Ditchling Road (2)

James Gray: For comparison’s sake look at some of these buildings (see jgc_20_050, Ditchling Road 1) more than a century later, photographed on 29 April 1976. Being between Francis Street and Oxford Street they are much lower down the street and the angle at which the old photograph was taken makes positive identification impossible. Time had taken its toll and two of the old private dwellings were boarded up. jgc_20_051

James Gray: Early in 1947 Brighton Corporation took steps to purchase compulsorily the 7 1/2-acre Sylvan Hall Estate at the junction of Ditchling Road and the Upper Lewes Road. At that time four large Victorian Houses stood there in extensive grounds. These were respectively Sylvan Hall, Hill Lodge, Woodfield Lodge and 28 Ditchling Road. As these old houses were removed, blocks of two and three storey flats were erected, and the first of these were occupied early in 1951.

James Gray: The photograph of a tram descending Ditchling Road in the late 1930s shows this high wall which ran round from Upper Lewes Road into Ditchling Road, but note that it is much lower than it was. This lowering was done in March 1928, and at the same time the corner was rounded off to provide better vision of traffic. Additional Information: We are advised that it is most likely that this photograph was taken by Jack Turley on August 25, 1938. jgc_20_063

James Gray: Looking down Ditchling Road on 10 August 1949. The photograph shows the imposing entrance to the large house, Hill Lodge, which is shown on another page. jgc_20_072

2018: Looking south down Ditchling Road from the corner of Vere Road. The entrance to Hill Lodge and all its grounds have now been replaced by multiple housing forming the Bromley Road Estate. (Photographer: Jane Jordan)

James Gray: Three photographs of this late-Victorian church in Ditchling Road, taken on 31 May 1982, when the building was empty, but intact. The Church was built over the shell of an much earlier and much smaller building which was of irregular shape, with a flat roof, and which was first used as a schoolroom, but later for worship. The new church was commenced in 1883 and completed three years later, at a total cost of £9300. The register dates from 1888, in which year St Saviour’s ecclesiastical parish was formed out of Preston. In recent years congregations dwindled and the decision was taken to close the church. Finally, in January 1983, demolition commenced and took some months to complete. Flats are likely to be built on the cleared site. jgc_20_081

James Gray: [See caption for jgc_20_081 above]  jgc_20_082

2018: See caption for jgc_20_081 above.  (Photographer: Max Page)

James Gray: This house, easily the largest in Ditchling Road in recent times, was built about 1860 at what was then the northern extremity of the town. It had an extensive garden overlooking the railway from Brighton to Lewes. The site has been the subject of controversary between Brighton Corporation who want it for a new school to replace Ditchling Road school, and the previous owners who wished to continue  using it for industrial purposes. Photographed from within Florence Road on 4 July 1971, the building has since been demolished. The house may well have given its name to nearby Warleigh Road that was certainly built after it.  jgc_20_089