BPC00072
Aquatint drawn and published by Joseph Cordwell, first issued c1823: this is the second state of c1824, with the addition of the waterwheel, and a railing that appears to pass through the horse and carriage on the left.
This scene shows the Chain Pier being used for its principal purpose, as a landing stage for cross-Channel passengers, just arriving at its seaward end.
A Laurie Keen article in the Argus Magazine of 18 October 2014 mentions an advertisement for the packet ships from Brighton. Chief cabins were available for 40 shillings, and a fore cabin for 30 shillings. All boats had ‘elegant state cabins for the ladies and female attendants’. Carriages were charged at 1 shilling per wheel, horses were 3 guineas and dogs 5 shillings. In bad weather the ships would start at Newhaven. The Brighton Packet Company owned one boat called the ‘Quentin Durward’(after the Walter Scott novel) and two other boats from Brighton were ‘The Talbot’ and ‘The Eclipse’.
The artist Joseph Cordwell was a watercolourist, publisher and engraver, established by 1819 at 19 Great East Street, and then from 1833 to 1850 he published from 4 St James’s Street.
See all images of the Chain Pier and read more about its history on the Chain Pier Gallery page
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