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The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023The official book celebrating The Kemp Town estate's Bicentennial will be published this year on 25th May and will be on sale for the first time at the NGS Open Day.
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Welcome toKemp Town EnclosuresA 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.
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Grade II Listed GardensThe Enclosures cover 7.5 acres, divided by Eastern Road, and were intended to be the focus of Thomas Kemp's development. Henry Phillips, a local botanist and landscape gardener, designed the original layout, with the assistance of surveyor Henry Kendall. More than 20,000 plants, including semi-mature trees and shrubs, were needed.
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Lewis CarrollThe tunnel in the south garden leading to the Esplanade is rumoured to have provided inspiration for the rabbit hole in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Carroll (the Rev Charles Dodgson) often visited Brighton to meet his friend, the Rev. Henry Barclay, who ran a boys' prep school at 11 Sussex Square some time between 1871 and 1888.
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Distinguished VisitorsWilliam IV and Queen Adelaide, and later Victoria and Albert, enjoyed walking in the gardens on their visits to Brighton and the entire garden was set aside for the exclusive pleasure of King Edward VII when he visited his daughter at 1 Lewes Crescent (now Fife House) in 1908. The loo specially installed for the King in Fife House is still extant.
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.
Latest News & Updates
Annual General Meeting – Saturday 8th April 2023
3rd April 2023
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EF International School, 1-2 Sussex Square, Brighton BN2 1FJ SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 2023 AT 10.30AM The Kemp Town Enclosures Annual General Meeting will this year ...
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Jonathan Rolls has relocated its office
13th March 2023
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From Monday 13th February 2023, Jonathan Rolls will be located at new office premises at: 74 Preston Drove Brighton BN1 6LB Email address and telephone ...
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Have your Say – 6 ideas
14th June 2022
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Six ideas for changes to be made in the gardens have been put to the Board and you are invited to make your views known ...
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Meet Jason Saul
14th June 2022
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Jason is our new assistant gardener. A former hairdresser, he only began a career in horticulture 6 years ago, but his CV is very impressive. ...
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Feed wildlife…invite rats!
11th June 2022
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One of the great joys of the garden is that it is a haven for wildlife… and many residents like to encourage the wildlife with ...
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The Secret Garden Bicentenary Project Restoration Delayed
10th June 2022
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The project to rebuild the flint wall surrounding the Secret Garden, in the South West corner of the South Garden, which is a key element ...
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National Garden Scheme Open Day
7th June 2022
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Despite grey skies and a biting wind, 100 intrepid visitors braved the elements on our second National Garden Scheme Open Day on 25th May 2022, ...
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The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023
5th June 2022
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The Kemp Town Bicentennial Book 1823-2023 was published in May and was very warmly received. More than half the print run of 200 was sold ...
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Remembering Chris Connor
21st February 2022
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A large donation has been made to help us complete the restoration of the Secret Garden. The donation commemorates Chris Connor, who lived in Chichester ...
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