Railings To The Esplanade

BRIGHTON

TQ2904SE KING'S ROAD 577-1/37/361 (South side) Railings to the Esplanade

GV II

Railings. 1886 and probably 1894. Cast-iron and wood. There are 2 designs; that of 1886 is a variation on the design erected earlier on Marine Parade (qv) and generally runs between Palace Pier in Grand Junction Road and the ramp in front of the Metropole Hotel; there are standard sections about 2 metres in length, divided by piers with rounded mouldings to their edges and to the top, and with a console bracket on the sea side; the sections are divided into 3 parts and the lower section of each part has cross-pieces with a roundel in the middle carrying municipal emblems; the upper part has a wooden circular rail. The second design runs from the ramp opposite the Metropole Hotel almost to the western borough boundary, a length of King's Road which was widened in 1894. The 1886 railings begin at the east end with plain panelled piers having gadrooned finials and a flight of steps down to the groyne, whose railings are to a simpler design, lacking roundels and with a rail of cast-iron rather than timber; at intervals, there are bays or recesses in the railings, facing towards the sea, and incorporating steps or ramps down to the beach; these can be found opposite the end of Brill's Lane, the Hospitality Inn (not included), with piers carrying fluted lamp standards with spiked octagonal lanterns, the Old Ship Hotel (not included), the end of Middle Street, the end of West Street (with piers carrying fluted lamps standards, with one spiked octagonal lantern), the Brighton Conference Centre (not included), the Grand Hotel (qv), and the Metropole Hotel (not included). The 1894 railings are in single sections divided into 3 horizontally, the lowest section having cross-pieces and a roundel, the roundel modelled with dolphins; 2 cast-iron rails above; the sections are divided by piers with a simple bracket on the sea side. These railings are interrupted by the entrance to the West Pier (qv), where there are flights of stairs to east and west; similar sets of steps opposite the Bedford Hotel (not included), the end of Oriental Place, and Bedford Square. The railings end opposite the end of Western Street. (Carder T: The Encyclopaedia of Brighton: Lewes: 1990-).

Listing NGR: TQ2999904154