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James Gray: A photograph of March 1931, when this really was a country lane connecting Lewes Road and Ditchling Road. Twenty years were yet to elapse before this area was developed as a Council housing estate. jgc_28_138
2018: Apart from the University of Brighton’s Varley halls of residence, the north side of the lane remains largely undeveloped. The area to the south is now covered by the Coldean housing estate. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
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James Gray: The quiet scene at Old Boat Corner, in 1954. At this time these cross roads carried nothing like the traffic which they do today. For one thing Coldean Lane had yet to be widened. jgc_28_168
2018: This junction has become very busy since Coldean Lane became a slip road to the A27 Brighton by-pass. Even early in the morning it is difficult to find a time when there are no passing vehicles. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: These two photographs [see also jgc_28_200 below] emphasise the rural character of Coldean Lane in the vicinity of Coldean Farm. jgc_28_199
2018: Coldean Lane has become very busy since it effectively became a slip road to the A27 Brighton bypass. Even early in the morning it is difficult to find a time when there are no passing vehicles. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_28_199 above.] Note the Southdown bus occupies the whole width of the narrow lane. jgc_28_200
2018: The busy Coldean Lane today, near the Varley Halls of residence. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Entrance to Coldean Lane from Lewes Road in 1906. The house on the right is still there now, in 1961. Compare this with the photograph on the next page. jgc_28_201
2018: Coldean Lane is now a very busy four-lane road. This photograph was taken from across the Lewes Road in a rare moment when there were no cars. The cottage on the right of the 1961 image has vanished and trees grown up in its place. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Not so very long ago this was just a country lane some distance away from Brighton. It served the dual purpose of linking the Ditchling Road and Lewes Road and leading to Coldean Farm that was situated midway between these two roads. In 1936 private builders began the development of Park Road and West Drive, and in 1927 the Hikers’ Rest was erected. Only a few houses were built before the 1939-1945 war, however, and the area did not really develop until 1947 when Brighton Corporation commenced the building of the Parkside housing estate. The purpose of these photographs is to show Coldean Lane as it was. This view shows the junction with Lewes Road.
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_28_203 above.] This view is of Old Boat Corner, at the Ditchling Road end of the lane. jgc_28_204
2022: This junction between Ditchling Road and Coldean Lane is still known as Old Boat Corner, allegedly named after an upturned boat once used as a shelter for a shepherd or possibly a toll-keeper. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_28_209 and 210], probably from the 1950s look from the Lewes Road through the narrow Coldean Lane to the Hikers Rest and the houses of Park Road in the distance. jgc_28_209
2018: The flats referred to in the original notes are now part of an almost mini-estate in its own right centred on Woburn Place just off the bottom of Coldean Lane. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: [See jgc_28_209 above for text.] jgc_29_210
2018: The two Lower Lodges pictured in the 1950s were the entrance to the Stanmer Estate, either side of a carriageway leading up to Stanmer House. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The middle part of Coldean Lane after the widening. jgc_28_212
2018: Coldean Lane has become very busy since it effectively became a slip road to the A27 Brighton by-pass. Even early in the morning it is difficult to find a time when there are no passing vehicles. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The old cottage [Menagerie Cottage] seen here, was originally a barn, built about 1740. The brick front and Georgian doorway were later additions, and on the plaque above the door was the date 1784, and initials T.A.P. These stood for Thomas Pelham and his wife Anne, who lived in Stanmer House. Their favourite walk was from the house, via a path leading past the monument to Frederick Frankland (Anne’s father), over Farm Hill and down to this cottage, which was the home of their pet dogs and other animals, hence the name – menagerie. The half-timbered house adjoining, was added about 1830. The photographs were taken in 1950, and the houses demolished in December 1955. jgc_28_213
James Gray: [See jgc_28_213 above for caption] jgc_28_214
2018: See jgc_28_213 above for caption. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Three photographs of the long barn and other farm buildings dating from about 1949/1950 when this was just a country area to the north of Brighton. Two of these give distant views of the Menagerie Cottages. These farm buildings were on the other side of Coldean Lane from the cottages, and the line of Coldean Lane can be judged by the telegraph poles seen left. jgc_28_215
2018: The late eighteenth century flint barn of Coldean farm was restored and converted into St Mary Magdalen Church, situated between Selham Drive and Coldean Lane, in 1955. Otherwise nothing remains of the farm. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: [See jgc_28_215 above for caption.] jgc_28_216
2018: See jgc_28_215 above for caption. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: [See jgc_28_215 above for caption.] jgc_28_217
2018: See jgc_28_215 above for caption. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The photographs were taken in December 1955, when destruction was well under way, the adjoining cottage having already been removed. Here the front façade and following, the rather extensive rear area. Signs of the Council houses being built can be seen (extreme left). jgc_28_218
2018: The site of Menagerie Cottage is now occupied by the Varley student halls of residence. First built in the 1970s they were updated in the 1990s and plans are now afoot for further expansion. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The photographs were taken in December 1955, when destruction was well under way, the adjoining cottage having already been removed. Previously, the front façade and here the rather extensive rear area. jgc_28_219
2018: The allotments adjacent to Varley Halls (see jgc_28_218 above) bring a breath of fresh air from the constant erosion of the green spaces. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The woods and the distant hill give this away, but otherwise it would be hard to realise that this is a photograph of Coldean Lane as it was in the summer of 1946, some years before it was widened and the Council Estate built on the farmlands. The buildings seen beyond the ricks were the Menagerie Cottages. jgc_33_132
2018: The original view appears to be looking north from roughly where the junction of Ashburnham Drive and Rushlake Road is today.