James Henry Hubbard: The Man Who Brought the Magic to Devil’s Dyke

Let’s head back to the late 1800s, just outside Brighton, to a spot that most of us know for its sweeping views and wild countryside, Devil’s Dyke. But there’s a story behind this place that few people have heard, and right at the centre of it is a remarkable man called James Henry Hubbard.

From Canada to Sussex

James was born in Toronto in 1847. His parents, Mosley and Lavinia, had escaped slavery in Virginia and made their way to freedom in Canada. Growing up in a big family, James learned the value of hard work and determination. He was full of curiosity and always up for a challenge.

Before he ever set foot in Sussex, James made a name for himself as a taxidermist and showman. He even bagged a giant walrus up in Hudson Bay, and that very walrus ended up at a big London exhibition in 1886. Queen Victoria herself apparently had a peek at it. Today, if you visit the Horniman Museum in London, you can still spot that walrus, stuffed and slightly over the top, but a real piece of history all the same.

Bringing Fun to the Downs

In the early 1890s, James crossed the Atlantic and soon found himself in Sussex. He took one look at Devil’s Dyke, a huge valley just outside Brighton, and saw real potential. Back then, train travel was opening up the countryside to everyone, and James had big plans. In 1892, he bought the Dyke Estate and set out to turn it into the South’s go-to spot for fun and adventure.

And what a transformation it was. Under James’s watch, Devil’s Dyke became something like a Victorian theme park. In 1894, he launched Britain’s very first aerial cable car, giving visitors a breathtaking ride 230 feet up in the air. Not long after, he built the Steep Grade Railway, a kind of cable-powered tram that shuttled people up and down the hillside. It made life a lot easier for families and day-trippers, and the nearby village of Poynings did a roaring trade with all the visitors.

But James wasn’t done. He added merry-go-rounds, a bicycle railway (yes, really), bandstands for live music, and a camera obscura so folks could see the landscape in a whole new way. On a busy day, Devil’s Dyke could see 30,000 visitors. Imagine that! Some reckon close to a million people came in a single year. The place was buzzing, and the local villages flourished thanks to all the excitement.

The Tough Years and a Quiet Goodbye

Of course, nothing lasts forever. Over time, tastes changed, and running such a huge operation started to cost more than it brought in. Other ways of getting about, plus the rise of new attractions, meant the crowds slowly faded. By 1907, James, facing mounting debts, headed back to Canada. Without his energy, Devil’s Dyke slowly returned to its natural calm. The rides and amusements slipped away, but James’s stamp on the area was set.

A Hidden History Comes to Light

Here’s the thing, despite all he achieved, hardly anyone remembered James for who he really was. Guidebooks and local stories talked about the amusements but rarely mentioned the man behind them, let alone the fact he was a Black entrepreneur. It was only thanks to people like Sheila Marshall and Martin Easdown, digging through old records, that James’s story finally came out.

These days, groups like Brighton & Hove Museums and the National Trust are helping to share his legacy, making sure he’s not just a footnote in history. James Henry Hubbard’s story is now being told, just as it should be.

Why It Matters

James’s life is a reminder that history isn’t just about kings and queens or grand battles. It’s about people with big ideas, determination, and heart. He brought a sense of wonder to Devil’s Dyke, gave families somewhere to escape and have fun, and left a legacy that still shapes how we see the area today. For Brighton, Sussex, and Black British history, his story is a vital piece of the puzzle.