Magnus Volk
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Magnus Volk |
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Arch One , Area 82 Glamour of Brighton |
Magnus Volk was a Brighton born Inventor and electrical engineer.
Volk was born in a house on Western Road in 1851. During his early life he had some success producing parlour telegraph sets which were really little more than toys for rich men to impress their friends with. He first became really well known in 1879 when he installed the first telephone line in Brighton from his house in Preston Road to another nearby in Springfield Road. The following year he cemented his fame by being the first person in the town to light his home by electricity. This success led to him being awarded a contract for installing electric lighting throughout the Brighton Pavilion gardens and within the Brighton museum and Corn exchange complex.
In 1883 he launched his most famous and long lasting project. The Volk's Electric Railway which still runs along the seafront today making it the oldest electric railway in the world that is still running. A model of one of the V.E.R Carriages is on display in the museum. In 1896 he launched his Brighton to Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway which has become better known as the 'Daddy Longlegs'. It ran on a three mile track between Banjo (Paston Place) groyne and Rottingdean powered by overhead cables like a tram. Unfortunately due to extra sea defences being built by Brighton Town Council and despite its popularity it only operated until 1901. A model of the 'Pioneer' car is also on display in the museum.
External Links
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i360 – West Pier – Palace Pier – Chain Pier – Volks Railway – Daddy Long-Legs – Brighton Marina |
