Brighton West Seafront : Images on the beach (1)
between the Peace Statue and Cannon Place
James Gray: An 1880s view of the Lower Western Esplanade, looking directly into the doors of the Lifeboat House, erected here in 1867. It was not here for very much longer, as a more central site was needed. By 1892 it had been moved to 74-75, King’s Road Arches (later 109-111) where it remained in use until 1932. Additional Information: © Philippe Garner. jgc_01_047
2018: The Lifeboat House was replaced first by the one-storey Western Bathing Pavilion (1953) and later (1957) café. This in turn had another storey added (1999) when it became a restaurant. See also jgc_01_127 below. (Photographer: Suzanne Hinton)
James Gray: Early in the 1870s. The line of buildings ends at Adelaide Crescent, so the photograph must have been taken before the building of the Avenues. The low building on the beach by the steps is a puzzle. Through the open doors can be seen the bow of a boat, which suggests a lifeboat house and yet at this period the lifeboat was housed in an arch opposite the bottom of Middle Street. [Later correction] Of course, the building was the Lifeboat House, here from 1867 until 1892. jgc_01_127
James Gray: A summer scene at the Donkey Station, always a popular attraction to children in Victorian and even later times. The year of this photograph is not known but without doubt it dates from the early 1890s, because the Metropole is seen in its original elevation while gas lamps are just being replaced by the electric light standards, introduced in 1893. jgc_01_190
James Gray: Entertainers and spectators, on the beach just opposite the bottom of Preston Street. Exact year unknown, but about 1870. Additional Information: ‘Blacked-up’ minstrels. jgc_01_042
2020: Images jgc_01_042, 043 and 134 show a group of minstrels performing to well-dressed onlookers 150 years ago. Images jgc_01_043 and 134 were clearly taken at the same location and on the same occasion as the same characters can be seen in both the entertainers and onlookers. The musicians are all in black face and were named accordingly. Pierrot troupes, a more refined and peculiarly British form of seaside entertainment with a different cultural background, took over 20 years later and remained popular through to the 1950s.
James Gray: See jgc_01_042 above. Additional Information: ‘Blacked-up’ minstrels. jgc_01_043
2020: The precise location of this 1870 image and that of jgc_01_134 below is uncertain and the James Gray texts conflicting. If, however, they were taken at the foot of Preston Street, the background is now a row of smart boutique shops under the arches. See also jgc_01_042 above.
James Gray: Photograph of the beach, just to the east of the West Pier. Period, the late 1890s. Nothing to call for special comment. jgc_01_193
James Gray: The sorry scene in 1943. In 1940 as an anti–invasion measure, the beach, gardens and pools were mined and wired off. The children’s paddling pool seen here with the adjoining putting green were laid out in the 1930s. jgc_01_080
2020: The James Gray picture of the 1890s shows the beach in its Victorian prime, with fishing boats in the foreground, benches on the shore overlooking the sea and the pier looking pristine. In 1943 the war defences are a chilling sight. In 2020 the beach is welcoming visitors again although the boats are all for leisure now. The pier survived the war, only for neglect and two disastrous fires to reduce it to the burnt-out shell we see here. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: No comment. jgc_01_081
James Gray: Note the subtle differences between these two photographs [see also jgc_01_166 on the King’s Road (2A) page] and those on the previous page [jgc_01_164 also on the King’s Road (2A) page]. The buildings adjoining the Metropole to the east have gone and are replaced by an extension to the Hotel. Also the tall building to the west (at the corner of Queensbury Mews) has been completely refaced and has a shop on the ground floor. The period here could be as late as 1900. jgc_01_167
James Gray: The emphasis of this photograph is on the one-time very popular bathing machines. Professor Cowell’s Ladies Bathing Station can be seen, immediately to the west of the West Pier, at about the turn of the century. No men can be seen, just a few small boys represent the male sex! Additional Information: ©Philippe Garner. jgc_01_140
James Gray: It is a pity that this photograph is so faded and indistinct because the event which seems to have attracted such a crowd of people could very well have been the opening of the Lifeboat House, which we know took place in 1867. jgc_01_045
James Gray: This photograph [and jgc_01_057 which precedes it and which can now be found on the King’s Road (1) page] are two of the most important photographs in my entire collection. Copied from old photographs, which must have been taken before 1867, they show the south pavement of this part of Kings Road before it was walled and railed. A grassy bank then led down from the pavement to the beach below and at intervals there were small flights of steps.
James Gray: The construction of the sea wall in 1894. Now the site of the boating pool. jgc_01_084
James Gray: The smaller photograph, taken from the West Pier deck, a few years later than jgc_02_065 [on the West Pier (1) page]. It provides a contrast with the earlier view as during the intervening years the beach had steadily built up to the level of the top of the sea wall. jgc_02_066
James Gray: No clue as to which part of the beach is shown here. It could well be just to the west of West Pier, almost opposite Regency Square, where bathing machines of this type were sited until the close of the 1914–18 war. The proprietor’s name, H. Luxford, suggests that the photograph was taken about this time. jgc_01_115
James Gray: Two photographs of these ubiquitous machines, with obviously posed young children, and possibly a slightly later period [than jgc_01_140]. The location is the same as that of jgc_01_140, opposite the foot of Preston Street; the tall building at the right was the New Club demolished in 1937. jgc_01_141 and jgc_01_142
Text is being prepared or edited for this entry. It will be available soon.
James Gray: This photograph provides a view of the beach from roughly opposite the bottom of West Street to the Pier. At this period there was no lower promenade, just a rough gravel path. The tall flagstaff marks the site of the West Battery, removed in 1858. The all–wooden railings were replaced by the present railings in 1886. I should think this photograph dates from about 1884 as the first covered seats on the promenade were introduced in 1883. jgc_01_198
James Gray: Kings Road, the Promenade, the beach and West Pier, period unknown. If the work at the land end of the pier was that of repairing the damage caused by the debris of the Chain Pier then it could be 1897 but I have my doubts. jgc_02_206
James Gray: Entertainers on the Lower Promenade probably west of the Pier, though it is difficult to say where as the background buildings give no clue. jgc_01_134
James Gray: Late 1890s. Note the skeleton of the Palace Pier, then under construction. Additional Information: Parasol; woman and girl; fishermen; paddle-steamer. jgc_01_087
James Gray: [Bottom left] No comment. Additional Information: View from West Pier. jgc_01_001
James Gray: [Top left] This small photograph is one of the most interesting in my entire collection and amply repays careful study under a magnifying glass. Taken from the West Pier in 1866 it shows the rebuilding of the Norfolk Hotel. Note the scaffolding. Observe also the low gravel bank which then led from the open beach to the unfenced promenade.
James Gray: Evidently I was wrong in what I said above [jgc_01_002] as some years later I found an ancient photograph, of which this is a copy, which also showed the significant gap in the buildings between Adelaide Crescent and Cliftonville. The two photographs were probably taken by the same man and at the same time. jgc_01_003
James Gray: Copies of stereoscopic photographs, the originals of which must have been taken in the mid-1860s. Certainly they must precede 1867 – note the bank leading down from Esplanade to beach and the note about this on the previous photograph. jgc_01_004