West Battery, c. 1850. The West Battery consisted of six cannons on King's Road, installed in 1793. These muzzle-loaded cannons could fire a cannon-ball of about 40 pounds in weight, but were never fired in military defence. Behind the Battery was a crescent of houses called Artillery Place, which housed the Royal Navy Lieutenant in charge. These were replaced by the Grand Hotel in 1864. On 27 January 1858 the West Battery was removed in order for King's Road to be widened. The Battery is now marked by a flagpole on the beach. | Image reproduced with kind permission from Brighton and Hove in Pictures by Brighton and Hove City Council
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