Monday 5 April 2010

A day at the Seaside!

Last Thursday, Jo, Kane and I went to Brighton pier. We haven't been there for a while, so we grabbed some coats, jumped in the car and off we went.
  We parked along Madeira Drive, amongst it's fine arches, and walked along the pavement near to the beach towards the pier.


Brighton is a stunning city, but the most stunning of all is the history, and old buildings that lie mostly unseen from the main routes in Brighton. As seasides go, you really can't get better than Brighton!

Brighton's first pier - a chain pier was built in 1823, replaced by a grander pier in 1899, and by 1911 the concert hall had become an attraction in itself. In 1984 the pier was refurbished, and stands as the pier we see today.

                          

Brighton also boasts the worlds oldest railway - the Volk's Railway opened in 1883! The railway even drove through the sea on a large stilted electric train!


             
              

We walked around the outside of the pier, taking in the fresh (read freezing!) air, before having a look inside one of the arcade buildings. Kane soon discovered a machine called 'Spider Stompin' which gave out lots of tickets that you can buy prizes with. He went on a couple of times and by the end of the day, he had 27 tickets! Enough to get a little polystyrene plane! (only 18,600 tickets for a Nintendo DS!!!)

                           

Next we went on an 'Air hocky' game, which Kane and I love playing.



He came up the victor in that, and then we started getting peckish, so we went outside and started walking to find somewhere to eat.



Before we left the pier, I thought I'd try to get a photo of the amazing cloud formation over the coast and Brighton - it ended up being 3 that I turned into a panorama.



When we came off the pier, Jo pointed out a Harry Ramsden's so we went inside, and while Jo enjoyed a Cod, chips and mushy peas, Kane and I enjoyed a plateful of sausage and chips!



What a GREAT day out!

5 comments:

Don said...

You have a lot of history over there! My state (Michigan) was still a wilderness territory when the first Brighton Pier was built. Your photos are really sweet! It looks and sounds like you all had a nice time outside, even with the refreshing sea breeze.

Nice

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

Was a lovely much needed trip out. :0)

Unknown said...

I haven't been to Brighton since my son was a baby and he's 24 now!! I loved the lanes - his father came from Kemp town (should have been called 'camp' town) such a lovely place and very 'vibrant'

Stiggy said...

Thanks Don - yes it's amazing when you think about all the little things we take for granted over here - although I'll let you into a secret -....

....we don't ALL live in castles!

;)

Yes indeed Jo, it WAS a lovely day out - cleared the head somewhat!

:D

x x x

Stiggy said...

Hi Frugal - just missed you there! ;)

The lanes are always good to check out - you know Kemp town was named after the man who built it? A man called Thomas Reed Kemp.

I think you need to come visit - it's a fun day out - what the seaside is all about!

:D