James Gray: Dates of these photographs are not known, but it is thought that all were taken in the period 1958/61, a view that is supported by the almost complete absence of motor vehicles in the residential streets. North side looking from Sydney Street towards Gloucester Place. jgc_25_187
2018: The terrace of houses along the north (left) side of Gloucester Street have been demolished and replaced by a terrace of two-storey modern houses. The bright blue building on the north side of Gloucester Street is shown on the original photograph with a full height canted bay. The bay has been removed. (Photographer: Geoffrey Kavanagh)
James Gray: Old houses at the foot of this road where it turns right angles to enter Gloucester Street. Photographed 7 February 1935. Probably about 100 years old, these houses, 128-130, were demolished soon afterwards. Now, more than 30 years later, the site is empty and derelict. The corner has been rounded off. jgc_25_190
2018: The buildings shown in the original photograph have been demolished and replaced by modern (1970s?) buildings. (Photographer: Geoffrey Kavanagh)
James Gray: The five small photographs on this, and the succeeding page, are of buildings in Gloucester Street and turnings off. This area was developed in the 1840s and with the passage of 110 years they were no longer up to present day living standards. Accordingly Brighton Corporation made a clearance order and in 1961 most of the buildings were demolished, though Gloucester Passage still remains. The vacant space is now used as a car park. This photograph of Gloucester Terrace shows ten small cottages that faced east to the backs of some of Gloucester Cottages. Photographed 21 August 1960. jgc_25_191
2018: The court of houses shown in the original JG photograph has been demolished and replaced by a terrace of modern (1970s?) houses.
(Photograph: Geoffrey Kavanagh)
25-194, 25-199
James Gray: The five small photographs on this, and the succeeding page, are of buildings in Gloucester Street and turnings off. This area was developed in the 1840s and with the passage of 110 years they were no longer up to present day living standards. Accordingly Brighton Corporation made a clearance order and in 1961 most of the buildings were demolished, though Gloucester Passage still remains. The vacant space is now used as a car park. Small houses, five on the east side, four on the west, and one at the end of this narrow passage. Photographed – 10 October 1958. jgc_25_192
2018: The original photograph shows a number of small houses named Gloucester cottages. According to Brighton Corporation records this area was demolished about 1961. The vacant space became a car park. It is now blocks of flats in a landscaped garden.
Additional information: It is not clear what the exact existing location or orientation of buildings today would match those in the original photographic image. I have attached images presently located on the south east and east side of the rectangular built space, therefore facing south west/west. This may not be an accurate view. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Photographs taken about 1958/1960 of these streets, which are older than I had realised. Over the doors of Nos. 5 and 6 was this inscribed plate – “Gloucester Terrace 1822.” jgc_25_193/194
2018: According to Brighton Corporation Gloucester Terrace and Cottages were demolished in the 1960’s. This area is now blocks of flats in a landscaped garden. It would seem that the entrance to this area is a passageway at No 38 and a gated archway at 40 Gloucester Street.
Additional information: It is not clear exactly what building has replaced the 1822 Gloucester Terrace which was demolished in the 1960’s. The photographs included show a gated entrance and a passage way leading to modern blocks of flats in a landscaped garden which may be part of the rebuilding of this site. This may not be accurate. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Photographs taken about 1958/1960 of these streets, which are older than I had realised. Over the doors of Nos. 5 and 6 was this inscribed plate – “Gloucester Terrace 1822.” jgc_25_195
2018: Gloucester Terrace and Cottages were demolished in the 1960’s. It would seem that this site is now occupied by blocks of flats in landscaped garden. The photographs attached show the gated entrance to this rebuilt area and views of building facing east and south. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Photographs taken about 1958/1960 of these streets, which are older than I had realised. Over the doors of Nos. 5 and 6 was this inscribed plate – “Gloucester Terrace 1822.” Gloucester Street, showing Levetts the seed merchants. jgc_25_196
2018: West of Gloucester Passage entrance is North Laine Medical Centre. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Photographs taken about 1958/1960 of these streets, which are older than I had realised. Over the doors of Nos. 5 and 6 was this inscribed plate – “Gloucester Terrace 1822.” Gloucester Street, showing Levetts the seed merchants. jgc_25_197
2018: The shop Levetts seed merchants located on the south-west corner of Gloucester Street (1958/60) is now the Isaac At restaurant. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Photographs taken about 1958/1960 of these streets, which are older than I had realised. Over the doors of Nos. 5 and 6 was this inscribed plate – “Gloucester Terrace 1822.” jgc_25_198
2018: Gloucester Terrace and Cottages were demolished in the 1960’s.
Additional information: It is not possible to accurately locate what building has replaced the site in the original photograph. It would seem that blocks of flats in a landscaped garden were built on land in this area. See attached photographs of gated entrance and blocks of flats in landscaped grounds. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Old houses in Gloucester Street, photographed in October 1958, and since demolished. The others show each end of Gloucester Passage, which still remains though it will have to go when this area is subject to comprehensive redevelopment. jgc_25_200
2018: Both images shows Gloucester Passage shot from the Gloucester Road end, with the passageway through to Gloucester Street visible on the far left of each photograph. Some of the old cottages remain – No 2 (west of passage) and No 7 (east of passage). The Eagle Pub occupies the south end corner of the courtyard and the north end leads from Gloucester Passage into Gloucester Street. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Old houses in Gloucester Street, photographed in October 1958, and since demolished. The others show each end of Gloucester Passage, which still remains though it will have to go when this area is subject to comprehensive redevelopment. jgc_25_201
2018: Gloucester Passage has survived: the passageway here in Gloucester Street (between Nos 11 and 12) leads to a small number of cottages and work units (seen in jgc_25_200) before opening out into Gloucester Road. In 2018, like many walls in the North Laine, graffiti and posters spoil the view of this passage which probably dates back to the 1820s. (Photographer: Mary Allison)
James Gray: Some ten years later after the photographs on the previous pages were taken, it seemed as if further houses in Gloucester Street would be demolished. When this photograph was taken on 3 March 1968, several houses between 30 and 38 were empty and had their window spaces covered with corrugated iron to keep out intruders. Now, note the difference (see following photograph) in their appearance seven years later, on 3 August 1975. The corrugated iron has gone, and so have the bay windows of several of the houses. All are occupied and have been given a new lease of life. On the right, note where the entrances to the demolished Gloucester Terrace and Gloucester Cottages still remain. jgc_25_202