Tomorrow started yesterday
The Future of Moulsecoomb Place begins in its past. Much of the inspiration for the regeneration of Moulsecoomb Place lies in its heritage: as agricultural land, helping to feed Brighton’s growing population; as a place of escape and recreation for the Manor House residents and their guests; and as a blueprint for a new kind of town-and-country community.
Moulsecoomb history
The original estate
The estate was bought by a brandy merchant, Benjamin Tillstone.
Cultivation meets culture
While the manor house was decorated and gentrified, the land around it was cultivated.
Homes fit for heroes
Between the world wars, Brighton Council built hundreds of new homes on land at South Moulsecoomb and later North Moulsecoomb.
Designs for living
The layout of the Moulsecoomb schemes was overseen for Brighton Council by professor of town planning Stanley Adshead.
A local attraction
The houses of the early 1920s scheme were designed in a range of styles with generous hedges and lawns.
A club for the community
Moulsecoomb Social Club opened on 7 September 1930 in one room of the 16th century timber-framed building.
DIY homes
Self-build scheme in the mid-1950s helped 40 young couples save money on their new, semi-detached homes.
Moulsecoomb Memoirs
Ruby Dunn and Sheila Winter were early residents who both penned their own memoirs from the 1920s to the 1950s.
A greener future
The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project was started in 1994 and connects local people with gardening, food and nature.
Looking back to move forward
From farmhouse to focus for renewal
Moulsecoomb Place has seen a lot of change over the years. Once a farmhouse with a 1000-acre estate, it was surrounded by fields and orchards. As a rural retreat for the Tillstone family, it hosted a king-to-be. While the fields were turned into homes and streets, the house remained the centre of the new community. Today, it’s the focus for Moulsecoomb’s regeneration.
A place to grow: fields, farms and fruit
Not much more than 100 years ago, there were small farms and orchards around Moulsecoomb Place, keeping Brighton and the local area supplied with vegetables, fruit and flowers.
A place for escape: a royal retreat
In the 1810s, the Prince Regent, later George IV, would sneak away from the Brighton crowds to play a silver flute in a dovecote at the manor house, which had been converted into a summer house.
A place to live: town and country
From the 1920s to the 1950s, successive housing schemes built on the idea of the ‘garden city’, in which residents could experience the best of both town and country living.
A place to thrive: a strong community
A self-build scheme in the 1950s allowed many young couples to save money and build their own homes. The families that put down roots in Moulsecoomb formed a dedicated core community.
A place to learn: young at heart
There’s a been a strong student presence in this part of Brighton for over 50 years, with young people making their contribution to the community and keeping it on its toes!
A place to revitalise
With a new vision of meeting the needs of nature, local people and the student community, Cathedral’s plans promise long-term benefit for Moulsecoomb and the wider city.