James Gray: A photograph of 1966, which looks south-west towards the sea, showing on the right the garden of Belle Vue Hall and the notice board announcing that this large site was for sale. Flats have since been built here. jgc_23_025
2018: Belle Vue Hall was hidden behind the trees in Gray’s 1966 photograph and within two years was to be demolished and replaced by Belle Vue Court, an eight-storey residential housing block seen here. The house on the corner of Belle Vue Gardens has changed little over the past 52 years but the number of parked cars certainly has. (Photographer: Alice Jackson)
James Gray: This large building, photographed in January 1967, is much older than generally assumed. I do not know its exact age but it is mentioned in Leppards Brighton Directory of 1845, being described as “near the Hospital”. In later directories it is listed in Eastern Road so it may be that at one time its grounds extended down to that road. Belle Vue Gardens of which it now forms part is of much later construction, dating only from 1901. It is now proposed to demolish the house, lately used as a nursing home, and to replace it with a block of flats. Additional Information: Once the home of William Percival Boxall, the developer of Percival Terrace. jgc_23_037