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January 4 Skating on Falmer pond.
January 8 The Brighton-to-London express train completes the journey in one hour and five minutes.
January 15 The Pavilion is open for general inspection.
February 7 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill is read for the first time in the House of Commons.
February 12 The Committee of the National Schools in Brighton, chaired by the Bishop of Chichester, considers the soundness of the religious principles of Mr Daymond, the schoolmaster.
February 14 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill has its second reading in the House of Commons.
February 23 Several forged £5 notes are found to have been passed at the Union Bank in Brighton, Four people are arrested.
March 14 The Brighthelmston Dispensary is formally opened at the annual general meeting of governors, in the new building. Thomas Attree presents a marble bust of the late Earl of Egremont.
March 19 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill completes the Committee statge in the House of Commons.
March 30 An inhabitants meeting in the Town Hall considers 'the propriety of adopting measures in furtherance of the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in the year 1851'.
April 6 The ex-king and queen of the France arrive at the Brighton home of the Marquis of Bristol. They stay until the 20th.
April 10 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill passes its third reading in the House of Commons and has its first reading in the House of Lords.
April 23 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords.
May 2 The Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill is read a third time in the House of Lords.
May 16 Royal Assent to the Brighton Pavilion Purchase Bill.
May 28 Eight houses in Nottingham Street are destroyed by fire.
June 19 Sale of the Pavilion to the town is completed. The Surveyor to the Woods and Forests gives possession to Lewis Slight as representative of the Brighton Commissioners.
June 23 Sunday working in the Post Office is discontinued.
June 28 The grounds of the Pavilion are opened to the public. About 400 excursionists from Southampton land at the Chain Pier.
July 8 Lieutenant Gale ascends in his balloon from the Swiss Cottage, Shoreham and lands on the French coast near Dieppe around 23:00 that night. He is killed on 15 September near Bordeaux when he falls from his balloon.
July 17 A violent storm over Brighton, depicted in a print published by William Grant.
August 1 The new National School Room in Preston, built by W Stanford, is opened.
August 4 Construction of York Road begins.
August 15 Sailings by the Collier screw-steamer (Captain Doke) begin between Brighton and the Channel Islands.
August 27 W H Smith proposes a scheme for a floating breakwater.
September 5 Children playing with matches set fire to a hay stack in Gardner Street.
September 24 A public meeting at the Town Hall considers W H Smith's breakwater proposal.
September 27 Mr and Mrs King are elected governor and matron of the workhouse.
October 1 Flymen revolt when the railway company takes the cab business into its own hands.
November 14 A vestry meeting is held at the Town Hall to address the queen about the pope's attempt to 'parcel out this kingdom into dioceses under Cardinal Wiseman'.
November 21 A vestry meeting at the Town Hall considers a report by the town Commissioners to let and partly demolish parts of the Pavilion.
November 27 First interment at Extra Mural Cemetery (see also 1857 November 14).
November 29 The Vicar of Brighton, Rev H M Wagner, holds a meeting at the Town Hall to consider means of alleviating the sufferings of widows and orphans in the town.
December 5 A vestry meeting decides that the south lodge of the Pavilion shall be demolished.
December 6 A meeting is held at the Town Hall to discuss establishing a Mechanics' Institute.
December 23 Mr Cooke's circus opens in the riding school of the Pavilion.
December 25 Inmates of the workhouse are treated to roast beef and plum pudding.
December 30 The Brighton Commissioners make the first Pavilion rate.
January 13 Electric telegraph line from London to Brighton opened.
January 15 Brighton inhabitants are admitted to view the decorations of the Pavilion by gas light.
January 21 A grand ball is held in the Pavilion to mark its re-opening. Several more balls are held over the coming weeks.
January 22 A promenade concert, attended by upwards of 1,000 people, is held in the assembly rooms of the Pavilion.
January 30 A vestry meeting is held to petition Parliament for the repeal of the window tax.
February 17 The theatre closes after 'a most disastrous season' [Brighton Gazette].
February 24 Sake Dean Mahomed dies, aged 101.
March 6 A sacred concert is held at the Pavilion to inaugurate the organ in the music room.
March 14 Cook's Circus clown, Mr Nelson, sails from the Chain Pier to the Albion Hotel in a washing tub drawn by three geese.
March 19 First public performance by the Brighton Amateur Symphony Society is given at the Town Hall.
March 21 A vestry meeting for Hove residents considers whether to raise money on the rates to build a new church.
April 27 The Ayrshire Lassie begins sailings between Brighton and Dieppe for the season.
April 28 The circus closes.
May 14 Demolition of the old race stand begins.
