Brighton and Hove’s Top 5 urban legends

1)  That there is a secret underground tunnel between the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Centre or Marine Parade, suggested to have helped Charles II escape the clutches of Cromwell’s men. This is unlikely as construction of the Pavilion started in 1787 – almost 100 years after the restoration. There is also said to be a secret tunnel between two of Brighton and Hove’s oldest buildings – St Helen’s Church and Hangleton Manor.

2) That there is a nuclear bunker and command centre built into Southwick Tunnel. The large door panel is more likely to be a storage area. The large door panel in the undercliff walk at Ovingdean is also thought to be storage and not as rumoured an escape route for any overseas royalty being schooled at Roedean.

3) Although in the mid 70s sonic booms could be heard in the evening, there is no substantial evidence to the stories that it caused windows to be broken in Hove. After taking off from Heathrow the Air France transatlantic Concorde flights hit mach 2 supersonic flight over the Hangleton area before the route was changed after complaints to the Civil Aviation Authority.

4) Although he owned and lived in a house in Withdean Road, it seems unlikely that New Zealand golfer and 2005 US Open champion Micheal Campbell shot a 59 at Hollingbury golf course – 13 under par. Some members have given accounts in the club house that the golfer, who also finished third in the 1995 British Open, eagled the par five 15th hole. Campbell sold his Brighton house in 2011 and currently resides in Sydney.

5 ) It has been suggested that Peter Sutcliffe, commonly known as the Yorkshire Ripper, was questioned over the murder of Margaret Frame in Coldean Woods in 1978. The former lorry driver allegedly made deliveries to the Brighton and Hove area during that period. The case remains unsolved.