My father had two very elderly cousins, Katie and Mable Nye, who lived on Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, until they passed away in the 1970s. Their father, James Nye, was my great-uncle (not pictured in the photograph). He was married to his first cousin, Gertrude Nye (back row, centre, in her parents’ Golden Wedding photograph).
The patriarch of the family was William Nye (seated proudly at the centre of the family photo) alongside his wife, Mary Anne Nye (née Silverthorne). Born in Brighton in 1811, William Nye was a Livery Stable Keeper and Job Master, running businesses from Regency Mews and Cannon Place Mews, Brighton.
His wife, Mary Anne Nye (1820–1888), was the daughter of William John Silverthorne (1787–1859), who also worked as a Livery Stable Keeper in Norfolk Mews, behind Norfolk Square, and in the adjoining Phoenix Yard.
Their eldest son, William Silverthorne Nye (1839–1931), later took over the family’s livery stable business (he is pictured in the back row, far left). Other male members of the family also worked in the business at various points in their lives.
It is highly likely that Nye carriage and fly coachmen frequently transported their clients to Brighton Station, contributing to the city’s thriving transport network.
The photograph, taken in 1886, was captured by Eugenio Martinucci, a renowned Victorian photographer based on Kings Road, Brighton. Martinucci later married Alice Mary Nye Martinucci (back row, right).
