Seven Dials, Brighton

In central Brighton, where seven roads meet; clockwise from the north, these are: • Prestonville Road • Chatham Place, (B2122) leading to New England Road and Preston Circus - another major road junction • Buckingham Place, (A2010) leading to the railway station by way of a sharply curving downhill slope • Dyke Road,(A2121) one of the city's main roads - leading to the city centre • Vernon Terrace,(B2122) leading to Montpelier Road and the seafront • Goldsmid Road,(sic) (B2020) leading into Davigdor Road and Cromwell Road into Hove • The northward continuation of Dyke Road, (A2010) leading eventually to the Devil's Dyke beauty spot on the South Downs ==Development==

The area began to be developed with a mixture of terraced houses and more substantial Victorian villas shortly after the London and Brighton Railway opened sections of its lines in the area. The route westwards to Shoreham-by-Sea (opened in 1840) ran through the area, while the Brighton Main Line (1841) and the throat of Brighton station lie on the eastern edge. A 2013 revamp of the junction is intended to improve its appearance, make it safer for cyclists, and easier for pedestrians. There was some disagreement during the public consultation phase beforehand. A campaign to prevent the removal of an elm tree from the top of Vernon Terrace – with protesters camping in the tree — was successful, with works being changed to keep it. ==Gallery==

Image:St_Lukes_OSRd_Brighton.jpg|St Luke's Church, at 64 Old Shoreham Road, was built in 1875. The eastern side, on Stanford Road, is shown here. Image:Stanford_Road_Junior_School.jpg|Stanford Road school, built in 1893. Notice the entrance marked "BOYS". Image:Hamilton_Road,_Brighton.jpg|Hamilton Road runs south-eastwards down the hill, and looks down on the twin-arched roof of Brighton station. Image:Brighton_Station_(Towards_Seven_Dials).jpg|Looking up the hill towards Seven Dials, beyond Brighton station, emphasising the change in gradient. The buildings in the centre background are in Howard Place. Image:Seven_Dials_(Vernon_Terrace).jpg|Seven Dials roundabout from Buckingham Place, looking west towards Vernon Terrace (left) and Goldsmid Road (right). Image:Montpelier_Crescent.jpg|Montpelier Crescent is a crescent of houses opposite Vernon Terrace, just south of the Seven Dials roundabout. Image:Vernon_Terrace.jpg|The northern end of Vernon Terrace, looking towards Seven Dials (the tree is close to the junction itself). The start of Montpelier Crescent is on the right. == References ==