Brighton as a health resort / by Alfred Haviland.

  • Haviland, Alfred, -1903.
Date:
[1882]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Brighton as a health resort / by Alfred Haviland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Climate. It is difficult to pourtray the factors of climate upon a map, and wo must be contented with giving in a tabular form the statistics of the temperature of the air, the daily range—maximum and minimum—the monthly mean, together with the degree of humidity, amount of cloud, sunshine, rainfall, number of rainy days, mean pressure, and prevailing winds. These will be found at the foot of the map. The wind charts indicate the prevalence of the winds for each quarter of the year, and show at a glance how the winds change as the year rolls round. These charts, when studied together with the several aspects of the sites and the axes of the streets, will materially assist in the selection of a proper locality wherein to sojourn. Parallel lines drawn through the map, from the points of the compass hi these charts, will show at once what is required with regard to aspect. Physical Geography of Brighton. The contour lines on the Health Guide Map indicate the levels at every 25 feet of altitude above the Town Datum, which is T46 feet below High Water Mark, ordinary Spring Tides. The letters on the 75 and 100 feet Contours refer to the points of the compass and give a clue to the different Aspects of the sites which rise above them. The ordinary eight points only are given, viz., N., N.E., E., S.E., S., S.W., W., and N.W, which agree with those of the Wind Statistics given under “ Climate.” The aspect of a site once ascertained, that of the streets or roads built upon it can easily be found, and the direction of their axes determined. EXPLANATION OF THE CONTOUR LINES. Before the hills and valleys of Brighton were built over, it would have been possible to walk for several miles on a contour line without going above or below the level which it indicates. The longest and most useful line of level is the 75 feet extending from the extreme western to the extreme eastern boundary, and by skirting the central valley to a considerable distance up the Preston and Lewes Roads, the level of 75 feet may be maintained throughout for a length altogether of about 8 miles. The Contours indicate the slope of the ground and enable us to ascertain the several aspects. The letters N.E. on the side of a slope show that it has a North-Easterly aspect, and this continues till the highest point is reached. THE VALLEY OF BRIGHTON As it would appear to an observer at a height of 600 feet above the Beach at the Old Steine ; he would not only see the Y shaped valley, but also the three spurs of the South Downs which immediately flank it. Looking towards the NN.E., the main portion of the valley lies straight in front, backed by the Ditchling Road ridge and flanked on the right (East) by the ridge which extends from the Race Course to Edward street and Kemp Town; whilst on the left (West) is the ridge which stretches from the junction of Upper North Street with the Dyke Road which continues to* the Parliamentary Boundary. The North-Western or Preston valley corresponds with the course of the London Road and lies between the Dyke Road and the Ditchling Road heights; in a North-Easterly direction is the Lewes Road Valley, which lies between the Ditchling Road and the heights which culminate at the 425 feet contour line on Race Course. The contours on the map will assist in apprehending the different aspects of the sides of these heights, over which sides the town is rapidly spreading. In former times, when the town was confined to the southern part of the valley, there was little variety as regards aspect. It will be found that the boundaries of the valley comprised within the 75 and lOOfeet contour lines, give a clue to the aspect of the land rising above them until the highest i>oints of the ridges are attained, when of course there is a change. It is a singular fact' that these two lines indicate the aspects of the whole of the inhabited portion of Brighton, Hove, and Preston, and although there is a multiplicity of aspects and climates, a study of these two lines in their meanderings will prove a ready mode of understanding the whole. The parliamentary borough includes the three parishes of Brighton, Hove, and Preston, and the levels along its course give some idea of the protective influence, against certain prevailing winds, afforded by the three spurs of the (South Downs that focus at Brighton. (1) The western boundary has an entire length of If mile, and a mean altitude of 125 feet. It extends from the S.W. comer of Hove to the N.W. corner of Preston. The northern or Preston portion has a mean altitude of 158 feet, while that of the South or Hove portion is 53 feet. (2) The northern boundary which has a length of about If mile and a mean altitude of 219 feet, extends from the N.W. corner of Preston to Roedean Corner on the Round Hill. The outlet of the Preston valley cuts this side within the 100 feet contour line. (3) The North Eastern boundary is If mile in length and has a mean altitude of 228 feet, extending from Roedean Corner to the windmill on the Raceliill. The Lewes Road Valley crosses this portion at the 100 feet contour line. (4) The eastern boundary is 11 mile in length, and has a mean altitude of 210 feet. It extends from the windmill on the Racehill to the Rottingdean parish boundary, and to the seashore. The northern portion has a mean height of 300 feet, and thesouthem of 123 feet. The protective influence of this semicircle of heights, in conjunction with another outer circle next described, is an important factor in the climate of Brighton and especially hi relation to Lung disease.