Laurence Peel ( younger brother of the Prime minister Robert Peel) acquired 32, Sussex Square in 1830, and was the first 'notable owner', becoming a long term resident. The garden was designed and laid out from the mid 1820's, and was built to serve 32, Sussex Square.

​

'The Secret Garden', is the last of these gardens to remain, leaving it as a hidden walled space in the midst of Kemp Town. The other linked gardens were built over, in the passage of time. During the 19th century, many other such gardens existed in Kemp Town, but most were later built over, as the city of Brighton expanded. The current walled garden represents about a third of the original garden, which extended from Bristol Place to Arundel Road. Over time, the wider garden was divided, and much of it was lost to development, but this surviving plot remained. In 1898 the glass houses in the kitchen garden were not shown on the OS map.

​

In 1900, 32 Sussex square was put up for sale, the garden was split into two separate plots; house, plus pleasure/kitchen garden 

Details of the sale included:- The house and pleasure garden, carriage house and stables.

 

The remaining gardens from Bristol Place down to Arundel Road. A bungaroosh wall divided this area in two. At the end of the secret garden was the pleasure garden which had a fives court, a tennis lawn, a summer house, a smoking room; situated at the the southern end of the existing pavilion building was a toolhouse and a water closet (W.C.). There was a large and productive walled-in kitchen garden, beyond the bungaroosh wall. It was well planted with fruit trees etc, a 29ft long vinery, hot water pipes, potting house and a shed. These buildings were located at the Arundel road end.

 

The mouth of the tunnel was to be blocked by 9 inch thick bricks, within one month, of the sales completion. These were the required conditions of the sale, for whoever purchased the two lots.

​

In 1911 the kitchen garden (eastern plot) in use as a nursery garden, on the map, the owner wasa private occupier (nurseryman or small landowner). This person was the most likely mortgagor.In 1920, the house was sold again; only the house and the smaller pleasure garden were part of the sale. In 1900 it seems as if the grounds had been split into two different lots, as the gardens to the east of Bristol Place were not included in the 1920's sale. By 1925, 32, Sussex Square had been converted into flats, and they remain that way, today (2026).

​

In 1928 the Baptist Union Corporation became the mortgagee and secured legal interest in the land. This implies the nursery land owner borrowed money, secured on the land. The Baptist Union Corporation held a legal charge (mortgage) and possibly took possession after default. This strongly suggests that the corporation had influence and control over both sides of the old garden.

​

From 1928 until 1950 the Baptist Union transitioned from mortgage holder to being the effective owner. This was likely due to either foreclosure, transfer in lieu of debt or purchase following default.

​

In 1910 No.13, Arundel house, Arundel Terrace became a rest home run by the Baptist Union corporation (The Spurgeon Home of rest) primarily for Baptist ministers and their wives.There are some photographs in existence, of residents enjoying the delights of the secret garden, playing tennis and crochet on the lawns, the location given as the New Gardens, Arundel House, Home of Rest. These photographs and accompanying text are certainly proof that the garden did indeed now belong to the Baptist Union Corporation.

​

In 1931 extensive glass houses were shown on the map of the garden, and in 1953 the glass houses were still there, on the garden map.

​

In 1950 the 'Secret Garden' was purchased by Antony Dale, who founded the Regency Society in Brighton, in 1945.The Regency Society campaigns for Brighton and Hove's past and future heritage. Antony Dale purchased the Secret Garden from the Baptist Union Corporation Limited. They still controlled at least part of the land and had full legal title, and not just a mortgage. It is not known how the Baptist Union came to own the land belonging to the Secret garden and other covering land directly adjoining Bristol Place. But, on a 1911 OS map, there was a Gospel Hall Church. It was situated on the corner of Bennett Road and Bristol Gardens, opposite the north side of the Secret Garden. So, possibly the church may have owned other land nearby. The Gospel hall church was probably demolished in the first half of the 20th century. A conveyance in 1928, of land now occupied by Rugby Court to the Baptist Union contains a covenant relating to the area next to the Bungaroosh wall, suggesting that at one time they controlled the entire former kitchen garden estate, belonging to 32, Sussex Square. This was not incidental ownership, it was structured and they had legal control of a significant parcel of the estate. The original large garden was already in two parts and the old kitchen garden part still had lots of glass houses, shown on the map. This part of the garden, on the other side of the bungaroosh hall was not developed until 1972, when Rugby Court flats were built.