BRIGHTON, bri'ton (originally Brighthelm stone, named after all Anglo-Saxon bishop, B•ighthebn, who was supposed to have founded it in the Tenth Century + town). A town and celebrated seaside resort, styled 'London by the Sea' and 'The Queen of Watering-Places,' in Sussex, England, on the English Channel, 50% miles south of London (Map: England, F 6). It is built on a slope ascending eastward to a range of high chalk cliffs bounding the coast as far as Beaehy Dead; to the west, these hills recede from the coast and leave a long stretch of sands. It extends from Kemp Town on the east to Il °VC on the west. The town has suffered severely at various periods of its existence through inroads of the sea, and to guard against further encroachments, a great sea-wall has been built; further protection is furnished by numerous jetties projected seaward. A line promenade, called the Front, the largest seaside promenade in Great. Britain. extends along the sea-front for 4 miles. Brighton is well built, and possesses many handsome buildings, among them being several palatial hotels. Near the centre of the town is the Royal Pavilion, a fantastic Oriental or Chinese structure, with domes, minarets, and pinnacles, built for the Prince of \Vales (afterwards George IV.), and acquired by the town in 1850. It. contains as sembly-rooms, a museum, picture-galleries, etc.
The Dome, formerly the Royal Stables, also acquired by the town, has been turned into a magnificent concert-hall. The aquarium is world
famous. There are numerous theatres and Brighton obtained its charter of incorporation in 1554. It sends two members to Parliament. The town owns its excellent water-supply. as well as its electric-light plant. which yields a large profit. Among other municipal undertak ings are public baths, markets. and slaughter houses. The town has numerous parks and pub lic race-grounds. In addition to its numerous private schools, the town has a municipal school of science and technology, and one of art, a grain mar school, a public library, and the Dyke Road Aluseum, containing a fine ornithological collec tion. Brighton has no maritime trade. It is essentially a town for recreation and sea-bathing. There are several hospitals, including one for children, a blind and a deaf-and-dumb asylum. An electric street railroad connects Brighton with Kemp Town, and an electric shore road (over head trolley) with Rottingdean. Population, in 1891. 115,573; in DOI, 123.478. Brighton was an important place in the Sixteenth Century, it. was twice ravaged by the French. The sea, however, now covers the ground where old Brighton once stood.
Consult: Sieklemore. History of Brighton (Brighton. 1827) ; Sawyer. Brighton." in 1 rehmoloaical Journal, Vol. XLII. (London, ISSG) : "Progress of Brighton," in Municipal -Journal (London, 1899).