St. Paul's Parish Church

Richard Cromwell Carpenter (1812-1855), with help from A. W. N. Pugin

1846-48; restored 1996

Flint, white limestone, and wood

West Street, Brighton

This church in the Decorated or Middle-Pointed style of Gothic architecture bears out what Reginald Turnor has said about the architect: "although he shared the affectations of the Camdenians with Butterfield, R. C. Carpenter exercised a scholarly restraint and so avoided the worst excesses of inventiveness" (69). The tower and unusual wooden octagon above it were added by R. H. Carpenter, the architect's son, in about 1873. This served for many years as a beacon for sailors along the Sussex coast, and was restored in 1996.

Photograph and text Jacqueline Banerjee

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