May 15 The south gateway and Pavilion property in Castle Square are sold at auction, raising £1,722.
June 2 LB&SCR workers are granted a four-day holiday and special trains to visit the Great Exhibition.
June 6 The driver, stoker and three passengers are killed when a train hits a sleeper laid across the tracks between Brighton and Lewes. [See also 1853 September 7.]
June 12 Tenders amounting to £1,118 are made for the annual rent of part of the Pavilion estate.
July 25 St Stephen's Church in Montpelier Place, the former Pavilion Chapel, opens.
August 2 An old soldier named Kitchen arrives at Gausden's cricket ground after walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours.
August 4 A circus in a permanent building is opened in Mighell Street by a clown called Swann (see also 1853 November 20).
August 13-14 Meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. Speeches about homœopathy are available online.
August 14 Dr Gideon Mantell opens the Mantellian Academy of Sciences.
September 4 A vestry meeting adopts the bye-laws of the Commissioners for the Pavilion Grounds.
September 16 At Gausden's cricket ground, the Gentlemen of England beat the Gentlemen of Sussex.
September 25 About 3,000 people attend the first free monthly open day at the Pavilion.
September 29 A meeting is held at Brighton Town Hall to consider establishing baths and wash-houses for the poor.
October 23 The Duchess of Gloucester arrives in Brighton. She stays until 26 November.
November 27 A demonstration of Phillip's Annihilator, a fire extinguisher, at Gausden's cricket ground is attended by 10,000 people.
November 27 The first body, that of Phoebe Wells, is interred at the Brighton Extra-mural Cemetery.
December 4 A vestry meeting chaired by Rev H M Wagner, refuses to make a church rate.
January 5 New cattle market opens.
January 29 A three-day poll rejects the proposal to open the east and west gates of the Pavilion grounds by a majority of 832.
February 4 A life-boat is exhibited by a Mr Peak off the head of the Chair Pier, attended by the Duke of Northumberland and other nobility and gentry.
February 10 The gate of the north lodge at the Pavilion is blown down in a storm, killing a Miss Michelson.
February 19 The aurora borealis is seen in Brighton.
March 1 A meeting to oppose incorporation of the town is chaired by Rev H M Wagner.
March 17 Planting of trees begins on Race Hill Road, which is renamed Elm Grove as a result.
June 11 St Stephen's Church is consecrated by the Bishop of Chichester.
June 27 Emigrants from Brighton to 'the diggings' in California sail from Portsmouth on the Statesman. [see also 1853 January 12.]
June 28 A 'monster' meeting of electors is held in the Pavilion riding school (Dome).
July 8 Parliamentary election; no change in representation.
July 23 Sussex beats Kent by six wickets in a match at the Brunswick Ground.
August 6 All Saints' Church, Brighton opens.
August 26 A regatta is held off Regency Square.
September 7 Edward Boates, the boy suspected of placing a sleeper across the Brighton-Lewes railway track (see 1851 June 6), is struck dead by lightning near the same spot.
September 21 A Mrs Eastwood is killed when stepping from a train in motion at Brighton station.
October 1 The inquiry into the incorporation of Brighton resumes.
October 2 The schooner Honoria out of Dover is driven ashore near Kemp Town in a storm.
October 7 A ladies' bazaar at the Pavilion raises money to support emigration from the Scottish highlands.
November 9 The effects of an earthquake are felt in Brighton and throughout the country.
November 10 Dr Gideon Mantell dies at his home in Chester Square, London.
November 21 Widespread flooding. William Smithers drowns when he slips into the river near Old Shoreham Bridge.
November 25 A meeting at the Pavilion for the improvement of the dwellings of the working class is chaired by the Earl of Carlisle.
December 1 Patcham well overflows.
December 19 The last of the Brighton coach proprietors, Edmund Stevens ('Blue Coach'), dies at his home at 104 London Road.
December 27 A fierce storm causes much damage and drives a Portuguese ship of 180 tons is driven ashore at Copperas Gap, the 11 crew being saved.
December 28 Queen Victoria refuses a charter of incorporation to Brighton.
January 4 Lord Alfred Harvey is returned unopposed in the Brighton by-election caused by his appointment as a Lord of the Treasury (ie, whip).
January 7 W Cooke's circus closes at the Pavilion.
January 12 Letters are received from the emigrants who sailed for 'the diggings' [see 1852 June 27].
January 18
March 10 A town meeting at the Town Hall approves a proposal for a Bill in Parliament for a Constant Service Water Company.
March 17 Bursting of a locomotive boiler at Brighton station kills three people, the driver (Young), the stoker (Elliott) and a fitter (Baker).
March 28 The Swiss Gardens re-open.
