James Gray: An early-morning view of this depressing slum, in the winter of 1924. Looking towards Upper Bedford Street, the photograph shows the gaunt houses on the north side, which were demolished about 2 years before those opposite. The protruding poles are something of a mystery. What was their purpose? I later realised, from studying other slum photographs, that these poles were used as clothes lines, as there was no space for these in the tiny back yards. jgc_22_156
James Gray: This photograph of August 1966, shows a very trim looking street, on the north side facing the sun. The view is across Upper Bedford Street to the, then, undisturbed Somerset Street, as the policy of building high-rise flats had not yet been implemented. In the centre the new Church Army Home later replaced the four white-fronted houses. jgc_22_172
James Gray: Now consider the changes by this photograph of the reverse view, [of jgc_22_172 above] looking from Somerset Street through to Hereford Street, only two years later, in November 1968. Three blocks of high-rise flats had been built – Somerset Point, Warwick Mount and Essex Place – while in the distance, Hereford Court is under construction. The north side of Somerset Street seems almost untouched. jgc_22_173
James Gray: A year later, [than jgc_22_156 above] in 1925, demolition and rebuilding going on at the same time. The two new council houses shown are probably the present nos. 16 and 14. They were able to be set well back because they were built on the cleared site of Paradise Street, which ran behind the old houses but which has now completely disappeared. jgc_22_157
2018: This was one of Gray’s most evocative pictures portraying the process of demolition and rebuilding actually in progress, complete with one of the workmen and his tools. Ironically, nothing remains of the rebuilt housing. Even the name of Paradise Street has vanished.
James Gray: Looking north to the high wall dividing these two houses from gloomy Paradise Street. Why just these two houses should have been chosen for closing orders is hard to say. Externally they seem to be no worse than the rest of Hereford Street, which I knew in the 1920s. Date of demolition is not known but these houses were never occupied again. Date of photographs 26 July 1915. jgc_22_158
2018: Gray’s photograph of 29 Hereford Street was taken during the First World War. The house was on the north side of the street. It is difficult to ascertain the exact site of this house so the modern image of Martlet Court should be treated with some degree of caution. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_22_158 above.] jgc_22_159
2018: Gray’s photograph of 30 Hereford Street was taken during the first World War. The house – long gone – was on the north side of Hereford Street although it is difficult to establish its exact location. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: The photograph shows the demolition of houses on the south side of Hereford Street, with the empty houses in Essex Place awaiting removal. The year would be either 1927 or 1928. Note the small basement rooms of the Hereford Street houses and the confined space between the two streets. On the left can be seen some of the newly built Council houses. These were built cheaply in 1925/1926 at a time of financial stringency and are among the poorest houses ever built for Brighton Corporation. jgc_22_160
James Gray: Looking from east to west, from Essex Place to the backs of houses on the south side of Hereford Street. There was only 6 feet between the flint dividing wall and the walls of the Hereford Street houses. Although this photograph was taken in 1914 the Essex Place houses had been cleared many years previously. jgc_22_161
2018: The pictured houses are long gone but the flint wall (or part of it) has survived. It now separates the back gardens of Hereford Street from the back gardens of Essex Street. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: Slum houses on the north side of the street were cleared away in 1925 in the Brighton Corporation’s first slum clearance after the end of the 1914-18 War. A somewhat drab block of council houses was built in 1926, but had a very short life as many were destroyed by bombs in the 1939-1945 War. Here can be seen Nos 1-7 of these houses. Fresh houses were built on the cleared site in 1952. Additional Information: Bomb damage. jgc_22_164
James Gray: A photograph of December 1961 shows the range of council houses, built in 1952 to replace the bomb-destroyed houses seen on the previous page. The large end building, at one time Willett’s malthouse, was still used for commercial purposes until the time of its removal in 1967. jgc_22_168
James Gray: The view from the east towards Lavender Street. jgc_22_175
2018: Essex Place – all its buildings and even its name – has gone. It is now the site of a narrow alleyway that separates the backyards of Essex Street and Hereford Street. Wiltshire House and the Lavender Street Housing Office are just visible in the background. (Photographer: David Jackson)