Patcham Pylon

Patcham Pylon
The structures from the southwest
Location	A23 (London Road), Patcham, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
Coordinates
Founded	1928
Built	1928
Built for	Sir Herbert Carden on behalf of the Borough of Brighton
Architect	John Leopold Denman
Governing body	Brighton and Hove City Council
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: East Pylon; West Pylon; Seat next to East Pylon; Seat next to West Pylon
Designated	26 August 1999
Reference no.	1381679; 1381681; 1381680; 1381682
Location within the city of Brighton and Hove

The Patcham Pylon is a monumental gateway erected in 1928 near Patcham in East Sussex, England. Designed by local architect John Leopold Denman and paid for by public subscription, it commemorated the extension of the County Borough of Brighton on 1 April 1928, and stood close to the new northern boundary.

The gateway consists of two stone towers known locally as "the Pylons" [sic], with built-in seats around their bases. They still stand and are clearly visible to travellers on either carriageway of the A23 road to London. They straddle the southbound carriageway of the A23 just outside the city of Brighton and Hove and are individually listed at Grade II.

History and symbolic role

The Pylon was built as a symbolic gateway to Brighton and was intended to extend a welcome to travellers approaching from the north along the A23. They were commissioned by Sir Herbert Carden, a local councillor, and were unveiled on 30 May 1928. He paid £2,255 towards them, and the public raised a further £993. They stand either side of what was, at the time of construction, a single carriageway road. Because the road is now a dual carriageway, one pylon now "stands forlornly in the central reservation, although a third is planned".

In the spirit of welcome, the north face of the western tower bears the inscription:

HAIL GUEST• WE ASK NOT WHAT THOU ART.
IF FRIEND. WE GREET THEE. HAND & HEART:
IF STRANGER. SUCH NO LONGER BE:
IF FOE. OUR LOVE SHALL CONQUER THEE.

The pylons and seats were listed at Grade II by English Heritage on 26 August 1999. Such buildings are considered to be "of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them", and "nationally important" buildings of "special interest". As of February 2001, they were among 1,124 Grade II-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city of Brighton and Hove.

Architecture

The pylons are of limestone with slightly concave north and south faces. Small buttresses protrude at the corners. Carvings and inscriptions include the coat of arms of the Duke and Duchess of York, who laid the foundation stone, the emblems of Brighton and Sussex, a female figure and a galleon. Details of the date, architect, builders, founders and other descriptive information, and a short poem, are also carved on the flat panels which are mounted on the concave faces. Next to each pylon is a seat, also made of stone and wrapping around but not touching the base. They are about off the ground, supported on small columns, and have decorative moulding. They are separately listed at Grade II.