Montpelier and Clifton Hill: Introduction

Rising northwards from the eastern end of Western Road, this largely residential area extends to Seven Dials to the north and is bounded by Dyke Road to the east and the Hove boundary to the west.

Wilmot’s Illustrated Map of Brighton and its Vicinity c1851. © Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

In 1819, by which time Brighton was firmly established as the Queen of Watering Places, Thomas Read Kemp had a large exotic property, known as the Temple, built for himself and his family. It overlooked the fashionable gardens of the Chalybeate (now St Ann’s Well Gardens), to which the affluent flocked during the 18th and 19th centuries to imbibe spring water containing health-giving iron salts.

Aquatint engraving, published in C & R Sickelmore’s Select Views of Brighton, c1829 and Descriptive Views of Brighton, c1830. © The Society of Brighton Print Collectors

Once land started to be sold off for development shortly afterwards, the district became known as "Montpelier" named after the internationally renowned spa town in southern France. This was deemed a sound marketing strategy to draw attention to the Chalybeate. When a number of other towns in the country adopted the same name,  for a period it was often - if not reliably or inevitably - referred to as "Montpellier" to set it apart from the rest.

The Clifton Hill area at the northern extremity was developed later during the 19th century.  

Having much to commend it, Montpelier and Clifton Hill developed rapidly towards the middle of the 19th century.  Once the London to Brighton railway line opened in 1841, proximity to the station facilitated travel to and from the metropolis – and indeed beyond.  Queens Road was then constructed, making access to the area even easier.

The air was drier, if breezier, than at sea level while the prevailing westerly wind meant that smoke and smuts from steam trains were rarely troublesome. A further asset was its distance from the town's other industries along with their less than wholesome odours.  

With the construction of more and more houses large enough to accommodate classrooms and boarders – that is to say, other people’s children and live-in staff – it is hardly surprising that the area became a magnet for boarding schools and child welfare institutions. These were generally, but not exclusively, commercial ventures. Pupils and professional staff were largely recruited from far beyond the town, including overseas - language tutors from their country of origin and pupils born in parts of the British Empire. A fair few of the schools were short-lived but certainly not all.  Many changed hands more than once before eventually petering out while others moved out of the area - generally westwards - where several still thrive today.

With its substantial and attractively designed properties, the area also became home to dynamic professionals.  A number of these individuals were enormously active in establishing and supporting a variety of educational and welfare initiatives in the town, not only for children but also for adults, with a significant focus on families of lesser means.  

This project highlights a small selection of such institutions and individuals. It is still a work in progress, and I confess that it includes one or two off-topic digressions I just couldn't resist!