Park Street Gate And Attached Walls And Piers And Railings

The Park Street Gate, along with its attached walls, piers, and railings, is a notable structure located at the junction of South Avenue and Park Street in Brighton. It was constructed in 1890 and designed by Francis J May, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor. The gate is made of artificial stone and features three bays, with the central opening being the largest and styled as a triumphal arch. On either side of this central round-arched opening are flat-arched openings in the lower wall.

The central arch has a continuous architrave that is interrupted by a large volute keystone and a coved springing band, which extends across the side walls. The arch piers are rectangular in shape, and each spandrel on both sides, along with the corresponding wall on the shallow returns, displays a roundel featuring a lion's head cast in high relief. A projecting dentil cornice crowns the structure, leading to a low attic storey that bears an inscription commemorating the gift from various local dignitaries to the inhabitants of Brighton.

The attic roof, which is also replicated on the side walls, is designed with ribbed coping that is segmental in shape. The side openings are flat-arched and have architraves, with a plain panelled overdoor above. The side walls end in square-section piers topped with segmental pediments and ball finials. Low walls and cast-iron railings connect the gate to the corner piers at Park Hill and Freshfield Place, with a raised panel wall between two piers leading to Park Hill and a single pier connecting to Freshfield Place. The gate is identical on both the south and north faces.

This gate is part of a group that includes the former Royal Spa in Park Hill and the gate to Egremont Place.