Ditchling Road (1)

James Gray: Buxton’s furniture shop at 31/33/35 Ditchling Road in 1960, prior to rebuilding. Mr P H Buxton started the business in 1919 at 31, previously a small dwelling house, and took over adjoining premises as business expanded. The shop was completely reconstructed during 1961. jgc_20_049

James Gray: The busy junction with Viaduct Road and Upper Lewes Road about 1954, when the trolley buses were still running. Note the overhead wires, which led the buses also into Union Road. jgc_20_048

2018: The Gothic Revival building of snapped flint on the corner of Ditchling and Viaduct Roads was designed by William and Edward Habershon and was built in 1854 as the Chichester Diocesan Training College for Schoolmistresses.

James Gray: A recent copy of a remarkable photograph taken between 1859 and 1868. The exact year is not known but names on the buildings (much clearer on the original) and old directories narrow down the period to the above. The view taken in Rose Hill Terrace, the obscured entrance to Kingsbury Street (then known as Chichester Street), Baker Street, entrances to Marshalls Row and Francis Street, and so on down to St Peter’s Church. The original wooden railings enclosing the Level can be seen. The terrace of houses at the left, then known as Ditchling Terrace, are much older than I had imagined as the whole row had been completed by 1855.  jgc_20_050