Archive for June, 2007
Seaford Martello Tower
The inspiration for Martello Towers came from a round fortress at Mortella Point in Corsica. Their shape and thick walls made them particularly resistant to cannon fire. They stand up to 12m high which made them an ideal platform for a single piece of heavy artillery that stood mounted on the flat roof, able to spin full-circle. They weren’t only built in Britain though. In fact, they were built all around the British Empire. A garrison of one officer and 25 men generally manned them. Many Martello Towers have perished and a few sit derelict, awaiting a modern use. However, many have become residences and others, like Tower 74 in Seaford, have been put to good community use.
The building of the greatest works of fortification ever undertaken in this country during peacetime was carried out by Lord Palmerston following the Royal Commission of 1860. Like the Martello Towers they were built to defend Britain against invasion from a Napoleon – this time Napoleon III, Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew. Like the Martello Towers, they were never put to the test. This is why the episode became known as “Palmerston’s Folly”.
Fort Nelson, which I wrote about last year was one of Palmerston’s Follies. Newhaven Fort, the largest work of defence ever constructed in Sussex, is another and I hope to visit it shortly.
Architecture Week 2007
Readers often ask me how they might view the often private interiors of the buildings that I write about. I usually reply quite vaguely that the doors are open now and then but I can never really remember the events’ names or their dates.
Without any hint of vagueness whatsoever, I should point out quickly that Architecture Week 2007 offers such opportunities and many more. The need for speed is the fact that it finishes on Sunday 24th June which means that there is not much time to plan a visit! This year’s theme for Architecture Week South East is ‘Different Perspectives’. I have no idea what it means but it sounds exciting! The Week is run by the Solent Centre for Architecture & Design in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Three particular events involve buildings that I’ve already written about.
Firstly, Brighton’s most controversial building, Embassy Court, is opening its doors for guided tours. It’s looking the best that it has looked since it was built so now’s certainly the time to visit. Secondly, just around the corner in Hove, the ‘Regency Town House’ is hosting a discussion on local architecture. The inspirational Town House is a Grade I Listed former residence on Brunswick Square that is being painstakingly restored. Thirdly, photographs of Shoreham Cement Works, Sussex’s most frightening building, are being exhibited in Shoreham. Logically, it should be demolished as it has no use or architectural merit. However, I for one am not looking forward to the toppling of its massive tower.
Several other events particularly take my fancy. ‘In the Steps of the Stars’ is a guided walk around Brighton by the respected local historian, Geoff Mead. I’d also like to see Earthship Brighton, the green building at Stanmer Park that has been made from old car tyres! Slightly further afield are, to the west, various tours in Portsmouth and, to the east, the stunning De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
photos by Rick Parkin
Preston Park
Brighton & Hove is blessed with some wonderful parks and Preston Park is arguably the finest. However, I will only be truly happy once I have managed to demolish the awful buildings on its west side. One day!
Hove Lagoon
A large cut was made in the River Adur in 1760 by the Shoreham Harbour Commissioners. From above, as demonstrated by a good aerial map (such as local.live.com), the original route is quite clear. The old mouth by The Wish filled with silt leaving Shoreham Harbour. The change in natural dividing line between the two local communities along with the joining of the two old banks with silt led to an interesting legal situation which wasn’t tested until the early 1900s. For many years, Hove Lagoon was simply a tidal pond and it wasn’t until 1900 when Cllr A. Nye suggested that it should be used for model yacht racing that anything started to happen.
What was previously the west bank of the River Adur was subject to the rights of the Lord of Lancing Manor. The changes left a portion of land on the Hove side to which these rights applied. The ownership of the silted river-bed was also a grey area which wasn’t resolved until 1927 when Hove Council had to acquire the rights from the then Lord of Lancing Manor, Paget Baxter. After the legal wrangles had ended, serious work began in 1930 on two boating lakes; one fairly large, one fairly small. During the Second World War, like the rest of the seafront, it was out of bounds and was in fact used as a pool to check that the army’s tanks had been made properly watertight before D-Day. In 1947, it froze and was used by ice-skaters instead of the usual model boat owners.
Interestingly, Western Esplanade, or “Millionaires’ Row” as it is known locally, was built by Baxter and sits to the west of the Lagoon. Its famous residents include Heather Mills-McCartney, Zoe Ball, Fatboy Slim and Nick Berry. It’s fascinating to think that the land which is currently occupied by Hove Lagoon, Millionaires’ Row, the Western Lawns and even Shoreham Power Station was once on the other side of the River Adur.
Many a time have I stopped by Hove Lagoon to watch the windsurfing but must admit that it’s normally to meet the friendly swans which visit regularly! See www.hovelagoon.co.uk for details.
