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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
COMMERCIAL USE OF THE GARDENS NOT PERMITTED
Please note that the use of the gardens for commercial purposes is not permitted. Residents may use a personal trainer, one to one, in the …
New Rules Concerning Access To The Gardens By Non-Residents
Keyholders Must Accompany Their Guests In The Gardens At the KTE AGM in January 2020 new rules were agreed to deal with complaints from residents …
Dog Registration Reminder
Annual registration of dogs permitted to use the private gardens of Kemp Town Enclosures is due as of 1st January 2021. It is vitally important …
Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2020
Download The enclosed Financial Statements, together with the accompanying notes, fulfills Kemp Town Enclosures Limited statutory requirements for annual reporting. To download the report, follow …
Lockdown Regulations
Statement From The KTE Board Of Directors Regarding Lockdown Regulations 22nd April 2020 1. The Board of Directors (as unpaid volunteers) has duties to all …
Jeremy’s Garden Report for February/March
The weather wasn’t great – I thought January was wet, but February turned out to be even wetter and more windy. Luckily we didn’t have …