French raid on Brighthelmstone

[Not Andy Naylor]

The centre spread of today's Argus features the French navy's raid that took place 500 years ago this week and ended up with the whole of Brighthelmstone burnt to the ground, with the exception of St Nicholas' church.

Presumably the townsfolk were taken completely by surprise because there was no NSC to warn them in advance by claiming to have SAUCES in France. And as they picked through the smouldering remains of their homes, there would have been no chance to enjoy the subsequent recriminations and name-calling on here.

 

[JJ McClure]

I expect the first binfest about UKIP would have started shortly after the raid.

 

[Ernest]

Did they BURN down the WETHERSPOONS on West Street ?

 

[RandyWanger]

I don't like French SAUCES, always get mine shipped over.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Shame they didn't invade Croydon in 2011 to finish the job properly.

 

[Seasidesage]

Shame they didn't invade Croydon in 2011 to finish the job properly.

They would've taken one look and turned round and gone home.

 

[carlzeiss]

The French burned the little town of Brighton in 1514. That was an easy task as most buildings in the town were wooden and they had thatched roofs. Yet Brighton was soon rebuilt. In 1545 the French attacked Brighton again. A writer said the French commander: 'Came forth into the seas and arrived on the coast of Sussex before Brighthamstead (Brighton) and set certain of his soldiers on land to burn and spoil the country, but the beacons were lit (to warn people in the nearby villages and call on them to help) and the inhabitants thereabout came down so thick, that the Frenchmen were driven to fly with loss of diverse of their numbers so that they did little hurt there'.

By Tim Lambert

 

[symyjym]

Brighthelmstone should have been the adopted name for the City instead of this double barreled mouthful.

The City of Brighthelmstone has a better ring to it and is far more sophisticated.

 

[glasfryn]

Oh the irony
there are three(3) sailors buried in St Nicks graveyard
I believe they came from a shipwreck off the coast nearby

 

[Dan Aitch]

500 years ago? That's late-reporting even by the Argus's standards.

 

[Insel affe]

Oh the irony
there are three(3) sailors buried in St Nicks graveyard
I believe they came from a shipwreck off the coast nearby

Good job there was no monkey mascots on board eh

 

[sten]

The French burned the little town of Brighton in 1514. That was an easy task as most buildings in the town were wooden and they had thatched roofs. Yet Brighton was soon rebuilt. In 1545 the French attacked Brighton again. A writer said the French commander: 'Came forth into the seas and arrived on the coast of Sussex before Brighthamstead (Brighton) and set certain of his soldiers on land to burn and spoil the country, but the beacons were lit (to warn people in the nearby villages and call on them to help) and the inhabitants thereabout came down so thick, that the Frenchmen were driven to fly with loss of diverse of their numbers so that they did little hurt there'.

By Tim Lambert

No change there then surrounding towns & villages always had to come into town to lend a hand if you catch my drift