Kemp Town Enclosures A private communal garden, shared by the freeholders of Kemp Town Estate. Designed in the 1820s by Thomas Kemp, the estate spans Sussex Square, Lewes Crescent, Chichester Terrace, and Arundel Terrace. The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023 The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023 celebrates 200 years of the estate’s history, from Thomas Read Kemp to today. Featuring rare photographs and historical insights, this limited edition book (150 copies) is available for £25. To reserve a copy, email kte.org.secretary@gmail.com. Grade II Listed Gardens Spanning 7.5 acres and split by Eastern Road, the Enclosures were central to Thomas Kemp’s vision. Designed by botanist Henry Phillips and surveyor Henry Kendall, they originally featured over 20,000 plants, including semi-mature trees and shrubs. The Secret Tunnel That Inspired Wonderland The South Garden tunnel, leading to the Esplanade, is said to have inspired the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll frequently visited Brighton to see his friend, Rev. Henry Barclay, who ran a boys’ prep school at 11 Sussex Square between 1871 and 1888. The Enclosure's Royal Connections Kemp Town’s gardens have welcomed royalty for centuries. William IV, Queen Adelaide, and later Victoria and Albert enjoyed strolling here. In 1908, the entire garden was reserved for King Edward VII when he visited his daughter at 1 Lewes Crescent (now Fife House), where a specially installed royal loo still remains. Kemp Town Enclosures The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023 Kemp Town Enclosures - Brighton Kemp Town Enclosures - Banner 3 Lewis Carroll Kemp Town Enclosures - Banner 4

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Kemp Town Enclosures

Kemp Town Enclosures is a communal garden, owned collectively by the freeholders of the 105 houses that make up the Kemp Town Estate. Developed in the 1820’s by Thomas Kemp, the Estate consists of Sussex Square, Lewes Crescent, Chichester Terrace and Arundel Terrace.

The gardens were landscaped in 1828 by local horticulturist Henry Phillips at around the time that the Kemp Town Estate was being constructed, with the tunnel to the esplanade being added in about 1830. William IV and Queen Adelaide, and later Victoria and Albert, enjoyed walking in the gardens on their visits to Brighton.  They were set aside for the exclusive pleasure of Edward VII in 1908 when he was staying with his daughter at 1 Lewes Crescent.

Gardener’s Reports & Garden News

Get seasonal updates from the garden team and see what’s happening across the Kemp Town Enclosures, including tree works, planting, and restoration projects.
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2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The KTE AGM will take place in person at EF International School on Saturday 21st March 2026 at 10.30am. Freeholders are encouraged to attend to have their say.

Address

1-2 Sussex Square, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1FJ

Date & Time

  • Saturday 21st March 2026 - 10.30AM
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Kemp Town Enclosures AGM 2023

The Annual General Meeting will this year be held at EF International Language Campus Brighton in Sussex Square. Proceedings will begin at 10.30am on Saturday 8th April 2023 and all are welcome!

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Your Board Needs You!

Since the AGM in 2023, we have lost four key members from the Board of Directors.

The Board therefore welcomes residents interested in joining the board to submit their CV and a statement of what their skills would contribute to the skill set of the board by the 24th of March.

The Board would also welcome enquiries and would be happy to discuss what being a member of the Board of KTE entails,
in advance of the submission deadline.

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