Old Steine Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Steine Gardens |
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Old Steine Gardens with Royal Pavilion in background
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| Location | Brighton, East Sussex, England |
| Area | 1.44 acre |
| Created | 1846 |
| Designer | Sir John Cordy Burrows |
The Old Steine Gardens are beautiful public gardens in Brighton, England. They are next to the Old Steine road. These gardens are home to several important historical monuments.
Contents
A Look Back at Old Steine Gardens
The Old Steine was once an open, grassy area. A small stream ran through it. Fishermen in the village of Brighthelmstone used to dry their nets and store their boats here.
Over time, the area changed. It was drained and fenced off. Visitors to Brighton, which became a popular seaside resort, used the Steine for walks. It changed from a working area to a place for fun and relaxation.
By the 1700s, buildings started to appear. The Royal Pavilion, a grand palace built for King George IV, was nearby. Its eastern lawns were once part of the Old Steine.
Today, the Old Steine road goes around a triangular piece of land. This land is the Old Steine Gardens. It covers about 1.44 acres. North Street cuts through the gardens, dividing them into two parts.
Southern Part of the Gardens
The southern part of the gardens is shaped like a square. It holds the Victoria Fountain and the Statue of Sir John Cordy Burrows.
Gardens were planted around the Victoria Fountain in 1846. This happened after the fountain was installed. In 1880, an oak tree was planted here. It marked 100 years since Brighton's Sunday schools began.
Northern Part of the Gardens
The northern part of the Old Steine Gardens is shaped like a triangle. Here you will find the Brighton War Memorial. There is also the Egyptian Campaign Memorial.
The Old Steine Garden was named a Centenary Field in 2014. This was for the 100th anniversary of World War I. It celebrates the garden's important local history.
Victoria Fountain: A Royal Landmark
The Victoria Fountain stands in the middle of the southern part of Old Steine Gardens. This fountain is 32 feet tall. It has a large, round pool made of cast iron.
Inside the pool, there are large stones called sarsen stones. These stones were found nearby in 1823. They hold up three dolphins that are twisted together. On top of the dolphins is a shallow iron basin.
How the Fountain Came to Be
The fountain exists thanks to John Cordy Burrows. Town leaders first decided not to build a fountain for Queen Victoria. This was to celebrate her becoming queen in 1837.
So, Burrows decided to pay for it himself. He worked with architect Amon Henry Wilds. Money also came from public donations and special events. These events included a bazaar and a concert.
William Pepper sculpted the dolphins. He came from a family of sculptors in Brighton. The metal parts were made by the Eagle Foundry in Brighton. This company also installed the fountain.
Unveiling the Fountain
The Victoria Fountain was officially opened on May 25, 1846. This was Queen Victoria's 27th birthday. A royal salute was fired from the pier. The fountain started flowing at the same time.
Special music was played for the event. Local businesses closed early that afternoon. The day ended with fireworks.
The fountain quickly became a famous local spot. People could buy pictures of it in bookstores. It was protected as a Grade II listed structure in 1952. This means it is nationally important.
Restoring the Fountain
The fountain was repaired starting in 1990. The work was finished before the Prince of Wales visited in 1995. Prince Charles unveiled a plaque to mark the restoration.
The plaque says the restoration was funded by Brighton Council. It also received help from English Heritage.
Statue of Sir John Cordy Burrows: A Local Hero
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John Cordy Burrows was born in Ipswich, England, in 1813. He became a surgeon. He studied in London and qualified in 1835. In 1836, he joined the Royal College of Surgeons.
Burrows' Contributions to Brighton
In 1837, Burrows moved to Brighton. He started his own medical practice two years later. He also became very active in the community.
He helped start the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. He also helped create the Brighton Mechanics' Institution. He designed and paid for the gardens around the Victoria Fountain. He also worked to improve health conditions in the town.
Burrows was elected mayor of Brighton three times. This was a first for the town. He was known as "King Cordy." In 1873, the queen made him a knight.
