About King Street

King Street cottages

Photo by Maureen Brand

Postcard of Phoebe Hessel's gravestone

Photo by Maureen Brand

Phoebe Hessel aged 106

A brief history

By Maureen Brand, North Laine resident

King Street, circa 1745-1779, runs south from Church Street. It is very short today, cut off across the end by the ugly side of a 20th century low-storey car park. The eastern side has an entrance to King Street flats and on the western side are three cottages. The middle cottage has an example of an early 19th century cobble front.

Arrival news

The Brighton Observer, Fashionable Arrival List, and County Intelligencer first appeared on 28th November 1856 and two years later printing and publication moved to 16 King Street.

Phoebe Hessel

In his History of Brighthelmston, John Ackerson Erredge records that the Vestry met in the Running Horse Inn, King Street (previously the Hen and Chickens). The Churchwardens met there and in a 1797 Vestry book there is mention of an order that Phoebe Hassell's [sic] rent be paid from that time but her weekly allowance be discontinued.

Phoebe Hassell - or Hessel - was the woman who, it is said, falling in love with a soldier, took on man's clothing and appearance and served for five years in the Fifth Foot Regiment before she was wounded and admitted to being a woman. Her grave is in St Nicholas churchyard.