Category:Valley Gardens

Valley Gardens is the term used for the sequence of green spaces running along the historical river path associated with Brighton's main valley, which, as Grand Parade, was the main entrance to Brighton by road by travellers from London.

The strip of land was partly protected from being overbuilt by the valley's geology: Old Steine was a rocky area (with an underground river running beneath) where fishermen had the right to hang out their nets to dry, and The Level, also on top of the underground waterway, was too swampy to build on, and was therefore designated as another public space. The land was somewhat encrooached upon with the conversion of the old farm house to the Royal Pavilion, and with the building of an underground sewer to take the river, but with the gentrification of Old Steine and the building of St Peter's Church, it became increasingly recognised by influential Brightonians that preserving this sequence of green spaces was important to Brighton. Victoria Park, linking Old Steine with St. Peter's, was originally a private park for keyholders only, but was donated to Brighton at arund the time that its statue of Queen Victoria was built.

Valley Gardens appears to be a "neologism"