James Gray: Kingsway and Brunswick lawns from the seafront looking east. jgc_12_013
2018: Brunswick Lawns, which stretch from the Brighton boundary (marked by the Peace Statue, just visible in the distance) to St John’s Road, have been an open stretch of grass protected from any building development since 1830. In the background, the buildings of Brunswick Terrace are little changed but a new landmark is the 162 metre tall British Airways i-360 observation tower which opened in 2016.
James Gray: Crowds on Hove Lawns. jgc_11_159
2018: The most obvious difference between these two views is the replacement of the grand 19th century villa Western House by Embassy Court, the stark, white Grade II* listed Modernist apartment building by the architect Wells Coates. The British Airways i360 is a new landmark. The Mercure Hotel (formerly Norfolk Hotel and Ramada Jarvis Hotel) and the Sussex Heights flats can also be seen, as can the seafront cycle lane running between the lawns and the pavement. (Photographer: Alison Minns)
James Gray: This is a rare view of Brunswick Lawns, showing the beach before the sea wall was built. This was done in 1883/4 at a cost of £40000. jgc_11_166
2020: There is now a promenade, separated from the lawns by railings, with recesses for seats and street lighting. The West Pier is a burnt out shell and, on what was its land end, the i360 viewing tower has been built. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: One of the most important events in the life of Victorian Hove. Until this was built, at high tides the sea frequently swept into and submerged the Brunswick Lawns. The Hove Commissioners decided to build this sea wall from the Brighton boundary to just opposite Adelaide Crescent, a length of about 2000 feet. Under the direction of Sir John Coode the work was commenced in 1884 and completed two years later at a reputed cost of £60000. This photograph of 1885 shows the work in full progress and also depicts the West Pier in all the simple outline of its original form. Additional Information: Steam engine. jgc_11_168
James Gray: A later view from about 1900. Additional Information: Paddle steamer by West Pier. Bowler hats. jgc_11_167
2020: Embassy Court, the tower blocks beyond and i360 have appeared. The West Pier has burnt down. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This photograph was copied from a very old original, which probably dated from the 1870s. It shows the eastern end of the Terrace, at the corner of Waterloo Street. The corner house, with its entrance in Waterloo Street, is No 7. jgc_11_171
2020: The railing between Kingsway and Brunswick Lawns has gone. An additional storey has been added to the corner house. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Sunday morning church parades were a popular feature of the Edwardian scene. Brunswick Lawns was the focal point for this parade of fashion. This photograph definitely dates from 1905. jgc_11_173
2020: Embassy Court, flats built in the 1930s, has replaced the Victorian villa Western House. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Church Parade on Brunswick Lawns, in the days just before the First World War. Seventy years on, in the 1980s, it seems almost incredible that such a vast concourse of people should make this weekly pilgrimage to the Lawns to see and be seen. To a lesser degree this persisted until the early 1920s. jgc_11_176
2020: People on the Lawns on Sundays now are informally dressed and often exercising or playing games rather than walking sedately. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This photograph is very much older than it might appear at first sight. The very ornate gas-lamps and kerbside railings provide one clue, but look at the low building above the fence (right). This was the old toll-house at the Brighton boundary, for coal dues, which was removed in 1888. Additional Information: © Phillipe Garner. jgc_11_177
2020: Embassy Court has replaced the Victorian villa Western House and the i360 observation tower now stands opposite the remains of the West Pier. The Victorian railings have been removed. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Sunday morning Church Parade on Brunswick Lawns. The fashions have changed even if the buildings are the same. The custom died out in the early 1920s. jgc_11_178
2020: Nothing substantial has changed except for the building of Kingsway Court on the corner of Kingsway and First Avenue. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: The band, which played on the Lawns in those days, seems to be attracting very little interest. Note the long line of gas lamps. In the far background can be seen one of the two ‘mystery towers’ constructed at Southwick during the 1914-18 War. jgc_11_180
2020: Courtenay Gate has been constructed at the far end of the Lawns, as well as Kingsway Court. The ‘mystery tower’ became the Nab Tower off the Isle of Wight. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This lovely photograph of about 1880 shows an almost completely deserted Brunswick Terrace, although it seems to show a summer’s morning. Note, on the right, Western House just inside Brighton, and, on the extreme left the low toll-house for the collection of dues levied on all coal entertaining Brighton. This was removed in 1888 when the tax on coal ceased to be charged. Additional Information: Coffee and cake vendor. jgc_11_162
James Gray: Mr Gilmore’s Flight from Hove Lawns 21 May 1911. jgc_11_182
2020: See jgc_11_185-191 below for more pictures from what must have been an exciting day of early aviation action. Graham Gilmour kept his biplane at Shoreham. Nine months later, in February 1912, he was killed when his plane hit turbulance and one of the fragile wings snapped. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Here are two photographs [jgc_11_193 and jgc_11_195] dating from 1911 and 1926 respectively. Apart from the removal of the railings that divided the coast road from the service road, there has been very little change, though one wonders for how much longer these Regency houses, now 130 years old, can endure. jgc_11_193
2020: The buildings have survived and are flourishing. The main change is the 21st century street furniture and the modern road surface. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Two photographs [jgc_11_197 and jgc_11_198] of the desolation caused by the wiring off and mining of the Brunswick Lawns, the adjoining promenade and beaches during the Second World War. They remained in this condition for some four years. The photograph above looks into Waterloo Street, in which St Andrew’s Church clearly stands out. jgc_11_197
2020: Dormers have been added to the Waterloo Street end of Brunswick Terrace. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Three more photographs [jgc_11_199 to jgc_11_201] of wartime Hove, in the Brunswick area. There is no need for further comment. The pictures speak for themselves and the locations are easily identifiable. Additional Information: Barbed wire and tank traps. jgc_11_199
2020: The Lawns have been reinstated and a half marathon is being run along the seafront. The break between the West Pier and the esplanade, seen in the wartime picture, was mended after the war. However, the pier closed in 1975, fell into disrepair and was largely destroyed by fire in 2003. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: During the early 1970s, the western end of Brunswick Terrace and the houses of Lansdowne Place around the corner began to show signs neglect and dilapidation, as can be seen in the view in this photograph. This spread rapidly to many adjoining houses, and at one time it was feared that some were doomed. Fortunately repairs were put in hand in time to avert this, but even now (1984) repair work is continuing. jgc_11_204
James Gray: Pioneers displaying their primitive craft on the Brunswick Lawns. Ready to Start Flight to Hove 7 May 1911 Mr. Gilmour in his Bristol Biplane. jgc_11_185
James Gray: Pioneers displaying their primitive craft on the Brunswick Lawns. ‘Mr Gilmour bids farewell to his friends.’ jgc_11_186
James Gray: Pioneers displaying their primitive craft on the Brunswick Lawns. Hendon to Brighton flight. Mr. Hamel testing the propeller on Hove Lawns on his return journey. jgc_11_187
James Gray: Still more photographs of the planes. jgc_11_188
James Gray: Graham Gilmour’s biplane. May 21 1911. jgc_11_189
James Gray: Graham Gilmour’s biplane soon after take off. jgc_11_190
James Gray: Brooklands to Brighton Aeroplane Race 6 May 1911, [Mr Hamel] “The Winner” passing over Brighton. jgc_11_191
James Gray: A view of Brunswick Terrace and Lawns, about 10 years earlier than the previous photograph, in 1886 or 1887, soon after the construction of the seawall. Note also the toll house standing just inside the Brighton boundary, but not seen in the previous photograph. jgc_01_018