Ralph Thrale [3] bought a cottage in West Street, Brighton (or Brighthelmstone as it was then known) in 1755. Brighton was on the south coast, and was a very fashionable town, famed for its sea bathing. Upon his death, Ralph left the cottage to his son Henry Thrale [4].
[5]
Henry loved Brighton for the bathing and hunting on the Sussex Downs. As he grew more affluent he outgrew his father's cottage and needed a larger house to accommodate his servants, family and entertaining. He therefore sold the cottage and bought a larger house on the east side of West Street at number 64.
This was a three storey, roomy house with two bay windows and a portico. It was a light-coloured stone structure. It had iron chains dangling from a row of posts in front. It was a very respectable house, despite its proximity to the King's Head.
[6]
Henry Thrale, also had a pew in the local Church of St. Nicholas. After Henry's death, this house was inherited by his youngest daughter Cecilia Thrale [7].
The property has long since been demolished1 and is now the site of a night club called Creation. Outside the club, a tethering post remains [8] from the Thrale days.
Links
[1] http://thrale.com/user/login?destination=comment/reply/404%23comment-form
[2] http://thrale.com/user/register?destination=comment/reply/404%23comment-form
[3] http://thrale.com/ralph_thrale_mp_owner_1729_1758
[4] http://thrale.com/henry_thrale_17249_1781
[5] http://www.thrale.com/sites/all/libraries/tng/documents/brighton_thrale_home_west_street.png
[6] http://www.thrale.com/sites/default/files/pictures/brighton_thrale_home_west_street_1865.png
[7] http://thrale.com/cecilia_thrale
[8] http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/211963
[9] http://www.thrale.com/sites/all/libraries/tng/photos/brighton_blue_plaque.png