History and development of Brighton Square

The building of this development in the centre of the famous Lanes was started in 1963 and works were completed in 1966. It immediately won a Civic Trust Award for redevelopment which stated that Brighton Square was:

'A highly satisfactory place of urban redevelopment which reflects the very greatest possible credit not only upon the architects but on the owners for their enterprise and upon the local authority for its collaboration in a scheme which could well have been frustrated by present regulations.'

From those early days the Square has developed a life of its own. Café society is alive and well while the shops thrive in this vibrant and cosmopolitan quarter of Brighton.

The Dolphins at Brighton Square

The sculptor James Osborne (1940-1992), whose bronzes have been exhibited all over the world and whose patrons include members of the Royal family, was born in Brighton and spent his childhood there.

His large commission works grace many public places. It is fitting that Brighton Square should become the home of his largest public fountain depicting his own children astride the two life-size dolphins.

Osborne's work began to be recognised in 1988 when he was commissioned to sculpt a half life-size bronze of the Queen's horse, Burmese. This now stands in the Mews Museum in Windsor. Other well-known commissions included the famous eighteenth century racehorse, Eclipse, now standing at Newmarket Racecourse.

1990 saw the siting by helicopter of the life size 'Boy on a Magic Rocking Horse' in Kensington Gardens, plus the positioning of a life size Ballyregan Bob in Hove Greyhound stadium.

Over the years Osborne's work has raised at auctions and by donations hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities.

All monies collected in the fountain are donated to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton.