Designed by local architect John Leopold Denman and paid for by public subscription, it commemorated the extension of the County Borough of Brighton on 1 April 1928, and stood close to the new northern boundary.

They straddle the southbound carriageway of the A23 just inside the city of Brighton and Hove and are individually listed at Grade II [1][2] along with the benches that were rebuilt in 1992.

[3][4] The pylon was built as a symbolic gateway to Brighton and was intended to extend a welcome to travellers approaching from the north along the A23.

Carvings and inscriptions include the coat of arms of the Duke and Duchess of York, who laid the foundation stone, the emblems of Brighton and Sussex, a female figure and a galleon.

Details of the date, architect, builders, founders and other descriptive information, and a short poem, are also carved on the flat panels which are mounted on the concave faces.