Commercial · Brighton
The restoration dramatically improved the appearance of the entrance floor while retaining the historic original material. Surface scratching and wear were removed, the marble regained its smoothness, clari…
The project
This was a particularly significant restoration because of the history beneath the surface.
Tramway House was constructed in 1901 for Brighton Corporation Tramways and formed part of the headquarters, depot and workshops for Brighton's municipal electric tramway system.
The entrance mosaic depicts the historic Borough of Brighton coat of arms, granted in 1897, including the dolphins associated with Brighton's maritime identity, the Sussex martlets and the civic motto IN DEO FIDEMUS — “In God we trust.”
The mosaic is believed to be an original feature dating from c.1901, corresponding with the construction of Tramway House. While there is strong evidence establishing 1901 as the date of the building, an original specification, invoice, bill of quantities or other primary record specifically confirming the installation date of this individual mosaic has not yet been located. For this reason, “believed to date from c.1901” is the most historically accurate description.
Today the building has an entirely different life as Brighton Electric, a recording and rehearsal complex that has welcomed artists including The Cure, Nick Cave, Royal Blood, Foals, The Maccabees, Mumford & Sons, Architects and many others.
It makes this restoration an unusual meeting of Brighton's industrial and cultural history:
From electric trams to electric guitars — a c.1901 piece of Brighton history restored for its next chapter.
The condition
The historic marble mosaic at the entrance to Brighton Electric had suffered from years of foot traffic, surface scratching, wear and loss of clarity. The marble had become dull and the fine detail within the Brighton Corporation coat of arms was no longer being shown to its full potential.
Given the historic importance of the floor, the aim was to restore the existing marble rather than replace it, retaining as much original material as possible.
The restoration process
No major replacement of the historic mosaic was required. The principal issue was surface damage and scratching within the marble, which needed to be mechanically removed before the floor could be polished. The restoration therefore concentrated on carefully cutting back the damaged surface using diamond abrasives while preserving the original mosaic and its intricate detailing.
The floor was first diamond honed using resin-bonded diamonds to remove scratches, wear and surface imperfections from the marble.
This was followed by three progressive diamond-pad stages, refining the surface and removing the scratch pattern produced by each preceding stage.
Once the diamond work was complete, the marble was powder polished to restore its natural clarity, depth and polished appearance.
This brought the contrasting colours and fine details of the historic mosaic back to life.
The completed floor was then professionally sealed to help protect the restored marble against staining and future contamination.
Project planning
Brighton Electric is a working recording and rehearsal studio, so noise and disruption had to be kept to an absolute minimum during operating hours.
To accommodate this, the restoration was started at approximately 5–6am, allowing the heavier stages of the work to be completed as early as possible.
Despite the detailed nature of the restoration, the entire project was completed by one craftsman in a single day, minimising disruption to the client and studio users.
Genuine project photographs
These photographs come directly from the original project album. Their selection, captions and factual alt text must be reviewed before publication.
The outcome
The restoration dramatically improved the appearance of the entrance floor while retaining the historic original material.
Surface scratching and wear were removed, the marble regained its smoothness, clarity and polished finish, and the intricate dolphins, martlets, coral, lettering and decorative elements of the Brighton Corporation arms became clearly defined once again.
Rather than replacing an ageing floor, the restoration revealed the quality and craftsmanship that had been there for more than a century.
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Browse project photos →Questions about floor restoration
No. The appropriate method depends on the material, condition, previous treatments and the finish required. Testing may be needed before the full process is agreed.
Clear photographs, the approximate area, the property location and a description of the condition help us understand the project before arranging the next step.
No. Natural variation, age, damage and previous treatments affect the achievable result. Recommendations should be based on the individual floor.
Send clear photographs, the approximate area, your location and a description of the condition. We will review the information and explain the most suitable next step.
This project involved much more than polishing a marble floor. At the entrance to Brighton Electric, Tramway House, 43–45 Coombe Terrace, Lewes Road, Brighton, we restored a remarkable historic marble mosaic associated with Brighton Corporation. Our objective was to preserve the original material while removing years of scratching, wear and loss of clarity.
Tramway House was constructed in 1901 as part of the headquarters, depot and workshops of Brighton Corporation Tramways. Brighton Corporation was developing its municipally owned electric tramway system and the Lewes Road site became an important operational base. Brighton’s electric tramway commenced public operation on 25 November 1901.
Brighton & Hove City Council recognises 43–45 Coombe Terrace as a locally listed heritage asset. The complex was not simply a tram shed: it incorporated offices, workshops and depot facilities, and its formal entrance and decorative treatment reflected the civic pride surrounding Brighton’s new electric transport network. Brighton’s trams operated until 1939; the site later remained associated with public transport through trolleybus and motor-bus operations.
The entrance mosaic depicts the historic coat of arms of the Borough of Brighton, formally granted in 1897. The design includes Brighton’s distinctive dolphins, six martlets associated with Sussex and branches of red coral, reflecting Brighton’s maritime identity. Beneath the arms is the former civic motto IN DEO FIDEMUS — “In God we trust.”
