James Gray: In this photograph, the building with six windows, was at one time a private house, known as the The Old House, occupied by a Gas Company official, while the adjoining house was known as The Wing. They can be seen as private houses in the aerial photograph on the next page [jgc_23_191]. jgc_23_190
This photograph must have been taken soon after the construction of Marine Drive. To me the particular interest is that it affords a glimpse of Black Rock Cottages, just behind the Abergavenny Arms and facing the houses of Riflebutt Road. The road running to the left of the gasometers is Boundary Road, until 1928 the eastern boundary of Brighton Borough. The gas works were established here in 1823 just outside the Brighton boundary so as to avoid the duty which was then levied on all coal entering the town. Below the cliff can be seen the works of the contractors engaged on the construction of the Undercliff Walk. Many of the massive blocks of the sea wall were made here. jgc_23_191