North Laine, Brighton
Welcome to the crowded, colourful alternate universe of North Laine, Brighton.
Many, many years ago, Brighton was surrounded by 5 “laines,” open plots of land dedicated to farming. By the 19th century, the laines were surrounded by municipal roads.
The tracks crisscrossing the laines were turned into streets, and the areas were developed. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the North Laine was a slum, “known mostly for its squalor, abysmal living conditions and high concentration of slaughterhouses.”
Threatened by demolition in the 1970s, it was saved by a forward-thinking planning officer who thought the area had charm.
North Laine is now a popular residential and commercial area full of life, housing everything from clothing and antique stores to vegan bakeries and vegetarian shoe stores.
