Brunswick Town
Hailed as the architect C.A. Busby's greatest achievement, the Building Of Brunswick Town remains to this day a model example of town planning. Originally standing alone in the fields with the village of Hove to the west and Brighton to the east, its focal point was designed to be Brunswick Square with flanking terraces of mansion houses facing the sea. Built in the classical style on a 25 acre site as a speculative development by the landowner, the Revd. Thomas Scutt, it is still a monumental feature of the Sussex seafront.
In 1823 Busby's plan drew on inspiration from his recently completed Kemp Town estate east of Brighton. Like Kemp Town, Brunswick Town incorporated all the infrastructure required to keep the large houses working - the side and back streets containing mews, cottages for staff, a hotel, market and public baths.
Construction began in 1824 and progressed rapidly. By 1826 the two large terraces were complete and the following year most of Brunswick Square itself. Unfortunately, this grand scheme was not a financial success for the architect and when he died in 1834 Busby had enormous debts.
A tour of Historic Brunswick Town, incorporating a guided visit to St. Andrews, takes place every Sunday afternoon. For more details, please ring Mike Robins on 01273 773052 or 07900844951