Brighton East Seafront: Images on the beach (1)
between Sea-Life Centre and Lower Rock Gardens
James Gray: These [jgc_05_010 and 011] are copies of very old stereoscopic photographs, dating from 1857. Taken from Marine Parade, they show the coal-brig PILGRIM, from Middlesborough, of 160 tons, wrecked on the beach, close to the Royal Albion Hotel. This took place on Thursday 8 October, 1857. The vessel was owned by Smith and Comper, of Gosport, and was manned by Captain Smithson and a crew of eight. When she struck, the brig was level with the outer piles of the Chain Pier. In the lower foreground can be seen part of the Chain Pier Esplanade. Photographer: Philippe Garner jgc_05_010
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_05_010 above.] jgc_05_011
2020: Looking west from a vantage point on Marine Parade today. The Royal Albion Hotel on the right in both images still dominates the shoreline. The Brighton Zip with its white conical top is a much more recent addition. In the background are the remains of the West Pier. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: Edward Fox, the well-known photographer of the mid-19th century, took this and the next photograph [see jgc_05_013 below]. They show the Chain Pier esplanade, from east to west, on 3 June 1860, the day after the French brig, Atlantique of Nantes, was wrecked off the Albion Hotel beach. The low building on the beach was the Chain Pier Toll House. jgc_05_012
2020: Images jgc_05_012 and 014 below are identical, with the latter being a black and white version of the original sepia print. The explanatory comments by James Gray are best read together. Today the only easily recognisable building is that of the Royal Albion Hotel, built in 1827 and extended in 1847, with its east-facing façade looking down what is now Madeira Drive. The Palace Pier (now the Brighton Pier) to the left (south) was opened in 1899. The Aquarium to the right opened in 1872 and closed in 1926 for a major rebuild before reopening in its current form in 1929. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: An enlarged view [of jgc_05_012 above]. Newspaper cuttings from the local paper: 100 years ago – 14 July 1860. “In an attempt, on Thursday, to raise the brig Atlantique, which still lies on our beach, the machinery by which she was supported gave way, and a number of children who were assisting were thrown into the air, and three of them severely injured.”
June 2 1860: “Within the memory of the oldest Brightonian, there is but one instance of such a storm as visited our coast yesterday, occurring at this period of the year. In the early spring – during the fierce days of March – and in the unsettled November weather, gales of fearful intensity are often experienced, and our sea-faring population are prepared for them; but in June – bright, genial, sunny June – such a storm as that which we have to describe is almost without its parallel.”
(The report recorded the wreck of two vessels and loss of life, and several casualties on land, chimney pots being hurled down, windows blown in and trees uprooted.) jgc_05_014
James Gray: This is the only photograph I have ever seen which shows the eastern entrance gates to the Chain Pier. There are many existing showing the western entrance. One cannot date the original photograph. The West Pier is not seen, so it could have been of the period 1860-1866, or even earlier. Additional Information: © Philippe Garner. jgc_05_015
James Gray: A later photograph [than jgc_05_015], probably about 1872-1873. By now, the Aquarium had been built, on the site of the esplanade, and the few hesitant steps towards the construction of Madeira Drive had commenced. Note the long line of sapling trees and the ladies’ bathing machines. Both [jgc_05_015 and 016] are, of course, recent copies of old stereoscopic photographs. Photographer: Philippe Garner. jgc_05_016
2020: View looking west. The Royal Albion Hotel is just visible in the far distance on the right. Today Madeira Drive has been fully developed and only the Palace Pier, opened in 1899, remains. The ruins of the West Pier can be seen in the distance. Recent additions to the skyline include the Brighton Zip and the British Airways i360 observation tower. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: The Pier and beach in 1865. Note the bathing machines being pushed into the sea. jgc_05_019
James Gray: No comment. jgc_ 05_064
James Gray: Here the abandoned skeleton of the new Palace Pier tells us that this photograph was taken between 1891 and 1896. Note how far out the tide went at this time and the voluminous clothing of the women seated on the beach. Photographer: Philippe Garner jgc_05_084
James Gray: At low tide the old wooden piles were clearly seen, many of them still embedded in the seabed. jgc_05_121
James Gray: These two photographs [see also jgc_05_150 on the Madeira Drive page] need little comment as their location is quite obvious. In fact the doubt is when were they taken. There is no obvious sign of Volk’s Railway (1883) but the present teak and iron railings (1880) are there which suggests that they date from between these two years. jgc_05_149
2020: The beach is still a popular place to visit, although bathing machines are no longer available and the Chain Pier is no more. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: This photograph was taken in the period immediately before the 1914-18 War, probably between 1910 and 1914. jgc_06_006
James Gray: The oldest of these photographs. This must have been taken between 1880 and 1883, because there is no sign of Volk’s Railway (1883) but on Marine Parade the present wood and iron railing (1880) can be seen. jgc_06_007
James Gray: The crowd of people on the beach below the Palace Pier, with the Aquarium clock and Volk’s Railway terminus as obvious landmarks. jgc_06_008
2020: These two images, old and new, show how Brighton has changed over the last 100 years. Crowds of this size are now a rarity – and few would choose to pose in all their finery in front of these graffiti-covered steps and walls.
James Gray: All three of these photographs show bathing machines, despite their different periods. This view shows the Chain Pier and the recently opened Aquarium, with the Marine Parade frontage looking much as it is now. jgc_06_030
James Gray: Postcard which shows a shipwrecked boat on the shore. jgc_06_031
James Gray: This needs little comment, except that by now the Palace Pier and Volk’s Railway have appeared on the scene. jgc_06_032
James Gray: These two beach photographs were taken by George Ruff Junior, most likely in 1902. They provide an interesting social contrast. In this view, adjoining the original Volk’s Railway Terminus just east of the Palace Pier, the children are obviously of the poorer class, so often sent down to the beach on their own to make their own amusement. jgc_06_050
James Gray: The same beach during three successive decades [jgc_04_108, 109 and 110]: Bank Holiday crowd in 1931. jgc_04_108
James Gray: The same beach during three successive decades: The fine summer of 1911. jgc_04_109
James Gray: The same beach during three successive decades: The café beneath Volk’s Railway Station. Additional Information: Advertisement for trips to the Downs. jgc_04_110