In its original setting the mosaic was more than decoration. It expressed municipal ownership, civic identity and pride in Brighton Corporation’s public undertaking. Corporation officials, tramway employees, engineers, conductors and drivers would once have crossed this entrance as part of their working lives.
The mosaic is believed to be an original feature dating from around the construction of Tramway House in 1901. The documented building date, the mosaic’s subject, style and prominent entrance position are consistent with installation as part of the original Corporation premises. Historical accounts associated with the later restoration of Tramway House also identify the entrance mosaic and decorative features as original fabric.
However, the date of the building and the precise installation date of this individual mosaic should not be treated as identical without primary evidence. We have not located an original architectural specification, contractor’s invoice, bill of quantities, works account or other primary document specifically recording this floor’s installation. The historically responsible description is therefore: Original Brighton Corporation mosaic, believed to date from c.1901.
If installed during the original construction, as the available evidence strongly suggests, the mosaic has survived approximately 125 years of use: the electric tramway era, the closure of the system in 1939, subsequent transport uses and the building’s transformation into a music complex.
Tramway House is now home to Brighton Electric, established in 2000 and developed into a recording, rehearsal and music-production complex. Artists associated with Brighton Electric include The Cure, Nick Cave, Royal Blood, Foals, The Maccabees, Mumford & Sons, Architects, The Kooks, Laura Marling, Metronomy, Blood Red Shoes and John Cale. A building created to support Brighton’s electric tramways now supports its music industry: from electric trams to electric guitars.
More than a century of foot traffic had left the marble scratched, worn and dull. Replacement was not the objective. We wanted to retain as much original stone as possible while carefully removing the damaged surface and rebuilding the natural finish.
We first honed the marble with resin-bonded diamond abrasives. Controlled diamond abrasion removes a microscopic amount of damaged stone rather than attempting to disguise scratches with polish. On a historic mosaic made from many individual pieces of marble, the process must be carefully controlled.
The floor was then progressively refined using three further diamond-pad stages. Each stage refined the scratch pattern left by the previous grade, progressively improving smoothness, definition and clarity across the dolphins, martlets, coral, lettering and surrounding decorative work.
Once the diamond stages were complete, the marble was powder polished to restore depth, clarity and its natural polished appearance. This brought back the contrast and fine detail that years of wear had muted.
Finally, the floor was professionally sealed to provide additional protection and help reduce the penetration of contaminants and staining as this historic entrance continues its working life.
Because Brighton Electric is a working recording and rehearsal facility, we began at approximately 5–6am to minimise disruption. The complete restoration was carried out by one craftsman in one working day.
An old marble floor does not necessarily need replacing because it has become scratched, dull or heavily worn. Where the stone remains structurally sound, professional diamond restoration can remove substantial surface deterioration while retaining the original material. Here, the objective was not to make an old floor look artificially new; it was to restore the craftsmanship already there.
Floor Polishing Services provides professional marble floor restoration, including marble floor cleaning, diamond honing, polishing, repairs and sealing throughout Brighton, Hove and East Sussex. We work with marble floors in private homes, period properties, commercial premises and heritage buildings, selecting the restoration process according to the stone, its condition and the finish required.
Have a scratched, dull or damaged marble floor in Brighton? Request a quotation for marble floor restoration in Brighton. Send us photographs together with the approximate floor area, postcode and stone type where known.
Yes. Where the marble remains structurally sound, diamond honing and polishing can remove or reduce scratching, wear and etching while retaining the original stone.
Scratches are generally removed by progressively honing the marble with specialist diamond abrasives rather than attempting to conceal them with polish. The appropriate abrasive sequence depends on the depth of damage, stone and required finish.
Potentially, yes. The appropriate process depends on the marble, its condition, previous treatments and historical significance. The aim should be to preserve sound original material while using a controlled restoration process appropriate to the floor.
The mosaic is believed to date from around 1901, when Tramway House was constructed for Brighton Corporation Tramways. While the building’s 1901 construction is documented, an original specification or invoice specifically confirming the mosaic’s installation date has not yet been located, so we describe it as believed to date from c.1901.
Yes. Floor Polishing Services carries out marble cleaning, diamond honing, polishing, repairs and sealing in Brighton, Hove and throughout East Sussex.
Polishing alone does not remove deeper physical scratching. Diamond honing progressively removes the damaged surface and creates a uniform foundation before finer refinement and polishing restore clarity and finish.
Sealing can help reduce absorption and provide additional protection against contaminants and staining. The appropriate sealer and maintenance regime depend on the marble, location and use of the floor.
In 1901, people entered this building to operate one of Brighton’s most modern technologies: the electric tram. More than a century later, people enter the same building to record and produce music. The building, people and purpose have changed, but the historic civic emblem remains beneath their feet.
125 years of Brighton history — restored in one day by one craftsman.
From electric trams to electric guitars.
A historic Brighton floor, preserved for the next generation.