Adelaide Crescent Gardens and the Sea

Print description

A stroll through Adelaide Crescent Gardens in Brighton in the early evening feels like stepping back into the Victorian era. This is one of my favourite spots in Brighton and Hove for some quiet time whether it’s to contemplate, read a book, or catch up with friends.

Print details

I created this print from my original ink drawings to which I apply colour digitally. Printed on fine art paper using archival inks. I issue the formats A0, A1 & A2,A3 and A4  as limited editions of 100 where I individually sign and number each print.

Adelaide Crescent Gardens

Construction of Adelaide Crescent commenced between 1830 and 1834, following designs by Decimus Burton for Isaac Lyon Goldsmid. After a period of inactivity, Goldsmid completed the development according to a revised plan, adding Palmeira Square to the north between 1850 and 1860. The gardens, originally private for the residents, serve as the centrepiece of the estate. The original layout from approx appears in an 1870 Ordnance Survey map with serpentine paths alongside informal planting.

History of Adelaide Crescent

A dynamic piece of mid-19th century architecture. This East section as shown in my print has a double curve that visually leads you to the end  to meet the Sea. Together with neighbour Palmeira Square forms one of Hove’s most important architectural set-pieces.

Decimus Burton created the designs which works started in 1830. His original design, as exhibited at the Royal Academy, consisted of a half-moon-shaped sea-facing crescent, At that time, immediately to the north what was going to be the largest glass dome in the World was being built, the Anthaeum. Though tragically on its opening day in 1833, the structure spectacularly collapsed. After this disaster the building works at Adelaide crescent stopped.

following the clearance of the Anthaeum debris, around 1854 Another nine houses were built on the east side in a much simpler style, 19 houses were erected facing them to the west, and the shape of the crescent was amended so it opened out at the top and connected both sides with the south ends of Palmeira Square.