Monochrome photographic print showing wartime barricades on Hove beach. View looking east from beach to west of King Alfred. Several people visible on beach, including several children by barricades on right of photograph. From the Local History collection. c.1944.
This black and white photographic print shows barricades on Hove beach. It is a view looking east from the area of beach to the west of the King Alfred leisure centre. Several people can be seen on the beach, including a group of boys by the barricade on the right of the photograph. During the early years of the Second World War, Britain was faced with the threat of German invasion. The British retreat from Dunkirk and the French surrender of June 1940 left the south coast dangerously exposed. Brighton and Hove's beaches were closed at 5pm on 2 July 1940, and defence measures were erected along the beach. Mines were placed along the beach and barbed wire barricades protected the front. Further restrictions were introduced over the next few years. These included a complete ban on visitors in March 1941. As the war turned in the Allies' favour, these restrictions were gradually relaxed. The beach defences were removed in 1944.
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