Images: Brighton Railway Station & Trafalgar Street, dates: top left: 1840s; top right: 1920; bottom left: 1961; bottom right: 1970s. All images courtesy of Brighton & Hove Museums.
The historic engraving (top left image), dating from the 1840s, captures Brighton Railway Station as it stood in its earliest years, serving as the southern terminus of the London & Brighton Railway. Designed in a grand Italianate style by David Mocatta, the station was built into the hillside, creating a dramatic elevation that posed a challenge for arriving passengers and horse-drawn cabs.
At the time, Trafalgar Street – seen here descending towards St Peter’s Church – was one of the main routes to the station. However, its steep incline made access difficult, particularly for cabs transporting passengers and luggage. This led to the construction of the Cab Road, an underground passage allowing horse-drawn carriages to reach the station platforms without the arduous climb.
The image also provides a rare glimpse into the surrounding landscape of early Victorian Brighton, before extensive urban expansion transformed the area. The ongoing developments over the decades can be seen in the later three images from the 1920s, 1960s and 1970s, which show the changes around the railway station.
While much has changed, the station remains a key transport hub, and its hidden spaces – like the Cab Road – continue to tell the story of Brighton’s railway history.
