The 2021 version of the Conservation Plate featured in the previous post was awarded to the owners of this Grade II listed property at the 2022 AGM held in July. The front garden and the house itself have been immaculately maintained throughout all four seasons and have helped to make Clifton Road one of the most attractive parts of the conservation area. Front gardens (and their boundary walls and railings) are a very important feature of this conservation area and are indeed an important part of the character of towns and cities nationwide, it is therefore regrettable to see so many demolished in order to provide hard standings for vehicles. In recent years Brighton and Hove City Council has refused permission for boundary walls to be demolished in our conservation area, most notably in Upper North Street and Hampton Terrace. At the time of writing an application is nevertheless being submitted to demolish the front wall and garden of a Grade II listed property in Upper North Street. The Council’s heritage team have recommended refusal and the MCHA (and other residents) have objected. It can be assumed, with some degree of confidence, that the application will be refused and that the garden will be saved. No 8 Clifton Road was, by the way, the focus of attention three years ago when a blue plaque was unveiled to commemorate the celebrated wood engravers George and Edward Dalziel, best known for their illustrations of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books.