James Gray: Again, a photographic copy of a rather indistinct drawing of the central valley from West Hill. A few years later than that above [see jgc_31_045] for Trafalgar Street has been bridged. The chimney of Regent Foundry can be picked out, also St Nicholas Church (far right) and above the cornfields, parts of the old Workhouse buildings on Church Hill, removed in 1866. jgc_31_046
James Gray: The locomotive sheds outside Brighton Station, photographed from Howard Place in 1906. With the passing of the steam engines the sheds became redundant and were demolished in 1966. jgc_31_047
2019: The 1906 image shows the very long but narrow ‘new shed’ in the background and, to its left, the locomotive sheds. The latter were reduced in size in the early 1930s when electric trains first came to Brighton but were still used for steam engines for another 20 years or so.
James Gray: View from about the same spot [as jgc_31_062], showing Brighton railway station, with the Race Stand and Workhouse on the horizon. Elm Grove was then only partly built up. On the west side can be seen the commencement of De Montford Road and Wellington Street, whilst beyond is Hanover Mill erected in 1813 and removed in the 1890s. Some building seems to be in progress to the east of Islingword, probably Washington Street. The originals of these photographs were taken by the late Mr W J Bramwell. jgc_31_063
James Gray: Several years after I obtained the copies seen on the previous pages these two photographs came into my possession. These are original prints made from Mr Bramwell’s negatives, and fortunately are much clearer in detail than the copies. For example look a little to the left of the tall chimney above. Beneath the long scratch mark can be seen the Bear Windmill, just north of Bear Road. This is the only photograph I have ever seen of this mill, which was a white post mill, with round house, tail pole and cloth sails. It existed in 1770 and was pulled down in 1885. jgc_31_064
James Gray: The most northerly of the four Bramwell views [jgc_31_066, 067, 068 and possibly 069] from a vantage point in Buckingham Place. Some of the fields and farm buildings in the distance can be identified in the top photograph. The very narrow Ditchling Road can be seen as it passes Hollingbury Copse. The period is the same as the other – about 1875. jgc_31_068
2019: The Combined Engineering Depot appears in the foreground with the south end of Preston Park visible behind it.
James Gray: Another view from Buckingham Place, across the railway sheds to the Viaduct and beyond to the farmlands of Preston and Hollingbury. jgc_31_069
2019: This is similar to jgc_31_068 above but extends further to the south (right) to include Jurys Inn (opened 2008). Mature trees hide the London Road viaduct at various points. The more westerly windmill north of Bear Road, Bear Mill, disappeared from the horizon in 1903. (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: A scene which we shall never see again. Photograph of the Locomotive Running sheds on a Sunday morning in October 1903. Nearly 50 steam engines are coaled up. The view from Buckingham Place also shows Preston Park and on the left, the steep slope of Hamilton Road. jgc_31_070
2019: The Combined Engineering Depot, prominent in the 2019 photograph, is described more fully in jgc_31_047 above. The Lovers Walk Maintenance Depot on the north side of New England Street was originally a paint shop.
James Gray: The view from Buckingham Place, across the original roof of Brighton Station, towards London Road and the central valley, about 1870. jgc_31_078
2019: This image was taken from Howard Place, outside the West Hill Tavern. Designed by H E Wallis, in 1882-3 a canopy at the front of the station and the huge arched roof in iron and glass, consisting of two long bays and a shorter bay to the east, were erected.