Dyke Road (1)

James Gray: Old houses then known as 110-117 North Street, photographed in the mid 1930s. The corner buildings were demolished and rebuilt for the Sun Insurance Company in 1938-1939.  jgc_21_011

2018: This image shows the road and buildings on the corner with Queen Square. The 1930s buildings have all gone (except for the wall and gate at the end of the row) and there is now a Costa Coffee and Pizza Hut on the site with offices on the upper floors. (Photographer: Clare Hughes)

James Gray: Copy of an interesting print showing the approach to the Church and old cottages then included in North Street. Those at the left remained until comparatively recent times. Reputed to date from 1770, but I have doubts. I do not think the three cottages and the double-gabled building behind were as old at that. jgc_21_021

James Gray: The same area, about 1965. The Bank building stands on the site of the three old cottages, while the double-gabled building had recently been demolished and the empty site made available for extension to Marks & Spencer’s Store. jgc_21_022

2018: The three old cottages and double-gabled building mentioned by James Gray can be seen in jgc_21_021 above.

James Gray: This was to be found right at the top of North Street, adjoining the tiny old cottages which are seen on nearby photographs [see jgc_21_024, 027 and 028]. (Were they there now, they would be numbered in Dyke Road). There is some doubt about the age of the Forge, but it is accepted that it had been in the Haselgrove family since 1810. The photograph is dated 13 March 1932, which means that I was wrong in saying that demolition took place in 1930 [see jgc_21_027 below].

James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_21_024 and 025] of a later period, about 1952, show those cottages of the same age, facing down North Street which completely masked the others [see jgc_21_023 above]. Note the small picket fence where the Forge had been. The tall building between was known for some years as the Victory Hall. Nearly all the buildings in these three photographs [jgc_21_023, 024 and 025] have now gone. jgc_21_024

James Gray: [See jgc_21_024 above.] jgc_21_025

2018: Brigden’s garage was a few yards from the sign seen in the James Gray photograph. The building behind the picket fence seen in jgc_21_024 is that on the right of this second 1952 photograph. There is now no trace of any of these old buildings or businesses. Modern offices and the service areas of Western Road shops completely cover the site where they once stood. (Photographer: Clare Hughes)

 James Gray: These houses, 104, 105 and 106 North Street, which faced downhill towards the Clock Tower, were three of the oldest houses in the town. They were built in the latter part of the eighteenth century and are shown on a print published in 1787. Originally all three had an attic room, the extra storey of 106 being added in recent times. Photographed 1954. Demolished 1955. Three tiny ancient flint cottages, 101, 102 and 103, previously stood hidden from view in the space behind these houses, adjoining Haselgrove’s smithy, which had been there for many years. These were cleared away in 1930. 

James Gray: Here is one of the three ancient cottages mentioned on the previous page. Three tiny cottages 101, 102 and 103 faced across this narrow court to the backs of the three cottages shown in the other photograph. Adjoining this cottage to the south, was Haselgrove’s forge, a smithy, which had been here for many years. At the rear is the side wall of the present 23 Dyke Road. The forge and these three cottages were removed in 1930 after which the site remained empty for a long time. In 1955 the three remaining cottages were pulled down and now, 1957, a large office building is being erected on the entire area. Date of photograph unknown probably 1930.  jgc_21_028

2018: The site of the James Gray picture is under modern offices. (Photographer: Clare Hughes) 

James Gray: Fowler’s Corner, at the junction of Dyke Road, Western Road and North Street in 1929. The same photograph appears in the Western Road album with a more informative caption than space permits here [see jgc_19_112 below].  jgc_21_029

James Gray: Swan Downer’s School, photographed in the 1960s. This building, which of course still stands, was built in 1867 to house this Charity School on its removal from premises in Gardner Street. No longer a school, it is used for other purposes. jgc_21_030

2018: The current building is more or less identical to the 1960s image. It is now known as the Rialto and is a music and theatre venue. (Photographer: Clare Hughes)

James Gray: The foundation stone which can be seen low down in the adjoining photograph had suffered the ravages of time so I had it photographed, before it got any worse, on 29 June 1969. The wording reads “ This corner stone was laid on 27 day of June 1867 by the Revd. H. M. Wagner, Vicar of Brighton.”  jgc_21_031

2019: The foundation stone is now long gone. The only trace of it is the comparatively unweathered brick just visible behind the current replacement, one of Brighton’s ubiquitous decorated phone wiring boxes. (Photographer: Mary McKean)

James Gray: Derelict houses 113, 114, 115 North Street in 1938. They were to remain like this, shored up, until 1951 when they were removed as unsafe and the site has been completely empty ever since. jgc_21_032

2018: The upper floors of the two buildings on the left of the James Gray image are broadly unchanged and are now occupied by a language school and a health therapy clinic. The buildings on the right of the James Gray image, previously 113 -115 North Street but now 2-12 Dyke Road, were, as James Gray indicates, demolished. They were eventually replaced by a building which sadly does not respect the former roofline. The ground floor is occupied by Pizza Hut. (Photographer: Clare Hughes) 

James Gray: Demolition of 113, 114 and 115 North Street, in September 1951. Weakened by the removal of 116 and 117, in 1938–1939, these old houses were left empty and shored up throughout the War, and they were finally removed when their condition became dangerous. jgc_21_034

2018:  The buildings in the old photograph have all been demolished. There is currently a modern Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee on the site, with offices on the upper floors. The address is now Dyke Road, as North Street stops now at the Clock Tower. (Photographer: Clare Hughes)

James Gray: Seen from across Dyke Road in 1896. Additional Information: New perimeter wall. jgc_26_196

2018: The majority of the grave stones have been removed and the trees have grown to such an extent that when in leaf only the church tower is visible from the same angle.  (Photographer: Tony Bailey)

James Gray: Old houses at the foot of Dyke Road, period not known. They were then numbered 110 and 111, North Street, but were renumbered 14 and 12, Dyke Road. Both Sextons and John Osborn were here for long periods, particularly the latter whose hairdressing saloon spanned three decades (1920s – 1950s). The buildings are still here but altered in appearance. jgc_26_227

2018: The shop that housed the hairdressing salon of John Osborn at 12 Dyke Road is now a language school. The windows and shop front have been restyled. The black door at right angles to the language school is that of 14 Dyke Road, former premises of George Sexton, antiquarian bookseller. What now lies behind this door is a mystery. Wykeham Terrace seen to the left in both images is unchanged. (Photographer: Mathia Davies)