Discount Hotels Brighton
Historical interest: Brighton
    
Brighton began as a Saxon village which overlooked a cliff and the fishermen's
huts were under this cliff on the foreshore. The church of St Bartholomew was
first mentioned in 1185.
From 1313 Brighton grew in prominence as a fishing centre, with a daily fish
market held on the beach. There was also a yearly fair. Brighton suffered from
the continuous erosion of the coast. In 1340 it was stated that the sea had
recently 'swallowed' 40 acres of farmland.
The first fortification at Brighton was the bulwark, which was a tower built
next to the town in 1497. The French burned down Brighton in 1514. This was
easily done as nearly all the buildings were of wood, with thatched roofs. On
the other hand, they could be easily rebuilt.
In 1558 the blockhouse, a circular fort, was built near the Southern end of
Middle Street. It had six large guns and 10 small cannons. There were four gates;
East Gate, Porters Gate, Middle Gate and West Gate.
In the 17th century the fishing industry in Brighton suffered a decline as
a result of a series of wars with the French and the Dutch. Then, in the early
18th century the town was almost destroyed by series of severe storms.
The town's fortunes were transformed in 1750 when Dr Richard Russell, a resident
of Lewes, wrote a book in which he claimed that bathing in seawater was very
good for your health. In 1783 the Prince of Wales and his friends visited Brighton,
which ensured its popularity.
In 1787 the most famous building in Brighton, the Pavilion, was built, originally
built in classical style. West Pier was built in 1866 and Palace Pier in 1899.
During World War I the Pavilion was used as a hospital for Indian soldiers,
while in World War II many schoolchildren from London were evacuated to Brighton
to escape the bombing.
Although Brighton continued to flourish as a seaside resort West Pier closed
in 1975 and, in December 2002, partly collapsed when severe weather hit the
coast.
Brighton now highlights its Georgian charm, its upmarket shops and classy restaurants
and its thriving conference industry, however the essence of its appeal remains
its faintly bohemian vitality, a buzz that comes from a mix of English holiday-makers,
thousands of young foreign students from the town's innumerable language schools,
a thriving gay community and an energetic local student population from the
art college and two universities.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Premier Travel Inn Brighton City Centre | | Belgrave Classic Hotel | | Kings Hotel | | Brighton Hotel | | Hilton Brighton West Pier | | Ramada Jarvis Brighton | | De Vere Grand Brighton | | Quality Hotel Brighton | | Old Ship Hotel | | Royal Albion Hotel | | Hilton Brighton Metropole | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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