James Gray: No comment. jgc_22_041
2018: The cottages are still there, each with a new porch. (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 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 jgc_22_042 and 043 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 The large entrance to Howells Almshouses has been replaced by a small gated alley leading to Howells Court. [See also jgc_22_045 on the George Street page.] 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)