James Gray: For some reason not many photographs seem to have been taken in Davigdor Road, possibly because it is a mixture of houses and commercial premises. Here is a view of one of the latter, the offices and stores of Newington and Pepper, situated between Holland Road and Montefiore Road. Date unknown, but prior to the 1914/1918 war. In the distance, through the arch can be seen the then United Methodist Church, in Old Shoreham Road. jgc_14_035
2018: No trace remains of the premises of Newington & Pepper (close to what is now 141 Davigdor Road and the entrance to Lyon Close). Newington & Pepper are listed in Pike’s street directory of 1915 but are not listed in 1917.
The United Methodist Church in Old Shoreham Road remains and the spire can just be seen in the contemporary photo. (Photographer: Alison Minns)
James Gray: One wonders why the photographer took these three very mundane photographs and what sale he anticipated getting. However, 50 or more years later, they are of interest as showing the changes that have taken place. Just a glimpse of the Wick garage, run by Langton Ltd., in Davidor Road during the 1920s and 1930s. Year of the photograph unknown. The building is now the most westerly part of Caffyns premises. The tree disappeared many years ago. Additional Information: Red Cross vehicle. jgc_11_115
2018: Caffyns has now gone. In its place, behind a hoarding are the former offices of Hyde Housing Association which is listed as No 113-119 Davigdor Road. There is a planning application for high-rise flats and offices on this site which has not been approved at the time of writing. The vehicle in the James Gray picture looks like a Ford Model T field ambulance, which was in common use from its introduction in 1916 until the mid 1930s. (Photographer: Alison Minns)
James Gray: View of the Sussex County Cricket Ground, across the site of Palmeira Avenue to Davigdor Road, then only partly built up. The large building on the right is East Hove School, erected in 1893. Across the road is the Palmeira Hotel and the original Hove Electricity Works, with the tall chimney. The photograph probably dates from about 1900. jgc_11_121
2018: The cricket ground is, in 2018, named the 1st Central County Ground. Few of the buildings in the original photograph can be seen. Some like the Electricity Works and its chimney have been demolished, others are obscured by blocks of flats. The Palmeira Hotel is now a pub called The Palmeira. The cricket ground has modern floodlighting. (Photographer: Alison Minns)
James Gray: A photograph of Davigdor Road Schools, or, as they were first known as, East Hove Board Schools. On their front façade they bore the year of their construction but I have forgotten this and the figures do not show up on the photograph. From memory it was between 1898 and 1901 at a time when this area was very sparsely built up. It was always thought of as a superior board school, possibly because of its catchment area. With the building of the present school nearby in Somerhill Road, it became redundant and for several years was used for Further Education. Photographed on 28 July 1988. Demolished soon afterwards. jgc_11_129
James Gray: In 1891/1892, the building seen, top left, was erected as the Hove Electricity Works, generating Direct Current for the householders in east and central Hove. There were very few buildings beyond Sackville Road, and hardly any north of the railway. In fact Davigdor Road was then considered as being on the northern fringe of the town. Even after the Southwick Power Station was built in 1906 the Works continued to operate, with decreasing customers, until generating ceased on 30 June 1958. The building was then put to other uses until its demolition in the summer of 1985. Date of all photographs 29 May 1983. jgc_11_130
James Gray: In 1891/1892, the building seen, top left, was erected as the Hove Electricity Works, generating Direct Current for the householders in east and central Hove. There were the very few buildings beyond Sackville Road, and hardly any north of the railway. In fact Davigdor Road was then considered as being on the northern fringe of the town. Even after the Southwick Power Station was built in 1906 the Works continued to operate, with decreasing customers, until generating ceased on 30 June 1958. The building was then put to other uses until its demolition in the summer of 1985. Date of all photographs 29 May 1983. Adjoining was a small range of other buildings, erected in 1893, and these were cleared away at the same time. jgc_11_131
James Gray: In 1891/1892, the building was erected as the Hove Electricity Works, generating Direct Current for the householders in east and central Hove. There were the very few buildings beyond Sackville Road, and hardly any north of the railway. In fact Davigdor Road was then considered as being on the northern fringe of the town. Even after the Southwick Power Station was built in 1906 the Works continued to operate, with decreasing customers, until generating ceased on 30 June 1958. The building was then put to other uses until its demolition in the summer of 1985. Date of all photographs 29 May 1983. This view is of the rear of these buildings, seen from adjoining Holland Road. jgc_11_132
2018: This view from the railway bridge on Holland Road, north of the junction with Davigdor Road (to the right), shows the rear of Spitfire House. The trees in the current image are in the car park of the Peacock Industrial Estate. (Photographer: Annie Drynan)
James Gray: These are photographs of buildings cleared away in preparation for the threatened erection of a larger superstore for Sainsbury’s Ltd. They were taken on 19 May 1985, well in advance of their demolition though now (1988) they have long gone. Until 1920, the south side of Davigdor Road was largely undeveloped and the large building seen here was erected as recently as 1931 for Hole’s and Davigdor Hygenic Dairies as a milk bottling plant and distribution centre, later changed entirely to offices. jgc_11_133
James Gray: These are photographs of buildings cleared away in preparation for the threatened erection of a larger superstore for Sainsbury’s Ltd. They were taken on 19 May 1985, well in advance of their demolition though now (1988) they have long gone. Just around the corner in Holland Road, and immediately adjoining the old Davigdor Road (East Hove) School, were these buildings. The large roofless one was built in the 1900s as an ice factory and cold store, while lower down were more recent structures, first a builder’s offices and yard, and finally the motor showrooms of Caffyns Ltd. These seem to have been built at some time in the 1920s, though not exactly in the form as shown here. jgc_11_134
2018: In 1921 the ice factory and cold store were occupied by the Lightfoot Refrigeration Co Ltd. The site is now part of a large red-brick gated housing development called Chatsworth Square. The block of flats in Chatsworth Square shown here is called Petworth House. (Photographer: Annie Drynan)
James Gray: See jgc_11_134 above. jgc_11_135
2018: This image shows an area slightly to the south, a continuation of the housing estate. The two trees in the current image match those in the original one. See also jgc_11_134. (Photographer: Annie Drynan)
James Gray: Hannington’s Depository at the junction of Davigdor Road and the very rural Montefiore Road, in 1906. Additional Information: Converted to offices by Legal & General Assurance Co. in the 1970s, and relinquished by them in 2008 following a move to new offices at Hove Park. jgc_17_011
2018: This impressive building is now The Montefiore Hospital, a private hospital operated by Spire Healthcare.