49 Brunswick Street West

39 Brunswick Square was the subject of research by another part of this project so the rear of that residence was selected to ensure that any servants, coachmen or grooms who were resident in the rear of the building would be included in the research. Number 39 Brunswick Street West became number 49 from 1925.

Reviews of the Census and Trade Directory data for the entire century under examination have been unable to generate a single reference to anyone living in No. 39 Brunswick Street West.

Examination of the 1875 Ordnance Survey (OS) map held on the National Library of Scotland (NLS) website shows clearly that the rear of 39 Brunswick Square was still an open space with no building on it in that year. The OS maps for the years 1892-1914 continue to show an empty space.

1875 OS map of Brunswick Town. No. 39 BS & 39 BSW outlined in red

In 1921, permission was granted for a motor garage to be built at No. 39 Brunswick Street West.  Following the 1925 renumbering No. 39 became No. 49 Brunswick Street West.  This is confirmed from a record in the Keep which shows an auction in November 1929 of “No. 39 Brunswick Square together with a garage at No. 49 Brunswick Street West”.

The architect, A.H. Lainson’s front elevation of the proposed garage. Note the door leading to the trades entrance down the side

Plan of the garage showing the Trades entrance to 39 Brunswick Square leading to the Caretaker’s accommodation.

In 1923 the space was used by a builder, Henry Humphrey, who was also using number 10, but it’s not clear what he was doing with the space.

The 1975 conservation area photo shows the edge of the building numbered 49 with the door to the passage to the right still showing 39, presumably meaning that the caretaker’s cottage was still connected to the main building in Brunswick Square at this time.

Hove Borough Council’s photograph of part of the Brunswick Town conservation area in 1975

The following photo of No.49 shows that little has changed in the nearly 100 years since the garage block was built.  The building looks the same apart from different doors and the passageway to the right now leads to 49A Brunswick Street West, presumably no longer a part of 39 Brunswick Square.

How 49 (formerly 39) BSW appears in the 2020s. Google Streetview

Research by Peter Hume, 2022

Return to Brunswick Street West page.