Preston Park (A)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

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

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

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)

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

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

2018: No comment. (Photographer: Mark Stephenson)

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)

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)

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)