James Gray: A photograph seemingly copied from an advertisement in a periodical probably dating from the early years of the present [20th] century. It shows the Ironmongers shop of W. Shrivell at 49/50, George Street, a well and long established business which occupied these premises until given up about 1955. jgc_24_015
2018: Two modern premises now occupy the retail space, replacing the traditional ironmongers. (Photographer: Ruthie Martin)
James Gray: Nos 32, 33, 34, 35 George Street. jgc_22_040
2018: These houses are still much the same externally but only No 33 still has all wooden sash windows in its bay. All the wooden railings in the earlier picture have now been replaced with metal ones. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: A problem still to be resolved. What to do with this area? When I had these photographs taken on 7 September 1969, it seemed likely that early redevelopment was about to take place. Howell’s Almshouses had been empty since 1966, and although the cottages of Little George Street were still occupied and looking fairly trim, proposals had been put forward both for commercial redevelopment of the entire area, and possibly for some housing on the cleared site.
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_22_042 above.] jgc_22_043
2018: The view is much changed. Little George Street is reduced to just three cottages with smaller front yards, the rest sacrificed to the car park at the rear of the Morrisons supermarket on St James’s Street (formerly a Safeway). The car park can be accessed via stairs at the far end of the street. The buildings to the left of the image were all rebuilt in 1988. (Photographer: Robert Dawes)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_22_042 above.] jgc_22_044
2018: The scene remains largely the same, despite the development work of 1988. The shop fronts have been rebuilt with flats above. The large entrance to Howell’s Almshouses has been replaced by a small gated alley leading to Howells Court (see jgc_22_045 below). The signs and awnings from further down the street have gone but the stretch of road remains a retail area with a variety of shops, cafes and pubs. (Photographer: Robert Dawes)
James Gray: The gentrification of George Street 5 April 1988. Compare this photograph with those of 1969 seen in the previous photograph. After several ideas had been proposed over the years and then abandoned, it was decided to reconstruct and partially rebuild Nos. 11/14, with fresh shop fronts and newly prepared flats above. This idea which could well be copied in other parts of the town where living quarters are empty above the shops. The entrance to Little George Street can be seen, extreme right. jgc_22_045
James Gray: Charles Howell who lived at Dial House, 3 Hove Terrace, endowed these tiny houses which were first occupied in 1859, and thereafter they were supported by voluntary contributions. He would have been a sad man could he have seen the poor condition of these cottages, when they were photographed a century later on 6 September 1964. They consisted of just two rooms, one up and one down, with a tiny kitchen and an outside water closet. Additional Information: Inscription reads: Erected 1858. Howell’s Almshouses. For the reception of reduced inhabitants of Brighton & Hove. Under the direction of a Committee Management. jgc_22_047
James Gray: Another view. jgc_22_048
2018: See captions for jgc_22_045 and 047 above. (Photographer: Robert Dawes)
James Gray: Another frontal view of these cottages. Most of the tiny gardens were hopelessly overgrown with weeds at the time these photographs were taken on 6 September 1964. Additional Information: Inscription reads: Erected 1858. Howell’s Almshouses. For the reception of reduced inhabitants of Brighton & Hove. Under the direction of a Committee Management. jgc_22_049
2018: See captions for jgc_22_045 and 047 above. (Photographer: Robert Dawes)
James Gray: The view from the cottages towards the entrance way from George Street. Most of the tiny gardens were hopelessly overgrown with weeds at the time these photographs were taken on 6 September 1964. jgc_22_050
2018: The Almshouses had become derelict by the time the previous photos were taken in 1964 and by 1987 they had been demolished and replaced by the car park of Morrisons supermarket (previously a Safeway).
James Gray: [See captions for jgc_22_050 above.] jgc_22_051
2018: This is the view of Howell’s Almshouses looking east towards the back of houses in George Street. (Photographer: Robert Dawes)
James Gray: A little known part of Brighton which most of the townsfolk have never heard of, still less seen. It is entered and left by two narrow passages from George Street which are passed unnoticed by the uninitiated. Nearly 40 years separate the two photographs [see also jgc_22_053 from 1930 on the St James’s Court page]. This one was taken on 7 September 1969. jgc_22_052
2018: The two Victorian brick cottages remain intact in St James’s Court, a passage between Nos 1 and 2 George Street. The metal railings have been replaced by a high brick and concrete wall. (Photographer: Mary Allison)