Periodicals 

Brighton History Centre’s Periodicals Collections include a fascinating range of publications dating back to the 19th century. Whether published monthly, quarterly or annually, periodicals offer insights into the past from a wide range of perspectives, making them valuable sources of information for those with an interest in local history.

Gems in the collection include The Brighton Season (1914-1930), subtitled The Magazine De Luxe for Brighton Boudoirs and Drawing Rooms, which paints a vivid picture of high society in Brighton during the 1920s.

Periodicals can capture a moment in time with great immediacy. The Syren (1939-40), a monthly magazine produced for Brighton’s Civil Defence Services, conveys the grim realities of life in wartime, with notes on air-raid warnings and the work of the rescue and demolition service, alongside details of the ARP Ball, complete with live music, dancing and cabaret.

More recently The Journal of the National Piers Society traces, from its first issue in 1987, the demise of the West Pier, one of Brighton’s most iconic structures.

Periodicals at Brighton History Centre cover an extensive range of subjects, from archaeology and architecture to sport, music and local community news.

All this material is easily accessible - just come to the enquiry counter and ask a member of staff.

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