St Michael's Place: Introduction

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

As Wilmot's map shows, while Powis Place (now Powis Square) had been constructed by the early 1850s, both Powis Road and St Michael’s Place were yet to be developed. The latter owes its eventual existence to my hero, the architect and surveyor, Thomas Simpson, who went on to design nearly all the Board Schools in Brighton and Hove.

Construction was sluggish at first. Having initially put forward his proposals to the town council in 1863, for reason(s) yet to be determined, Simpson's detailed plans were not submitted until 1868, after which construction began in earnest.

Ordnance Survey Map surveyed 1874, published 1876. © National Library of Scotland.

These substantial properties were ideal for launching boarding schools. Two trailblazing Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) organisations also launched here - the Barclay Home for Blind Girls at number 24 and, at number 17, Mary Hare's Oral School for the Deaf and Dumb. Both achieved rapid success, prompting moves to even larger premises within a few years.