Historical information

This chain was part of the official regalia worn by the Mayor of the City of Brighton before the amalgamation into Bayside City Council in 1994.
The chain was seen as an outward sign of power, authority, and responsibility and was a formal, full-dress type of regalia that was worn by the mayor over their robes at ceremonial functions. The large central drop medallion featured the design of the council seal and the links of the chains detail the name and date of each appointed Mayor. This council seal features the Brighton coastline with a pier extending to the water, a sail boat in the distance and a train on the right of the pier. It was displayed by Council on its flag and letterhead and in municipal buildings and can still be seen on the portico of Brighton Town Hall. The seal was used from 1919, when Brighton was declared a city, until 1970, when an official crest was issued by the British College of Heraldry.
Brighton was first incorporated as a borough on 18 January 1859, it became a town on 18 March 1887 and was proclaimed a city on 12 March 1919.

Physical description

9 carat yellow gold and enamel mayoral chain for the City of Brighton. Consists of 61 small oval links, with a scroll listing significant dates in Brighton's history as a centrepiece and a large 'drop' medallion of the City of Brighton seal below. Each oval link has a central plaque inscribed with a mayor's name and dates of their office surrounded by a thin coiled edge and a thick decorative border. The earliest Mayor is W.P. Francis 1918-19 and the latest is K.D. Oliver 1994-95. The links are joined by cable chain and form a long circular chain with two crosspieces of additional links at the back, the upper crosspiece contains four links, while the lower piece contains three links. The chain has a large oval medallion/pendant of the City of Brighton seal which is surrounded by a thin coiled gold edge, a border containing raised lettering 'CITY OF BRIGHTON' above and a Coat of Arms below. This is also surrounded by a coiled edge. The oval piece is then wrapped around with a thick laurel wreath with small berries. The central part of the medallion contains a coloured enamel image of the Brighton coastline with sand in the foreground, a pier extending out into the water, a sailboat in the distance and a train on the right of the pier. The small Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom below includes a coloured enamel shield flanked by a lion and unicorn with a motto inscribed on a ribbon underneath 'DIEU ET MON DROIT'.