March 28 The new season begins at the theatre.
March 29 Henry Tamplin is elected Constable of the Hundred of Whalesbone, the event marked with a feast at the Old Ship.
May 27 A fierce storm damages property.
June 15 At Brunswick cricket ground, the United Eleven of England beats a Seventeen of Sussex.
June 16 The foundations tone for the Brighton Female Orphan Asylum near St Mary's Hall, is lade by Lady Jane Peel.
June 22 Work begins on the King's Road Improvement, widening the road between Ship Street and West Street.
July 16 Brighton Theatre opens for the season.
August 14 Rev F W Robertson dies.
August 20 First ordinary meeting at the Town Hall of the Constant Service Water Company.
September 3 End of the inquiry into incorporation.
September 19 The circus opens at the Pavilion.
September 29 All Saints Church is consecrated by the Bishop of Chichester.
October 3 The foundation stone for Queen's Square Chapel is laid.
October 5 First stone laid for Municipal Training College by the Countess of Chichester.
November 20 The Edward Street Circus (see 1851 August 4) is destroyed by fire.
December 26 The pantomime, The Star of Brighthelmstone, opens at the Theatre.
• Brighton now has 947 gas street lamps.
January 3 In consequence of the snow storm, 4,000 quarts of soup are distributed at the three kitchens.
January 26 A meeting chaired by Major Fawcett at the Town Hall to petition parliament to assist Turkey in repelling the Russian invasion.
February 1 A fleet of colliers arrive at Shoreham, Newhaven and Littlehampton; the price of coal, which had risen to 2gns a ton, falls considerably.
February 9 A vestry meeting at the Town Hall considers the removal of the Preston turnpike gate, the trustees of the turnpike having applied to parliament for the removal of powers.
February 10 A public meeting in the Town Hall, chaired by Thomas Attree, promotes the establishment of annual floricultural and horticultural exhibitions.
February 20 A public vestry meeting in the Town Hall about the proposed new burial grounds.
March 2 A public meeting at the Town Hall disapproves of the purchase of land by the directors and guardians on which to build a new workhouse and industrial schools without rate-payer consent.
March 10 A town meeting at the Town Hall discusses the new Reform Bill.
March 13 A meeting in the Town Hall, chaired by Sir Thomas Blomefield, to petition parliament to legislate against the opening of public houses on the Sabbath.
March 28 Ann Griffen dies in the workhouse, aged 100.
April 3 Charter for incorporation of Brighton as a municipal borough with an elected Town Council.
May 4 Tenders for the new workhouse are opened and referred to the committee.
May 11 A Town Hall meeting supports Sir WC Clay's motion to abolish church rates.
May 26 The Vegetarian Society holds explanatory meetings at the Town Hall.
May 30 First elections for the Town Council. Major Fawcett is the returning officer.
June 7 The newly elected councillors appoint aldermen for the several wards.
June 7 (or 11) Major [Lt-Col?] Fawcett elected first mayor of Brighton.
June 24 The Church of St John the Baptist in Hove is consecrated.
July 31 The music hall in Edward Street reopens.
August 13 A new Act comes into force for a further closing of public houses on the Sabbath.
August 21 The famous cricketer Lillywhite dies of cholera, aged 62.
August 28 Mr and Mrs Passmore are elected governor and matron of the workhouse.
September 28 The Duchess of Gloucester arrives at the Bedford Hotel.
October 6 William Crafts ('a person of colour'), an escaped American slave, delivers two addresses on slavery at the Town Hall.
October 12 Queen's Square Chapel (Independent) opens.
October 20 Russian prisoners arrive at Lewes.
November 1 General municipal elections at Brighton.
January 1 David Black is elected Brighton Borough Coroner.
January 15 The first borough inquest is held at the Three Tuns Inn on the body of a newly born infant found among the rocks at Kemp Town.
February 26 The Theatre closes at the end of the season.
February 26 The first Brighton Quarter Sessions held before the Recorder, Edwin James.
March 19 The Theatre re-opens for a short operatic season.
March 23 The Brighton Commissioners and Municipal Transfer Bill passes the House of Commons.
May 3 The Brighton Commissioners and Municipal Transfer Act receives the royal assent.
May 8 A Town Hall meeting considers holding an exhibition of the fine arts in Brighton.
May 28 Last meeting of the town commissioners under the Brighton Town Act is held at the Town Hall, with J Patching in the chair.
May 29 The Corporation of the Borough of Brighton takes over all responsibilities of the Town Commissioners.
June 12 The first meeting of the Brighton and Sussex Photographic Society is held at the Town Hall.
July 22 Mr Hannington dies at his home in North Street, aged 70.