Sir John Cordy Burrows passed away in Brighton in 1876. Many people attended his funeral. Businesses closed to honor him.
The Statue's Journey
The Statue of Sir John Cordy Burrows was first placed near the Royal Pavilion. It was unveiled on February 14, 1878. The statue is made of white marble. Its base is grey granite.
The statue shows Burrows in his mayoral robes. The base says: "Sir John Cordy Burrows Knt. Three Times Mayor Of Brighton." It also says: "Erected By His Fellow Townsmen As A Mark Of Their Esteem 1878."
The statue was designed by sculptor Edward Bowring Stephens. Music was composed for the unveiling. The statue was moved to its current spot in Old Steine Gardens in 1984. This happened when the Royal Pavilion grounds were redesigned. It became a Grade II listed structure in 1999.
Brighton War Memorial: Remembering Sacrifices
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The Brighton War Memorial is in the northern part of the Old Steine Gardens. It used to be where a statue of George IV stood. That statue was moved to the Royal Pavilion.
Design of the Memorial
The memorial has a large, shallow pool with a fountain. At one end of the pool is a stone colonnade. This is a row of columns shaped like a 'U'.
In the center of the colonnade is a stone temple. A stone panel inside lists places where soldiers fought. These include "France And Flanders" and "Palestine." Above this is Brighton's coat of arms. Inside the temple is a stone altar.
A bronze plaque near the altar remembers those who died. It says: "This Memorial Is Dedicated To The Service Men And Women Of Brighton Who Gave Their Lives In The First World War 1914–1918 The Second World War 1939–1945 And Subsequent Campaigns." It also says their names are in a book at St Peter's Church.
Two bronze pillars stand at the corners of the colonnade. They list the names of 2,597 men and 3 women. These people died in World War I.
Who Designed It and Why
Architect Sir John William Simpson designed the Brighton War Memorial. He was president of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
The memorial's design is like a Roman water garden. The water represents the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy. The gardens represent the British Army and Royal Air Force.
Admiral David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty unveiled the monument on October 7, 1922. He was a leader in the Royal Navy during World War I.
The Brighton War Memorial became a Grade II listed structure in 1999. This means it is an important historical site.
A Note on the Memorial
Pruett Mullens Dennett, a British flying ace from World War I, is remembered here.
In 2018, some damage occurred to the memorial. A word on the stone panel was chipped away. Council officials said the damage was hard to repair.
Egyptian Campaign Memorial: Honoring Soldiers
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The Egyptian Campaign Memorial is at the very northern tip of the Old Steine Gardens. It honors the Royal Sussex Regiment.
What the Memorial Looks Like
This monument is a granite obelisk. An obelisk is a tall, four-sided stone pillar. It stands on a round brick base.
The middle section has granite plaques on each side. The plaques on three sides list the names of soldiers who died. The plaque on the north side explains what the monument is for.
It says: "Erected By The Officers, N.C. Officers And Men 1st Bn "Royal Sussex" Regt. To The Memory Of Their Comrades Who Were Killed In Action Or Who Died Of Wounds Or Of Disease Contracted During The Egyptian Campaign 1882 And Nile River Expedition 1884–85." The base of the obelisk has the words "Egypt" and "Abu-klea" in raised letters.
Remembering the Campaigns
The memorial remembers soldiers from two events. These are the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 and the Nile Expedition of 1884–1885.
In 1884, British Major General Charles George Gordon was sent to Khartoum, Sudan. His mission was to help British and Egyptian forces leave the area. They were threatened by rebels.
Rebel activity grew stronger. Other British forces left Sudan. General Gordon organized Khartoum's defense. The British public wanted to send help to Gordon.
A relief force, the Nile Expedition, was formed. It included British and Canadian soldiers. They were attacked by rebels at Abu-Klea. This was the Battle of Abu Klea in 1885. When the expedition reached Khartoum, the city had already fallen. General Gordon had been killed.
The officers and men of the First Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment built this monument in 1888. The Egyptian Campaign Memorial became a Grade II listed structure in 1971.
