Local Heroes From History

This Local and Community History Month, we’re celebrating the history of Brighton and Hove and its communities, encouraging residents to explore the history of their homes, streets, and city! Below are some stories of local heroes (all of whom are named on Brighton and Hove Buses) who helped shape the way our city looks today. 

Martha Gunn, Upper Lewes Road (multiple routes) 

Born into a poor fishing family without enough money for her education, Martha became a self-made entrepreneur, capitalizing on the popularity of sea-bathing in the 18th century. Martha became a ladies bathing attendant, helping women into the sea to make use of its healing properties. With an excellent understanding of the sea, the tides and the weather, she gained a reputation as the go-to ‘dipper’ in Brighton, with queues outside her door. Investing in several bathing machines, Martha also provided employment for others and helped establish Brighton (then Brighthelmstone) as a must-visit city, a reputation which still stands today! A pub named after Martha Gunn can be found on Upper Lewes Road. 

Doctor Octavia Wilberforce, Seven Dials (7, 3X) 

Born in Petworth to an influential family, Octavia’s interest in medicine was not looked upon favourably by her family, who instead encouraged her to marry an earl. Disinherited for refusing the proposal, Octavia had to fund her medical studies with the help of friends, but managed to qualify in 1920 at the London School of Medicine for Women, after 7 years of study. Octavia met actor, writer and suffragette Elizabeth Robins during her studies and the two became friends, moving in together and establishing a general practice at Montpelier Crescent (near Seven Dials) making her one of Brighton’s first female GPs (there is a blue plaque on the house today). Octavia and Elizabeth went on to develop local health services for women including the New Sussex Hospital for Women, where Octavia served as head physician. 

Sir Harry Preston, Madeira Drive (Coaster 12, 12A, 14) 

Sir Harry Preston arrived in Brighton from Bournemouth in 1900, already a successful hotelier. At the time, the town was viewed by some as an outdated holiday resort and faced economic stagnation. Preston worked tirelessly to turn around the fortunes of his two hotels and the town as a whole. When the Daily Mail published an unfavourable article about Brighton, he travelled to London to convince the editor to publish a new piece painting the town in a better light. Through his attempts he managed to attract the top sportsmen, writers and other celebrities of the day to stay in Brighton. He even made the town a hotspot for motor racing by having Madeira Drive paved over a century ago. Today, Madeira Drive still regularly hosts motoring events while also being home to a two-way cycle lane all the way from the Palace Pier to Duke’s Mound. 

Use our tracker to plan a journey on the Martha Gunn, Octavia Wilberforce or Harry Preston bus, or our journey planner to visit the locations mentioned above!