James Gray: View up the street from Old Steine – 1907. Apart from the widening at Lyons Corner, this street has changed very little during the past half century. This is a copy of a guide book photograph, which accounts for the blurred appearance. jgc_22_001 and 22_006
James Gray: View across the Steine, 20 years later [than jgc_22_001]. This is a photograph of 1927, the year in which the Lyons building replaced those fine old houses 13/15 Old Steine. The newly erected building can be seen through the trees. jgc_22_002
James Gray: View across the Steine and east up St James’s Street. jgc_10_071
2018: Both four-storey corner buildings at the west junction with Old Steine have been rebuilt. St James’s Street buildings further up the road remain mainly intact, with extensive shop front alterations at ground floor level. There are wider pavements, with St James’s Street being one way west to east, single vehicle width. (Photographer: April Wright)
James Gray: A few yards up on the north side of this old street, an opening led to extensive premises, at one time a mews and stables, but latterly the York and Albion Garage. Here was to be found this house, numbered 5½ and this stone, mask-like face on the wall. No explanation of its origin is known. Photographed in January 1984, first the face disappeared, probably taken by some souvenir hunter, and within just a few weeks the building was demolished as part of a large redevelopment. jgc_22_003
2019: The passage remains, leading to St James’s Place. The stone wall has been rendered and supports various utility boxes. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_22_003 above.] jgc_22_004
2019: The entrance to the passage today, with shops on either side. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: Although not one of Brighton’s more famous photographers, such as William Constable and Edward Fox, nevertheless Thomas Donovan had a long established photographic business at 1c St James’s Street, a well positioned studio. Started in the 1890s, it was known as Donovan’s Studios when it closed in 1922. We are indebted to Mr Donovan for many interesting photographs of Brighton. jgc_22_005
2019: The shop has been demolished – as have many on that end of the street. No 1c is now a newsagents. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: Carter & Son. This was a very old established business, which occupied this shop from 1863-4 until 1959. The photograph is of about the same period. Note the line of ornamental gas brackets. Additional Information: Carter’s moved to Little East Street – see jgc_09_059. jgc_22_007
2019: The street level façade has changed. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: Shop of Mr H R Harris, Draper, at No. 119 St James’s Street. jgc_22_008
2018: The upper three storeys and building façade details appear intact. There have been alterations to the ground floor shop front and the entrance door has been re-positioned. (Photographer: April Wright)
James Gray: St James’s Street looking west from the corner of George Street. The year is said to be 1926 but judging by the type of motor bus and other clues I would have thought a year or two earlier, say 1923. jgc_22_009
2018: Generally the buildings are unchanged apart from the shop fronts at ground floor level. The road has been narrowed, with traffic calming and planting. (Photographer: April Wright)
James Gray: These are not the present 1A and 1B which were built with Lyons Restaurant in 1927. They were on the same site though and were converted from the rear rooms of 15 Old Steine, about 1870. Year of photograph – 1897. Additional Information: J F Johnson, Wine and Spirit Merchant. jgc_22_014
James Gray: A few yards walk along a passage adjoining 22 St James’s Street brought one to the solitude of St James’s Gardens. When the houses were occupied they presented a pleasing appearance, their red brick frontages being in harmony with the trim flower gardens facing each house. When they were demolished in 1936 they must have been nearly 100 years old. Now, in 1951, it is proposed to build an Old People’s Club on the vacant site. jgc_22_058
James Gray: Each cottage contained a ground floor front room and kitchen, and a single bedroom on two upper floors. The cottage fronts and tiny gardens looking north to the open space of Dorset Gardens, January 1935. jgc_22_059
2018: Now demolished. (Photographer: Jayne Paulin)
James Gray: Each cottage contained a ground floor front room and kitchen, and a single bedroom on two upper floors. Looking south to St James’s Street. jgc_22_060
2018: Now demolished. (Photographer: Jayne Paulin)
James Gray: Each cottage contained a ground floor front room and kitchen, and a single bedroom on two upper floors. Congestion at the rear of the cottages. About 5 feet divided their rear walls from the houses of George Street. Note the two adjoining W.C.s. jgc_22_061
2018: Now demolished. (Photographer: Jayne Paulin)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_22_61 above.] jgc_22_062
2018: Now demolished. (Photographer: Jayne Paulin)
James Gray: Opposite New Steine, about 1962 and before the reconstruction of 47 and 48 St James’s Street. The business of M.E. Collins and Sons had been in these premises for 140 years having been started here in 1821 by J. Collins, Linen Draper and Hosier. jgc_22_085
James Gray: In 1960 before the corner premises, No 130, had been taken over by the National Bank. Burghopes Manshop had moved here a few years earlier from North Street. jgc_22_102
2018: St James’s Street looking east from the junction with Old Steine. The buildings on the south side of St James’s Street remain intact. The corner corner property is now the Sussex Beacon charity shop. (Photographer: Jayne Paulin)