163 North Street, Brighton

163 North Street
The building from the west-southwest
Location	163 North Street, Brighton, Brighton and Hove BN1 1EA, United Kingdom
Coordinates	50°49′22″N 0°08′22″W / 50.8227°N 0.1395°W / 50.8227; -0.1395Coordinates: 50°49′22″N 0°08′22″W / 50.8227°N 0.1395°W / 50.8227; -0.1395
Built	1904
Built for	Royal Assurance Society
Architect	Clayton & Black
Architectural style(s)	Edwardian Baroque
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: No. 163 North Street
Designated	26 August 1999
Reference no.	1380622
Location within central Brighton

The building at 163 North Street in Brighton, part of the English coastal city of Brighton and Hove, was erected in 1904 for an insurance company and has since been used as a branch by several banks and building societies. It now houses a bookmaker's shop. The distinctive pink granite Edwardian Baroque-style office, embellished with towers, decorative carvings and a landmark cupola, has been called "the most impressive building" on Brighton's main commercial thoroughfare. One of many works by prolific local architecture firm Clayton & Black, it has been described as their chef d'œuvre. English Heritage has listed it at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

North Street formed the northern boundary of the ancient fishing village of Brighthelmston, from which the town of Brighton developed. It was part of the main route out of Brighton towards London, so was well placed to develop quickly once the town started to grow in the 18th century. By about 1800 it was considered the main commercial area of Brighton. The first of several road widening schemes was completed in 1879: it cleared most buildings from the north side of the street and encouraged the development of large banks and offices.

The architecture firm Clayton & Black had been based in Brighton since the 1870s, originally at North Street. By the early 20th century they had designed a wide range of buildings in the town and in neighbouring Hove, where they also carried out surveying work. Their portfolio included churches, schools, residential buildings, a convalescent home and a furniture depository, completed in 1904. By this time they were working mostly on commercial buildings, and in 1904 the Royal Assurance Society commissioned them to design a new office on a site next to the Chapel Royal at the junction of North Street and New Road—a prominent corner site. Other banks and financial institutions followed, and the north side of North Street has been "dominated" by them ever since.