James Gray: The approach to the fountain, then obviously in better condition than it is to-day. jgc_24_170
2018: The fountain is still there but is not working. (Photographer: Cicely Knowles)
James Gray: Here are two contrasting photographs [this and following] of 1897 and 1957. In this photograph the buildings seen are the backs of houses in Queen’s Park Road, as the building of West Drive did not commence until 1900-01. Originally known as the German Spa, the park was purchased by the Brighton Race Stand Trustees and presented to the Corporation in July, 1890. Alterations to the layout of the park led to the removal of the island shrubbery during the 1930s. jgc_24_181
James Gray: [1957 black and white image. See caption for jgc_24_181 above.] jgc_24_182
James Gray: [1901 image.] No comment. jgc_24_174
James Gray: The view of the lake, 1912. jgc_24_179
2018: In the distance you can now see houses in West Drive, which were not built at the time of the original photograph. The fence at this side of the pond has gone. (Photographer: Cicely Knowles)
James Gray: The fountain and lake of the park, as they were in 1897. The fountain is now most dilapidated and the inscriptions on it almost illegible. It records, however, that the Park was opened to the public on August 10th, 1892. One of the biggest changes in the park today is that most of the tall trees have been removed and it has a somewhat bare appearance. jgc_24_171
James Gray: No comment. jgc_24_173
2020: The park and clocktower are even more obscured by trees in this photograph. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: The clock tower in Queen’s Park photographed soon after its erection. It was officially handed over to the town on June 24, 1915. In the rear are houses of East Drive, left to right, Nos 15, 14 and 13. These were erected about 1900, but Nos 12 to 8, on the empty ground in the photograph were not built until 1926-1927. jgc_24_183
2020: Houses now extend along the southern part of the road behind the clock tower. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: Another of George Ruff Junior’s photographic children’s studies particularly of the poorer ones. These children seem to be reasonably clad for the period (1900-1904), two wearing Eton collars and all, lace-up boots. Shoes were seldom worn then. The Fox Terrier was probably the most popular breed of dog at this time. jgc_24_177
2020: It is possible that the pond has been altered since Gray’s time, making it difficult to replicate the precise location of the original image. (Photographer: Kate Ormond)
James Gray: This, the second only of Brighton’s public parks, was a great boon to the denizens of the crowded working class houses in eastern Brighton. Here, the photograph shows the opening ceremony performed by the Mayor, Alderman Sir J Ewart, on August 10, 1892. jgc_24_168
James Gray: The original of this photograph was taken by George Ruff Junior. He was responsible for many photographs taken during the period 1900-1904 most of which were of working class children, such as this one. jgc_24_176
James Gray: The stream and falls, 1896. jgc_24_178
James Gray: The Italian Villa, now the Xaverian College. jgc_24_180