The Old Steyne, Brighton

A large open area situated just north of Brighton's Palace Pier and seafront, the Old Steyne (also sometimes spelled Steine) was originally used by local fishermen to lay out and dry their nets. When Brighton became a fashionable resort in the mid-18th century, handsome stone houses began to appear around its edges and the central green was fenced with railings. The large fountain at the centre of the gardens was added in 1823.

Photographed by W.H. Mason of Brighton.