Up to the late 1700’s | The Level was barren grassland and most of the surrounding was agricultural land. The convergence of two streams which ran down the valleys of London Road and Lewes Road made the Level quite marshy and prone to flooding. |
1791 | the area now covered by Park Crescent was laid out as a cricket ground for the Prince of Wales in 1791, and the area known then as The Level extended south to Marlborough Steine (Opposite the King & Queen Public House) |
Early 1800’s | The Level hosted the Brighton Toy Fair “at which showmen, toy vendors, pedlars, and ‘Cheap Jacks ‘mustered numerously” Described by Erridge as the earliest ‘peoples festival’ although at that time in a ‘wretched state of decadence’ the Toy fair was held at the Level on several occasions until “finally the remnant of this ancient custom ekes out its miserable existence in a field near the Queen's Park.” (J.G Bishop ‘A Peep into the Past’) |
1805 | From the Morning Herald: ‘A pony race on the Level, this morning afforded much diversion to a very numerous assemblage of spectators. After this donkey races took place: seven started for the first heat, and what is very singular, two, on this starting, ran a dead heat; a circumstance probably, with quadrupeds of this sluggish tribe, never recorded in the annals of sporting’ |
1807 | the Level hosted a Sheep Fair selling exclusively ‘Genuine and true’ South Down Sheep |
1814 | The Great Peace Festival to mark the overthrow of Napoleon Bonaparte took place on the Prince Regents cricket ground
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1817 | The enclosure of the North Steine left the Level as the only remaining recreational area in the town. |
| Two bullocks were roasted on the Level to celebrate the coronation of George IV |
1822 | The area we now know as the Level was formally laid out by A.H.Wilds and Henry Phillips. Union Road was constructed to link the Ditchling and Lewes Roads, while the land to the north was sold to James Ireland who laid out the Royal Gardens |
1838 | An Ox and some sheep roasted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria |
1844 | A fine avenues of elm trees were planted, a gift of the Earl of Chichester |
1855 | Public celebration to commemorate peace with Russia |
1887 | a low wall was built along the inside of the avenues and the low fence was replaced by six-foot iron railings |
1920’s | The layout of the park has remained the same since the late 1920’s after the park was redesigned and redeveloped by Captain Bertie Hubbard MacLaren, the Superintendent for the Brighton Parks Department. MacLaren previously designed Preston Park in Brighton. |
| Between 1921 and 1926, the Rose Walk was home to the Open Market. Traders were given this space after protests at council attempts to close down the Oxford Street pitches culminating in the ‘Battle Of Oxford Street’ which was addressed by Harry Cowley. |
1929 | MacLaren designed a large play ground for children of all ages and included a large boating pool in the centre of the southern area of the park. The boating pool was a main feature of the park and was interlinked with a pergola structure and two semi circular building on either side. Two bridges gave access over the boating pond. |
1936 | MP for Tottenham South – Sir Frederick Messer asked the following parliamentary question: asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the piece of ground known as The Level, at Brighton, which was a gift to the public has been let by the Brighton Corporation for purposes other than those contained in the conditions of the gift; and will he take steps to safeguard the rights of the public in this matter? (Hansard) |
1944 | Royal Engineers occupy part of the Level and the northern section taken over by Nissen huts. |
1948 | On June 5th an hour long pitched battle took place as the British Union of Fascists attempted to hold a rally on the Level. Supporters of a Jewish ex servicemen’s organisation attacked the Union’s loudspeaker vans to prevent them from being driven on to the Level and fighting – involving several hundred people continued across the park until, finally gaining control, police ordered that the Fascist meeting stop and the loudspeaker vans were made to leave. The local organiser of the Fascist Union attempted to address the crowd from the bonnet of a car, but was stoned off by protesters. Many people were injured and five were admitted to hospital. Following this event, the Sussex District Committee of the communist Party petitioned the council “to ask the Government to make all forms of racial propaganda and Fascist organisations illegal”. |
1952/3 | MP for Brighton Kemptown Mr Howard Johnson repeatedly requested in parliamentary questions to the Minister of War that a date for the removal of the Nissan Huts on the Level could be set: 17/06/52 asked the Secretary of State for War when the building of the new wing to the main Royal Engineers Record Office will be completed, so that land at The Level, Brighton, can be derequisitioned and again used as a recreation ground, that being the purpose for which it was, many years ago, dedicated to the public.
07/07/53 Asked the Secretary of State for War if he will fix an early date when his Department will derequisition land at The Level, Brighton, and will remove therefrom the seven huts used by the Royal Engineers Records Office. Is the Minister aware that this land is reserved by Act of Parliament as a public open space, is in the centre of a very populous area and is badly needed by Brighton Corporation for its proper use as a children's playground? (Hansard) |
1955 | Army leave the Level |
1983 | On February 15th (Shrove Tuesday) over 100 women and children arrived at the Level to set up the Brighton Peace Camp. The Camp was intended as a protest at the arrest of 44 women at the Greenham Common Peace Camp. The camp remained on the Level for over two months. |
1987 | The Great Storm destroyed many of the Elms on the Level. |