Brighton East Seafront: Images on the beach (2)
East of Lower Rock Gardens
James Gray: An almost unbelievably quiet Madeira Drive photographed during the winter of 1961/1962. The bowling greens and tennis courts, which formerly adjoined the roadway, had all but gone and Peter Pan’s Playground was soon to replace them. jgc_05_177
2020: There are more vehicles on Madeira Drive, new flats can be seen at the Marina, there is a playground and a crazy golf course on the site of the old bowling greens and tennis courts. Madeira Terrace is cordoned off, awaiting repairs. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: View east to Banjo Groyne, about 1895, before the construction of the Marine Electric Railway. Madeira Drive then ended at the Banjo Groyne. jgc_06_086
James Gray: A panoramic view from the beach in the year 1922. Note how at that period Volk’s Railway ran along a wooden breastwork from Paston Place to the Bungalow Terminus, further east than the present one. jgc_06_126
2019: This is no longer a quiet corner of Brighton. The beachfront is heavily developed west of Banjo Groyne. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: These formed part of the original Kemp Town Estate projected during the 1820s. The construction of the esplanades, at one time strictly private, occupied about 12 years from 1828 to 1840. The slopes were unfenced at their southern boundary, as can be seen here, and ran right down to the beach, the use of which was confined to Kemp Town residents. This photograph, dating from 1895, shows the area as it was. Note the two methods of lighting – gas in the old lampposts and electric arc lamps in the tall standards, first introduced in 1893. jgc_06_123
James Gray: View in the same area in 1955, 60 years later. In 1895, Madeira Drive was extended from Paston Place to the slope leading up to the present Madeira Drive. Volk’s Railway was extended along the foreshore to Black Rock in 1901. At this period the slopes were entirely enclosed and reserved for the use of Kemp Town residents. In 1951 the Corporation acquired the site and the terraces and gardens opened for the use of the public, in July 1952. jgc_06_124
James Gray: Old houses on the cliff edge at Black Rock. jgc_23_143
2020: Gray’s 1923 photograph is of the Abergavenny Arms, The Cliff Creamery and the other cliff top buildings. They were demolished in the late 1920s . The site is now occupied by the Marine Drive cycle track, just to the west (left) of Marine Gate flats which were built in 1939. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: [1890s, clockwise.] These three photographs [jgc_23_164, 165 and 166] show Black Rock House, the Abergavenny Arms and 1-3 Sea View Terrace. The old road to Rottingdean ran in front of these houses but by 1920 the fronts of Sea View Terrace were at the cliff edge, as shown on the left. These fronts were removed but the backs were left to support the Cliff Creamery. This building and Black Rock House were removed in 1929 but the Abergavenny Arms lasted for a further six years. Additional Information: Rock face and steps. jgc_23_164
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_23_164 above.] Showing the Cliff Creamery. Additional Information: Children on the beach. jgc_23_165
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_23_164 above.] jgc_23_166
James Gray: Three more photographs [see also jgc_23_168 and 169] of this once familiar landmark, just east of Madeira Drive. The oldest of these was probably [this] postcard, published before the First World War. jgc_23_167
James Gray: This photograph is definitely later [than jgc_23_167], dating from the late 1920s or 1930, shortly before work on the Undercliff walk was commenced. Additional Information: Advertisement hoarding for Gold Flake tobacco. jgc_23_169
James Gray: In 1928, the year of this photograph, No 1 Sea View Terrace was still standing very precariously on the cliff edge. It was removed in the following year. Additional Information: Woman standing under cliff in 1920s clothes. jgc_23_170
2021: The Abergavenny Arms was lost to erosion of the cliff and the development of Marine Drive (A259) in the 1930s. The Marina development of the 1970s reclaimed much of the land shown as sea at high tide in the original image, now the Asda car park. The cliff itself is reinforced with a walkway and steps to the bottom. (Photographer: Mary McKean)
James Gray: This view shows rocks at the foot of the cliff at Black Rock in 1896. jgc_23_173
James Gray: Shoreham to Black Rock Aeroplane Race 13 May 1911. ‘The Waiting Crowds.’ This photograph needs no explanation, and is even conveniently dated for us by the photographer, Thomas Wiles of Hove. The people are grouped along what still remained of the old road to Rottingdean, which had been given up some years previously owing to coastal erosion. Note the close proximity of the cliff edge, on the right! jgc_23_174
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_23_167 above.] This view of people exploring the rocks may date just before 1914, or just after that war. jgc_23_168
James Gray: These four photographs [see also jgc_23_175, 177 and 181] are all of the same period, just before the 1914-18 War. They show the serious effect of the erosion by the sea before the construction of the Undercliff Walk. View from under cliff. jgc_ 23_176
James Gray: Cliffs and beach at Black Rock. Period not known but doubtless all prior to 1930. jgc_23_178
James Gray: This view dates from 1927 before the Undercliff Walk was built, but it is seen in jgc_33_009 photograph taken about five years later. jgc_33_007
2020: The Undercliff Walk for this section of the coast was completed between 1930 and 1933. The view was changed again by the building of Brighton Marina between 1971 and 1979. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The Undercliff Walk is visible. jgc_33_009
2020: The dangers of crumbling chalk cliffs are better known today. Signs warn walkers not to approach the cliff edge although there are still reckless visitors who ignore the risk. There is fencing along much of the cliff edge and Brighton Marina is now part of the view. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The cliffs and farm buildings of Black Rock farm during the period 1900-1910. These photographs clearly show the old road to Rottingdean, which was closed in 1897 while there is just a glimpse of the present Roedean Road. Although affected by continued erosion Black Rock farm remained until 1928 when Brighton Corporation bought the land. jgc_ 33_011
James Gray: An uncommon view of the beach at Roedean showing the double rows of lines on which the car of the Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric railway was transported from Paston Place to Rottingdean. The lines were either under construction or repair, but as to the year one can only say between 1896 and 1901, the years when this was in use. Additional Information: ©Philippe Garner. jgc_33_020
2019, 2020: The Daddy Long Legs or Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway ran along the shore from Paston Place to Rottingdean. The line was closed in 1901 and the car “Pioneer” languished at the end of Ovingdean pier until both pier and car were broken up and sold for scrap in 1910. Some remnants of the route can still be seen at low tide. The line of the railway is just visible in this aerial view. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: All three photographs [see also jgc_06_052 on the Chain Pier page and jgc_06_053 on the Brighton East Seafront: images on the beach (A) page] probably date from the mid-1890s, as the skeleton of the Palace Pier appears in one and the remains of the Chain Pier, destroyed 4 December 1896, in another. Note how at that period the sea swept right up to Madeira Drive wall and reflect on how much has been reclaimed from the sea since then. jgc_06_054
James Gray: Photographs by two amateurs. This view, taken on the 4 September 1949, is of the desolate state of Kemp Town slopes and gardens, following wartime closure and neglect. No restoration work yet started. jgc_06_117