What is 41 Places
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How to find all 41 Places
Who is 41 Places
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41 Places News
By William Shaw
Typography & design by
Richard Wolfströme
Exhibition and installation
by Standard 8
Website
Words William Shaw
Design Richard Wolfströme
Photography Kenny Laurenson
Publishing consultant Adrian Driscoll
Sponsored by
You just know the moment you walk through the front door
The Clock Tower at the junction of West St and Queen’s Road, built in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee
Under Queen Victoria’s blank gaze, Monika puts the brake on the buggy and sits on the ledge that surrounds the Clock Tower.
It has been a hard morning for Ben. He had to have his injection. Here the doctors are all so stiff-upper-lipped. She just jabbed in the needle.
Monika twists the lid off the Boots Organic Pasta and Ham in Tomato Sauce, and watches the world go by as Ben gulps it down.
She and her husband hadn’t intended to move to Brighton. They hadn’t even wanted to move back to England after America, but his work has brought him home. To compensate, they fantasised about the rural life, a big garden for Ben and the dog. But the reality, they realised, would be too... commuter-ish, too claustrophobic.
Instead, they started to look around. That’s how they found themselves drinking tea in a café in St James' street, looking at each other and thinking, This is great. People here seemed so laid back.
They have rented in Seven Dials; finding a house to buy is harder. They go so fast. By the time they’re advertised in a magazine they’re already sold.
Two weeks ago they trudged to Fiveways not thinking they stood a chance with this one. It was an open day with loads of others viewing it. At the top they found a lovely, double-fronted Edwardian house with a sunny conservatory, a Juliet balcony and an organic café nearby.
It’s like a relationship. There aren’t necessarily reasons why it’s going to be right. You just know the moment you walk through the front door.
Last week their offer was accepted. She’s just been to the solicitor this morning.
A few days ago Ben started taking his first unsteady footsteps. In a bag at her feet is the baby walker she’s just bought from Mothercare. She wonders what this town will be like for them; how her husband is going to cope with the commute, whether they’ll be in by summer.
Reaching into her bag, she pulls out a jar of Organix Banana and Mango.