Completely RANDOM things about Brighton & Hove...

[Jamon Jamon]

Cox's Pill Factory, you say...?

absolutely love this thread, The Vouge, The Allen Arms and the above buildings was where I used to hang around when I was a kid, My mother played lot of bingo in them days so I just used to kick a ball around the Vouge car park at the back when I was about 10 (1977) it was safer than Saunders park (Chris Hooper or the Imreys would have nicked your ball!)
anyhow, re that photo above, that would have been taken around 1978, i think that car in the middle was dumped, (too bad if it wasn't as my brother nicked the number plate). Great photos of the buses, the uncle sams one, and the debate about the blue/green 11/111, anyone remember the 49C it used to run from East Moulsecoomb but terminated at Plmera Sq as opposed to Southwick (only on a Saturday though) BTW anyone know where 'Circular' is? because im sure a bus used to go there when i was a kid, number 41 I think. just one last thing, anyone remember the old disabled geezer on the beach (1979) that used to take yer photo on a big pink papier mache elephant? (no jokes please)

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Southdown was split into a few companies I beleive, one became Brighton, Hove and district (which was then renamed into the current Brighton and Hove bus company) and the rest stayed as southdown operating from Portsmouth to Brighton until it was bought by stagecoach and then was bought out by B&H a few years ago

Also the post about the 12, as far as I can remember this used to be a southdown route to Southwick which was taken over by B&H

On the subject of buses, who remembers the BATS agreement where part of it was all the revenue from both Southdown and Brighton Borough Transport was shared between both companies, regardless of which company took it?

And what about the Shuttle buses? I used to find it funny going down Ditchling Road on a 50 and all the people looking peed off because the bus would not stop for them as it was non stop from Hollingdean to the open market

Ah ... the SHUTTLE (always with capital letters). I was part of the East Sussex County Council team that worked with the two bus companies to introduce the SHUTTLE services.

There were originally two (Service 60 - Mile Oak to the Old Steine; and service 50 - Hollingdean to Western Road). Both routes involved tidying up several messy bus services that split at various points en route and served only to confuse passengers. We managed to increase bus use on those routes by more than 20 per cent and actually cut the number of buses serving the two estates, while at the same time the market research we carried out demonstrated that 90 per cent of local bus users thought the frequencies of the services had increased. The concept of simplifying the routes eventually developed into the METRO network that B&H buses introduced throughout Brighton and Hove.

One of the consequences of introducing the SHUTTLE services was that the balance of mileage operated by the two bus companies changed from the agreed split [79.5% (National Bus Company) / 20.5% (Corporation)] - and because the BATS agreement said that this wasn't allowed to happen, the Corporation had to introduce a third SHUTTLE (service 99) that ran from Brighton station to the Clock Tower and back (via Dyke Road and Buckingham Road).

SHUTTLE vehicles were beautifully painted in tasteful gradations from orange at the back, through yellow and cream to white at the front. And we NEVER EVER used the word "bus" in association with SHUTTLE. They were SHUTTLES. "Fast, Frequent and Reliable".

 

[Nottseagull]

I remember the double-decker buses painted like giant Barclaycards when they came in around 1969 - the only credit card available in Britain. From Portland Road, Hove nos. 2, 2a, 49, 49a and 54 ran to Brighton. I think the child fare was 2d.

That viaduct reminds me of Mansfield town centre, except ours doesn't come to an abrupt halt! What's the story behind that?

 

[Gwylan]

Changing trains at Brighton station on the way to school, or the Albion, and trying to work out when the next train was from this board.

Ah, I loved that board. I remember being upset when it went (about 1986 or 87?)

BTW, does anyone know of any other city stations that don't have a bar on the concourse; there can't be many.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

The WH Smith record shop opposite the main WH Smith in Churchill Square. I bought my first ever LP there.

I worked there for a while. And also here before they built the new one on the same site, which was then replaced by the current one on the other side of the concourse.

(obviously didn't work here in 1905 and the news stand had gone through a few iterations by the time I first worked there - but I worked Sunday mornings for a few weeks until it was demolished and replaced. Recall bashing my knees on the old radiators that were meant to keep you warm and also dropping change constantly between the piles of papers. Must have been around 1981)

 

[Gary Leeds]

the Corporation had to introduce a third SHUTTLE (service 99) that ran from Brighton station to the Clock Tower and back (via Dyke Road and Buckingham Road).

Ah the good old 99, totally unique minibuses (failed prototypes bought from Maidstone I beleive) and a real money maker for the drivers, 10p per trip but nobody ever asked for a ticket, could have a bus load of people but only a handful of tickets issued

 

[Gary Leeds]

I remember the double-decker buses painted like giant Barclaycards when they came in around 1969 - the only credit card available in Britain. From Portland Road, Hove nos. 2, 2a, 49, 49a and 54 ran to Brighton. I think the child fare was 2d.

That viaduct reminds me of Mansfield town centre, except ours doesn't come to an abrupt halt! What's the story behind that?

