Historic and Contemporary Images of Brighton and Hove
Based on the Regency Society James Gray Collection
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PRESTON PARK

Preston Park (A)

features

(for panoramas and events see Preston Park (B))

Neighbourhood
Preston Park and Village
1928-29
2018

James Gray: This photograph shows the main southern entrance to Preston Park, the lodge and the high iron railings, all of which were removed in 1928/29. jgc_18_047

2018: The gates were in line with the Stanford Avenue frontage and the Lodge or Superintendent’s house stood on the corner with Preston Road, just north of the tree on the traffic island now at the junction.

The curved balustrades, which re-used the original dolphin lamps and have now lost their globes, the Radenden Gate marker stone, Rose Garden and Rotunda Café were all of 1929. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
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c1900
2018

James Gray: Another view of the main entrance of Preston Park. Additional information: Policeman on duty, drinking fountain. jgc_18_048

2018: The gates were in line with the Stanford Avenue frontage. The curved balustrades re-used the original dolphin lamps, which have now lost their globes. The Radenden Gate marker stone and the Rose Garden were all of 1929. (Photographer: Helen Glass)

c1890
2018

James Gray: In these two photographs, dating from about 1890, can be seen the massive main entrance gates of the Park and the solitude of Victoria Preston Road. jgc_18_052

2018: The gates were in line with the Stanford Avenue frontage. The 1928 curved balustrades reused the original dolphin lamps, which have now lost their globes. (Photographer: Helen Glass)

1890
2018

James Gray: What a contrast to the busy road of our time. The gates and railings of the Superintendent’s house were all removed in 1928. jgc_18_053

2018: All the walls and gates to the west side of Preston Road have gone. The Superintendent’s house stood where the black-backed directional sign stands now. (Photographer: Helen Glass)

1900s
2018

James Gray: A view of the entrance to Preston Park, with young men and policeman. jgc_18_067

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

1900s
2018

James Gray: The Chalet with mature trees around it. Flowering cherries have replaced these. jgc_18_068

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

c1900
c1896
2018

James Gray: This scene is so easily recognisable that little comment is needed. This view is of The Chalet. jgc_18_070

James Gray: Chalet from another view. jgc_18_072

2018: The Chalet has hardly changed since it was built. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

1890
2018

James Gray: The earliest view of Preston Park’s central entrance gates, taken in 1890 six years after the Park’s opening in 1884. jgc_18_071

2018: The central entrance gates have long gone and the park looks less formal. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

1900-04
2018

James Gray: A peaceful scene in the eastern side of Preston Park, with the houses of Preston Park Avenue in the background. The exact year is not known, but it was between 1900 and 1904. When the park was first laid out an imposing carriage drive traversed the entire inner perimeter, but while the north and west parts of this still remain, the drive seen here has been grassed over. I have not been able to find out when this was done, but it must have been many years ago. jgc_18_074

2018: The dry weather in 2018 exposed the line of the grassed over drive. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

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1898
2018

James Gray: A distant view of the Clock Tower. jgc_18_076

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

1896
2018

James Gray: A close up view of the Clock Tower. jgc_18_077

2018: The Clock Tower is surrounded by trees on three sides. Safety fences were put around the tower in July 2018. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

Unknown
2018

James Gray: Consisting of four acres, the ground was presented to the town by Alderman Blaker in 1893 and opened in 1893. The clock tower, seen above, was dedicated in 1866. jgc_20_141

2018: Preston Park Clock Tower – built during 1891/2, designed by F J C May for the Recreation Committee of Brighton Borough Council and paid for by Councillor Edward White. This is the Preston Park Clock Tower, not Blaker’s Park as currently described. (Photographer: Andrew Renaut)

c1910
2019

James Gray: This view shows the Park Superintendent’s house. jgc_18_132

2019: The Park Superintendent’s lodge seen in the 1910 image stood at the south west corner of Preston Park. It was demolished in 1929 as part of Captain MacLaren’s 1928 redesign of the park and the rotunda, seen here in the background, was built at the same time. Formerly a tearoom, The Rotunda is still in use as a café today. The lodge was where the pedestrian crossing can be seen in the 2019 image. Stanford Avenue is at the extreme right of each image. It now splits to form a triangular pedestrian refuge at the Preston Road end. (Photographer: Jane Southern)

c1890-1900
1896
c1900
1900
1906
1909
1920s
1920s
2018

James Gray: [Middle row, centre image.] Another view of the main entrance gates of Preston Park, though from a slightly different angle. Additional Information: Prams. jgc_18_063

James Gray: [Middle row, right-hand side.] The south gates of Preston Park in the same year [as jgc_18_029] 1906. This is very similar to many others in my collection and needs no special comment. Additional Information: Lamps on gated entrance to park. jgc_18_030 

James Gray: [Bottom row, middle image.] An early Ford Van outside the main south gates to Preston Park. T Foster & Co. Wine Merchants. jgc_18_032

James Gray: In these two photographs [see jgc_18_052 above and top left-hand image here], dating from about 1890, can be seen the massive main entrance gates of the Park and the solitude of Victorian Preston Road. jgc_18_054

James Gray: [Top right-hand image.] Two more views of these much photographed ornate south gates of Preston Park. One wonders why local photographers found these attractive, and almost entirely ignored the central and north gates. Additional Information: © Phillipe Garner. jgc_18_055

James Gray: [Bottom left-hand image.] View of the main entrance to the Park from Stanford Avenue. The period is probably the middle 1920s. Note the parks Superintendent’s House and the massive iron railings, which then surround the whole park. Additional Information: Policeman on duty, drinking fountain. jgc_18_056

James Gray: [Top row, middle image.] View of the main entrance to the Park from Stanford Avenue. Note the parks Superintendent’s House and the massive iron railings, which then surround the whole park. jgc_18_057

James Gray: [Middle row, left-hand image.] This view of the gates and leafy Stanford Avenue dates from about 1909. Additional Information: Fashionably dressed pedestrians. jgc_18_058

2018: The ornamental gates and the park superintendent’s house are long gone. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

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Historic and Contemporary Images of Brighton and Hove
This website has been prepared by the Regency Society of Brighton and Hove. All historic maps are provided with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland (https://www.nls.uk/) regencysociety.org

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