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Myths are seeded, grow, spread, dominate, until it is at times difficult to see the original soil from which they sprang. So it is with the Prince Regent and the development of Brighton. He found it neglected, unknown: he left it rich and famous–so goes the legend. Such a shame, then, to have to issue a correction...(Hern, 1967: 45)

Reviews of Brighton, Regency England's south coast “Capital by the Sea”, usually begin with an obituary to George IV who, as Prince Regent, was at least partly responsible for introducing the socialites of his day to the seashore and Brighton to them. Freedom from the constraints of social position (both high and low) developed in the permissive atmosphere of a resort town where people went for their health, for a rest, entertainment, or merely a change of scenery. Since George's time, Brighton has popularly enjoyed a “raffish reputation” attracting both those who, with money and time to spare …