History – The Pepperpot

This month in Discover History, we focus on The Pepperpot, a prominent structure with an eclectic and interesting past (bold stand first) On Tower road, a stone’s throw from Queens Park, stands an ornate, grade II listed tower, affectionately known by locals as ‘The Pepperpot’. The structure was designed and built in 1830 by Charlie Barry, to house the villa’s pump and water tank and supplied water by force from the pressure contained in the large tank located in the top of the tower. It has had various uses ever since; most notably for printing and publishing the Brighton Daily Mail; as an observation tower in the Second World War; a scout headquarters; an artist’s studio, and finally as a public convenience. Today it is not used at all, but is an admired and beloved piece of Brighton history and a reminder of the magnificent architecture and design of the Victorian era. A local photographer was allowed Inside the structure in April 2003, he reported It to be in a sad state of repair, damp, smelly with a layer of slime on everything. The ten-sided cylindrical structure is now a strong landmark and prominent meeting point for many people living in the Hanover area.