Great plans for the Brighton Hippodrome

The most frequently asked question I receive is "What's happening to the Brighton Hippodrome?" There is a great plan for the site which I hope for the building's sake - proceeds. This gorgeous theatre is deteriorating and every year the cost of renovation increases, it needs tlc NOW!

Alaska Development Consultants plan for the Brighton Hippodrome site 

The developers have produced a very informative website and Facebook page with in-depth details of their plans for the restoration of the theatre to include the re-modelling of Dukes Lane.

The public exhibition takes place this weekend on Friday, 18th October between 1700 and 1900 and on Saturday, 19th October between 10am and 2pm. Please go along if you can and I hope you will be as excited as I am that this development may actually proceed, save the building and bring some life back to a street.

Middle Street used to be able to cope with 4,000 people coming and going between the two houses at the theatre. Local businesses flourished with the footfall and my research has shown the Street is the quietest it has ever been within documented history. If this latest plan doesn't proceed the rotting and eventual demolition of the Hippodrome within a few years becomes a strong possibility. 

No, I don't have shares in Alaska Developments but I do have a mother's love for seeing its own cared for!

Exhibition access is in the Hippodrome's service yard, enter from Ship Street.

Unwrapping Middle Street, Brighton

Middle Street is one of the first four streets to be developed in Brighton, East Sussex, UK. As a researcher with the curiosity to find out all I could about my home street's history, I happily played detective in my spare time over the years. Gradually I realised the street's stories were fascinating and should be written for other's to read.

By going back to source where ever possible, checking, double checking and confirming facts, I have worked with the aim of handing all the information over to our Local History Centre for future historians to refer to.

I found previously unpublished photographs which help bring the history to life and have created a tour and before-and-after photographic book which is nearing completion.

Concurrently I am writing a more in depth book, showing 500 years of history of Brighton represented in the street's 350 yards. From fishing to media and partying via being quoted in the introduction of two bills in parliament and many firsts and inventions.

Everything we think of, when we think of Brighton, has a representation in this street (the Prince Regent link is tenuous but I did find one!)

I'm head down in archives at the moment double checking facts and looking for information to confirm a few suspicions.

If you have memories of working, living or partying in Middle Street, I would love to hear from you. My experience has shown that what you may think as nothing special, may be very special to me.

If you would like to be kept in touch with the books' progress or receive notification when I post again on this blog, please send me your email to lindendee(at)hotmail.com