Tudors and Stuarts

French raiders attacked Brighton (or Brithampton as it was then called) in 1514 and almost destroyed the town. Only the parish church, St Nicholas, survived. The wreck of a ship from this time lies offshore at Black Rock.

Locally the fishing and farming communities were involved in an argumeent over the cost of maintaining the town's defences and the upkeep of the church.

By 1600, the boundaries of the old town (East Street, North Street, West Street, the Market Place and the Steine) as well as the Hempshares were all established and Brighton was one of the most important towns in Sussex.

• 1514 - Brighton is almost destroyed by the French
• 1563, 1587-9, 1608-10 - Plagues and epidemics sweep across the town
• 1651 - Charles II stays in Brighton before escaping to France from Shoreham