We're pretty proud of our wonderful hometown and Posh Totty Designs's birthplace: Brighton. Who'd have thought that when company owner, Alice, opened the city's tiniest shop nestled up an alley in Brighton's buzzing North Laine area 10 years ago that Posh Totty Designs would become the ever-growing company it is today? While that little shop has recently undergone an overhaul to become our Posh Totty Designs Makes studio, our flagship store holds the North Laine fort a few streets away on Sydney Street.
Our flagship store at No. 31 Sydney Street in Brighton's bohemian North Laine If you've ever visited Brighton - indeed, if you live here - you'll know that there's something just that little bit extra special about the unique North Laine. We love its championing of independent traders and community spirit - in fact, there's a conservation order on the area to protect its indie culture and historical appearance. So in celebration of Local History Month, we've delved into the books and done a little research on both the special area of the North Laine and Brighton & Hove in general. Read on for a few fascinating facts about the place Posh Totty Designs call its home.
Did you know...
The word 'Laine' has absolutely nothing to do with actual lanes. You'll be forgiven for thinking it's a misspelt hint at the area's winding streets - but 'laine' is actually an Old English word that describes a large field. The North Laine's Victorian alleys and streets you see today, jam packed with wonderful shops and eateries, used to be an enormous expanse of green where the South Downs tumbled south towards the sea. When the area was developed during Victorian times, our beloved Sydney Street was built on the third furlong of the field during the 1840s.
A diagram of the North Laine field from the 1700s. The area you see marked by a black box is where Sydney Street can now be found!
According to the 1881 census, there were a whopping 10 families registered as living in the building of our flagship store, No. 31 Sydney St. The premises functioned as a drapers and menswear shop for almost 90 years between 1892 and 1979, although it began life as both a grocer's and butcher's.
In fact, Sydney Street was home to several grocers and a staggering seven butchers' shops (thanks to a nearby abbatoir) by the 1960s. What an irony, as these days the North Laine is teeming with vegetarian and vegan cafes and food shops.
A grocer's shop at No. 1 Sydney Street during WW2. 4) Anita Roddick launched and opened the first ever Body Shop on the North Laine's central street, Kensington Gardens, on 26th March 1976.
The first ever Body Shop on Kensington Gardens in 1976. Today, the premises is home to Vinmag, the best place in town for original birthday cards!
Speaking of firsts...
Did you know that the UK's first ever permanent yoga studio was opened to the public in the North Laine in January 1982? The owner of Brighton's famous vegetarian and organic supermarket, Infinity Foods (which opened in 1971), saw an opportunity to convert a store area at the back of their building into a place where yogis could gather and practice. Brighton is renowned for its 'alternative scene', which may just find its roots in the North Laine.
The world's first ever cargo flight took off from Shoreham Airport, and landed on Hove Lawns on 4th July 1911. The cargo on board? Lightbulbs (which we're guessing were destined for the pier: the Palace Pier boasts approximately 60,000 light bulbs today!).
Brighton's current Sea Life Centre, which you'll find opposite the Palace Pier down on the seafront, has always been an aquarium and was purpose built as such. It opened to the public on 10th August, 1872, making it the oldest aquarium in the country.
Brighton's leafy Preston Park boasts Europe's oldest Elm trees. The pair of trees, nicknamed the Preston Twins by admiring locals, date back to 1613 and managed to escape the Dutch Elm Disease epidemic in the 1970s.
The majestic Preston Twins going strong since 1613 in Brighton's Preston Park
The Duke of York's Picture House on Preston Circus was the UK's first ever cinema, opening its doors to movie lovers in 1910.
The Duke of York's Picturehouse: left, when in opened in 1910, middle during the late 1970s, and right as it is today.
The world's oldest operating electric railway runs along the top of the beach between the Palace Pier and Brighton Marina. The ambitious Magnus Volk opened the Volk's Railway in 1883, and the narrow gauge railway has endured as a seasonal seaside feature ever since. Have you got any fascinating historical facts about Brighton & Hove? Drop us a line in the comments area below - we'd love to hear from you.
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