I love facts about Brighton, and there is always something new to find out. I remember talking to a taxi driver who mentioned about an old book called the The Old Ocean Bauble, where he said it is stated that there was at one point an Open House for every five people in Brighton. I think ill try and track down this book and have a look. There was also a Vapour Baths run buy a guy called Sake Dean Mohammed who was a regency ‘Shampooing Surgeon’- fascinating.
One of the things that has held particular interest to me is the old freight railway from Kemptown to Brighton station as it passed directly under our school yard at Elm Grove School. There used to be a great rumour that a worker on the line was killed in an accident and you could still hear him moaning in the now sealed tunnels. Superb!
So I am going to have a little look around as I cannot find any old maps of the route. I have the start and end points and I thought next time its a nice day and I am out and about I will track where this railway line went and put the map on here. So in the mean time I found this great picture of Volks Railway in a storm. The interesting thing to note is that it appears to be at least 10 feet raised above the ground. I wonder if the land was raised or track lowered?
Tuesday, 20. July 2010
Dear Mark,
Refering to your picture above, I have great memories if travelling in volks railway as a child. In those days, the trip was an adventure, especially on a stormy day. This picture was taken long before the construction of brighton marina. Prior to the marina being constructed the entire beach level was much lower than it is at present. The building of the marina walls halted the natural movement of sand and shingles and over a period of time the beaches have built up to the level the are today. To my mind, not only did Brighton loose the most thrilling train ride in the country when the marina was built, it also lost its miles of golden sandy beaches!
Another interesting fact for you, though not related. Did you know that Brunswick Square was used as a tank park during WW2?
Sunday, 25. July 2010
Richard Dawkins and his way of speaking has helped me make a nice clean transition from superstitious thinking and illogical religious belief to rational thinking and reason. My life has never been better.