Bristol Gardens, the Estate of the First Marquis of Bristol: 12 Bristol Gardens, 1 to 11 (odd) Church Place, walls to Badger’s Tennis Courts and walls to former Bristol Nurseries

Asset type

Historic Building - Estate buildings and walls

Local Listing Reference

LLHA0008

Conservation Area (CA)

Within and outside Kemp Town CA

Description

Buildings and walls relating to improvements made to the Marquis of Bristol’s estate between 1832 and 1851.

The Marquis resided in 19-20 Sussex Square (Bristol Mansions), but also likely owned numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 33, 34 and 35 Sussex Square. He acquired land from Thomas Read Kemp to add a dairy, farm, nursery garden, pleasure gardens, stables and housing for estate workers.

Number 1 Church Place comprises the Dairyman’s house of two storeys with largely symmetrical frontage and central moulded doorcase; numbers 3 and 5 form associated two-storey terraced cottages but are of lesser status in their decoration. The dairy is set to the immediate north (now altered to form a commercial garage). Number 12 Bristol Gardens comprised the laundry. Of one storey with oversized chimney to the streetfront, it is of 3 storeys when viewed from the south.

All these identified buildings share similar features, being built of plum brick in Flemish bond with buff brick flat gauged arches. The stable block on the corner of Bristol Gardens and Church Place also shared these features, but was demolished in the 1950s.

There are two phases of walls: The earliest phase relates to land laid out by Thomas Read Kemp in 1825. It comprises 1 to 2 metre high flint walls with red brick quoins and string courses (marked in green on the plan above). The second phase comprises 2 to 3 metre high brick walls, constructed in English bond and utilising the same plum brick as the above buildings (marked in black).

The brick was made on the Duke’s estate in Suffolk (Shotley Brick and Cement Works) and transported to Brighton by sea. It is more typical of the later 18th century or areas in central and northern England where it was common in the 19th century.

The most prominent brick walls form the tall walls to the Badger’s Tennis Courts. Originally enclosing pleasure grounds, the area is already shown as a tennis ground on the c.1930s Ordnance Survey map, and appears to be an early example of a lawn tennis club. The walls to the rear of 15, 16 and 18 Sussex Square are considered statutorily listed as part of the listing for these buildings and are therefore not included on the local list. 233 Eastern Road appears rebuilt/much altered and therefore is also not included on the local list.

Source: Research by Bristol Nurseries Residents Association, English Heritage Designation Report (not listed).

A . Architectural, design and artistic interest

i. Good examples of lesser status estate buildings, employing a distinctive architectural signature and specific materials brought in to the region from further afield. iv Associated with the notable local builder William Hallett

B. Historic and evidential interest

ii. The surviving buildings and walls reveal much about the ‘back of house’ functional side of wealthy estates. iii Research by the Bristol Nurseries Residents Association has drawn together many associated historic records, which enhance the significance of the surviving remains

C. Townscape interest

ii. Mostly outside of the Kemp Town Conservation Area, the structures add interest to the streetscene. This is most notably the case for the walls around Badger’s Tennis Court and 12 Bristol Gardens. iv Has group value with the grade I listed properties of Sussex Square, particularly 19-20 Sussex Square

E. Rarity and representativeness

ii. The surviving buildings and walls represent the legacy of the Marquis of Bristol Estate. It reveals much about the relationships between the wealthy benefactor residing in the large townhouse, the more functional side of the estate and the workers employed on the estate.

F. Intactness

i. Parts of the estate remain clearly intact; notably 1 Church Place. Other aspects however are fragmentary or have suffered from the installation of inappropriate modern windows.

Date of inclusion

2015