Olive trees, an abundance of flowers and a three-acre private garden can easily have you mistaking this quiet terrace for a place in the Mediterranean – especially on a glowing summer’s day.
The terrace is believed to be one of the last developments in the city to boast Regency style architecture and was built in 1846.
The beautiful Grade II listed buildings all fall within a conservation area, meaning the colour of the stylish and elegant houses must remain white.
Across the road from the street’s main set of houses is the Clifton Gardens.
The gardens were built around a year after the initial completion of the terrace and were intended for the exclusive use of residents only.
But before the gardens first occupied the area, the site was home to the Clifton Windmill.
It was built in around 1815 but was later moved to Windmill Street in 1837, around 10 years before the Clifton Terrace development started.
The terrace has always had an upmarket aura and remains one of the most sought-after, and most expensive, areas of the city for housing.
In fact, if what you’ve read so far has inspired you to move to the street, you can currently snap up a five-bedroom house once owned by lauded playwright Alan Melville. It’s on the market for a cool £1.1 million.
A look at the 1911 census reveals high-flying professionals occupying various houses in the road.
At number seven lived a 65-year-old single male by the name of Charles Ford.
Mr Ford was originally from Portsmouth andcommuted to London from Brighton to work as a solicitor.
The only other person recorded living in the property at the time was John Ernest Terr, a 16-year-old Brighton boy who worked as Mr Ford’s servant.
Down the road at number 32 were a trio of academics. Anna Richard, 42, and Ethel Going, 35, were high school teachers from Guernsey and Cambridgeshire respectively.
The third was 45-year-old Emma Hodgson, a lecturer at the University of Bristol. Why she lived in Brighton and worked in Bristol is unknown, but it’s possible her Clifton Terrace residence was a second home.
Today the street is home to a group of residents who share one common interest – the beautiful and thriving private garden.
Morham White, a half-Scottish retired town planner for Wealden, has lived in Clifton Terrace for 32 years and described himself as a “bit of a veteran”.
He said: “I love the architecture of the terrace, it’s really something else.
“The garden too is one of the best things about living here. It’s perfect for relaxing in and is a bit of a reprieve from the busy city. It’s our private piece of bliss.”
The gardens are owned in a shared partnership by 77 residents who all pay a yearly maintenance fee, plus water rates.
In the Second World War it’s believed the council reclaimed the gardens for the military effort, but today it remains completely private and exclusive to Clifton Terrace’s lucky homeowners.
Mr White continued: “I was in Paris once and was visiting a few of the famous gardens and parks out there, but they were so busy and swamped with people I remember thinking: ‘Maybe I should just come back home and go into the Clifton gardens instead. It would be much nicer.’”
A few doors down from Mr White’s is mum-of-one and freelance journalist Katherine Doggrell, 36.
Compared to Mr White’s Clifton Terrace stint, Ms Doggrell is a relative newcomer to the area after only two years of residence. But she’s still had time to take advantage of its luscious green space.
She said: “We have a lovely view of the sea from the back of our house and the doorstep.
“When it’s sunny, all the houses are gleaming and the olive trees are thriving. It’s like being abroad.
“Then we have the garden. It’s a real privilege to be able to use such a beautiful space that’s solely meant for the residents.
“We had a Jubilee party last year and everyone brought along homemade cakes and goodies.
“It was a great day, the sun was out and we were surrounded by a gorgeous garden so there were no complaints.”
Ms Doggrell is a freelance financial journalist and keen fiction writer. She runs a quarterly interactive short story night in Brighton and described what literature did for her.
She continued: “I love writing because it allows expressive outpouring and the chance to create new worlds and explore possibilities you otherwise couldn’t in real life.
“I’m going to be leaving Clifton Terrace shortly because my partner is a trainee teacher and he’s finding a job between Manchester and Bristol.
“I’m going to really miss holding Rattle Tales, my story night in Brighton. But I guess you’ve got to move on and it’s good to experience new places.
“One thing I won’t miss is the black bin outside my house. It’s a real inconvenience and doesn’t look very nice either. And the parking can be a nightmare.
I have to park miles away and I can’t have visitors as it’s so expensive.”
It doesn’t take too long to find a neighbour who holds a similar stance on the suspect black bins – or the parking situation.
Rosa Stanley, 53, has been in the street for 21 years and has probably one of the most striking and attractive front gardens of the whole road. She’s a nurse at the Martlets Hospice and plays a key role in the Clifton Terrace garden committee.
She said: “Yes, the bin is rather ugly. It’s a bit of an eyesore. I don’t know why they can’t move it elsewhere ormaybe paint it or something?
We are a creative city. Why not? Parking, too, can be a bit of an issue. It’s £3.50 an hour which is rather expensive and makes things difficult for visitors, especially my family.
“But apart from that, Clifton Terrace is beautiful.
The garden is really flourishing, especially at this time of the year, and we’re really lucky to have such a grand retreat on our doorstep.”
