Brighton Corporation Tramways
Owner Brighton Corporation
Opened 25th November 1901 (electric)
Operator Brighton Corporation
Closed 31st August 1939
Length 9.48 miles
Gauge 3ft 6ins
Button description (Pattern 1) Title (‘BRIGHTON CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing two dolphins and six martlets) with a crossed dolphin crest, all above the motto: ‘IN DEO FIDEMUS’
Materials known Brass; nickel
Button Line reference [113/12]
Button description (Pattern 2) Title (‘BRIGHTON CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing two dolphins and six martlets), all above the motto: ‘IN DEO FIDEMUS’
Materials known Brass; nickel
Button Line reference [None]
Comment The Pattern 2 button only exists in the small size, and almost certainly results from a need to reduce the height of the design in order to fit it on the button; this was achieved by the simple expedient of removing the crest.
For those who have never heard of a 'martlet' - ornithologists included - the only place you'll ever see one is on a coat of arms. It's actually an heraldic bird that is always shown without any feet, due to its supposed derivation from the swift, which in earlier times was believed to have no feet (always flying).
Brighton Corporation did not commence running motorbuses and trolleybuses until April/May 1939, so it is highly unlikely that tramway staff would ever have been issued new uniforms bearing Brighton Corporation Transport buttons, given that the tramway was closed only 4 months later.