I guess it was about 6 years after the Kemp Town line fully closed in 1971, Brighton council decided to widen Lewes Road at that point but the spans of the viaduct were in the way so they knocked down a chunk of it to make the space. The rest went when Sainsburys was built. Only parts left of the line now is the tunnel entrance on Freshfield Industrial estate, an air vent around the Queens Park area from the tunnel below and some foundations of the viaduct behind Sainsburys. The tunnel was filled with rubbish by the council in the early 70s. Shame as I always thought it would have made a great perserved railway with the large yard area at Kemp Town

 

[Goodfella]

I think you'll find someone on NSC used to work there..

Yup, that would be me, i worked between there and the 'Classic' western road from 1975 until it closed in 1980.

and my job was looking after the strippers.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Uncle Sams opposite St Peter's Church. Used to drop in and buy a double cheese burger with strawberry shake with a volcanic apple pie on my way home most Friday nights.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Ah the good old 99, totally unique minibuses (failed prototypes bought from Maidstone I beleive) and a real money maker for the drivers, 10p per trip but nobody ever asked for a ticket, could have a bus load of people but only a handful of tickets issued

That never bothered the Corporation bus company, of course, since the BATS agreement said that 79.5 per cent of the fares revenue had to be handed over to the other operator; and the Corporation were only running the service to avoid having to pay a penalty to the National Bus Company for not running enough mileage.

These days it's hard to believe that the BATS agreement was once held up as a fine example of good practice.

 

[Goodfella]

Good old Allen West, My mum met my day working there, and i served my apprenticeship there, what a place , I remember joining and being wow, this company has it own fire station ! ok , it was closed when i got there but it still had one., proper manufacturing. no just assembled together, Raw metal went in and was cut filled shaped drilled, tapped and then plated or painted all on site.
Even had it own football team, who on Monday morning all went to see the nurse (yep had its own surgery) after the game at the weekend so they did not have to work .

Had many a motorcycle restored in that paint shop as well

Haha started there when i left school '74 doing an apprenticeship got shoved in the machine shop doing centre lathe turning, as they were short staffed, but they refused to give me any more money even though i was doing the same job as qualified turners, so i left.

Anyone remember the giant siren used to go off every day at 7am and 4pm to wake everyone up...lol

 

[Muzzman]

Dolphins at the Sea Life Centre...

One of the most notable was the opening of a Dolphinarium in 1969 complete with special viewing auditorium and dolphin shows. These were a major attraction for many years until public concern for the environment and captive species started to lead to questions as to whether such 'entertainments' should even exist. Thus it waved goodbye to the dolphins and closed in 1991 control passing from the local council to the current owners the Sealife Centre group.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Dolphins only arrived in 1969? I think I went there for my fifth birthday in 1970 so my parents really were cutting edge!

 

[BeardyChops]

'Gamut' (?) in Dukes Street

'Snot' (?) in Kensington Gardens

I think they were they names?

 

[BeardyChops]

In the 50's it just used to show cartoons and newsreels. Blowed if I can remember what it was called then.

Was it this one?

Bijou Electric Empire (1911-1913)
Bijou Select Palace (1913-1915)
Prince's Electric Theatre (1915-1918)
Prince's Cinema (1919-1947
Prince's News Theatre (1947-1967)
Jacey Cinema (1967-1969)
Brighton Film Theatre (1969-1978)
Cinescene (1979-1983)


Brighton cinema directory

 

[The Spanish]

I guess it was about 6 years after the Kemp Town line fully closed in 1971, Brighton council decided to widen Lewes Road at that point but the spans of the viaduct were in the way so they knocked down a chunk of it to make the space. The rest went when Sainsburys was built. Only parts left of the line now is the tunnel entrance on Freshfield Industrial estate, an air vent around the Queens Park area from the tunnel below and some foundations of the viaduct behind Sainsburys. The tunnel was filled with rubbish by the council in the early 70s. Shame as I always thought it would have made a great perserved railway with the large yard area at Kemp Town

part of that line run behind my old house in Bonchurch Road, all grassed over and a kids park and a little playing field now.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

'Gamut' (?) in Dukes Street

'Snot' (?) in Kensington Gardens

I think they were they names?

Gamut was on the corner of Brighton Square.

 

[BeardyChops]

Gamleys

My dad used to work for them. Apparently the name came from thinking of Hamleys and Gammages. Unlikely they'd get away with that now!

My favourite Gamleys was the second one on Church Road - manily sports rather than toys.

 

[BeardyChops]

Gamut was on the corner of Brighton Square.

What was the shop that sold posters, tat and more tat down Dukes Street called? Or did the joss sticks confuse my sense of location?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What was the shop that sold posters, tat and more tat down Dukes Street called? Or did the joss sticks confuse my sense of location?

I know the one you mean, but can't remember its name. Gamut certainly specialised in plastic tat - much of it pillar box red.

The aromas around those joss sticks have done my memory in as well.