August 4 The Theatre opens for the season.
August 9 Queen Victoria visits Brighton on her to Osborn after inspecting the foreign legion at Shorncliffe.
November 19 The new organ is inaugurated at the Dorset Gardens Wesleyan Chapel.
December 19 Jenny Lind Goldschmidt appears in a concert at the Town Hall.
January 7 First of a series of fashionable balls at the Pavilion.
January 31 The 'Mound' in Hove Fields is removed, revealing an ancient barrow containing artefacts believed to be 2,000 years old.
February 23 Richard Davis hangs himself in one of the police cells below the Town Hall.
March 25 No court leet is held; the office of High Constable for the Hundred of Walesbone is now extinct.
March 28 Brighton Protestant Association is formed in a meeting at the Town Hall.
April 9 A vestry meeting is held to discuss the gift of 20 acres of land by the Marquis of Bristol for a parish burial ground.
May 8 A residents' meeting is held to discuss the propriety of a demonstration in celebration of the peace in the Crimea, declared on 1 May.
May 12 The Theatre opens for a short operatic season.
June 4 Celebrations to mark end of the Crimean War.
July 28 The Theatre opens for the season.
August 20 Two Brighton fishing boats are driven on shore in a gale between Rottingdean and Newhaven, all crew members (six men and two boys) are killed.
August 25 The mayor presides over a meeting to devise a means of relief for the widows and children of the fishermen.
November 1 Annual Town Council elections.
December 25 'Thunder, lightning, hail and snow'.
March 27 Parliamentary election. William Coningham (Liberal) replaces Lord Alfred Hervey.
April 18 Mrs Ogle of Withdean presents new clothing to the children of the Parish National Schools.
May 25 Swiss Gardens opens for the season.
July 25 Fire at the Victory PH in Duke Street.
July 27 The workhouse inmates have their annual treat at the Swiss Gardens.
August 1 The Theatre opens for the season.
October 5 The Swiss Gardens close at the end of the season.
October 8 A brig, the Pilgrim out of Gosport, is stranded off the Chain Pier in a fierce storm. The crew are save by the Brighton lifeboats.
October 14-28 Madame Newsome's Circus at the Pavilion Riding School.
October 29 A meeting is held to form a local branch of the National Life Boat Institution.
November 3 The music hall in Edward Street burns down.
November 9 John Cordy Burrows is unanimously elected mayor of Brighton.
November 14 Additional ground at the Extra Mural Cemetery is consecrated.
December 21 Parochial Cemetery consecrated.
January 21 Work starts on removal of the Battery.
January 22 A new groyne, contiguous with the old Pump Groyne is commenced; the contractor is Mr Fabian, the engineer John Wright.
February 15 Brighton Theatre closes but reopens on 22nd for a short operatic season.
May 27 The Royal Brunswick Masonic Lodge, no 1034 is consecrated at the Old Ship Hotel.
June 28 Hove National Schools are opened.
July 10 Louis-Antoine Jullien's monster concert at Brunswick cricket ground.
July 31 Brighton Theatre opens for the season.
October 20 St Patrick's Church opens.
October 28 Pianist and composer Wilhelm Wilhelm Kuhe gives his annual concert.
November 8 Mr & Mrs Alfred Wigan commence an engagement at the Theatre.
November 9 John Cordy Burrows is re-elected mayor of Brighton.
December 17 The pantomime Little Red Riding Hood opens at the Theatre.
January 17 Brighton School of Art opened.
January 31 Brighton and Sussex School of Practical Art inaugurated.
February 6 The Vizcaya is wrecked off Rottingdean.
February 8 The Brighton school scandal is being investigated.
February 19 The first evening service is held in Hove parish church.
February 28 Brighton theatre closes.
March 3 Trinity Chapel's new organ is inaugurated.
March 8 Lola Montez lectures at the Royal Pavilion.
March 12 P T Barnum lectures at the Town Hall.
April 28 Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid dies in London.
April 30 Parliamentary election. No change in representation.
May 20 'Terrible' storm with much damage by strong winds. Dyke Road windmill is struck by lightning.
June 7 The governor and matron of the workhouse resign.
June 8 Brighton and Sussex Society of Arts dissolved.
July 13 The first drinking fountain in Brighton inaugurated.
July 15 Mr and Mrs Sattin appointed governor and matron of the workhouse.
July 30 Brighton Theatre opens for the season, managed by Henry Nye Chart.
September 5 Madame Celeste appears at Brighton Theatre.
September 27 Brighton College chapel opened.
November 17 Trees first planted in Brighton churchyard.
Page created 10 January 2018
Page updated 21 December 2023