurst 14
Well-known member
- Jan 16, 2008
- 5,129
Great post - and thanks for the link to the full map. I was born in Shoreham not far from the border with Southwick, so it's interesting to see the references to Kingston by Sea and Buckingham House. I'm guessing the main vertical road in Southwick was, or would become, Kingston Lane
Nitram
Well-known member
- Jul 16, 2013
- 2,178
Not seen that one before the earliest town reference one I’ve seen is from 1815 which shows the development of Regency Brighton from the earlier map. Fascinating stuff.
https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/places/maps/maps-3
https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/places/maps/maps-3
Silverhatch
Well-known member
Roman Camp (Hollingbury Fort) is prominent and Preston (linked to the Church and Crown for hundreds of years) is almost as big as Brighton. Great stuff.
Superb - thanks for posting!
I wonder which pubs then still exist now? Druids Head?
ATFC Seagull
Aberystwyth Town FC
That map is incredible.
I believe this is the earliest "map" of Brighton, but isn't really a map so much as an illustration of the French attacking in 1514:
I believe this is the earliest "map" of Brighton, but isn't really a map so much as an illustration of the French attacking in 1514:
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,728
I've just spotted 'White Lot' on Southwick Hill. Never heard it called that before and a wuick google suggests it's got some history! Thanks for this.
The Andy Naylor Fan Club
Well-known member
Great find. I never knew that the French attacked Brighton and there's a small piece in the link that describes the event:
https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/2014/06/06/brightons-first-map-the-french-attack-of-1514/
It tells of the attack and Sussex archers giving the French commander a 'King Harold' "Ouch".
It also explains why I could never work out why there's no longer a South Street to go with East, West and North.
So the Aldrington Church ruins were on the site where St Leonards's Church on New Church Road now stands.
I was drawn by the name Copperas Gap (now south Portslade) and the windmill shown on the map. I did a little research and discovered it was built around 1725 and demolished c1872.
This photo must have been taken around 1860s..
View attachment 124153
http://portsladehistory.blogspot.com/2016/08/copperas-gap-windmill-portslade.html?m=1
This diagram showing Copperas Gap is based on a map of the 1850s.....
I also found this obituary from The Times of 18th March 1806 of W Nevill, a Brighton baker who died on his way home after a drinking session at Copperas Gap. He must have been quite a prominent citizen to earn an obituary in The Times..
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AmexRuislip
Trainee Spy 🕵️♂️
Fantastic piece of history 
Where did the local born n bred squire live
Where did the local born n bred squire live
Shropshire Seagull
Well-known member
How the hell did they justify a by-pass?
I note that even then the traffic was awful
- Apr 5, 2014
- 23,579
Can't help thinking that the brave accounts written sixty years later have slightly exaggerated the local heroics.
If the frogs turned up at night how would someone have got to Lewes and back to call up the home guard ? That's eight miles on a ned. Unless they texted them...
If the French were only here for a few hours that would have been enough to raise the place.
I think we took a right tonking here.
