Dyke Road (4)

James Gray: When the large house, Highcroft, was built in the last century, it had two lodges occupied by staff. This is South Lodge in Dyke Road. In the late 1930s the large house was taken over by the Territorial Army and the lodge became the Sergeant’s Mess. During the war the house was demolished but the lodge remained. It is still there now. Photographed – 24 August 1980. jgc_26_058

2018: The land was originally a late Victorian house with a very large garden and two lodges by the gates. This was the eastern lodge next to the Booth Museum.

James Gray: The cleared site of 340 Dyke Road, 24 September 1961. The house had a large garden, which extended back into Tivoli Crescent, the wooden fence of which can be seen above. Four detached houses have since been built here. jgc _26_060

2018: This wider-angle photograph shows the junction of the three roads and was taken at the start of Dyke Road Avenue.

James Gray: When the tramway system operated by Brighton Corporation was extended along Dyke Road, and opened on 27 July 1904, its terminus was just short of Tivoli Crescent, about opposite the house seen at the extreme right. Six years later, in 1910, shelters were provided at various points of the system, one of which is shown in this photograph. It served a useful purpose for many years, for although trams on this route were withdrawn on 26 April 1939, the shelter remained long after buses were introduced. 

James Gray: [See caption for jgc_26_061 above.] jgc_26_062

2018: The old tram shelter was moved about 100m southwards and now straddles the wall line adjacent to the covered reservoir. The house immediately behind the shelter was completely reconstructed in 2011. The terminus Gray refers to is the reversing point in the track, which ended about 10m south of the corner with what is now called Tivoli Crescent North. (Photographer: David Fisher)

James Gray: One of the last trams on the Dyke Road route, April 1939. The system was discontinued on this route on 26 April, being replaced by motor buses. This line was double tracked from Seven Dials to the terminus at Tivoli Crescent North. jgc_17_030

2018: The tram was passing Dyke Road Park near the Booth Museum. The shops and Dyke Road Tavern visible in the distance are still there. (Photographer: Helen Glass)

James Gray: This photograph shows the view onto the lane from Dyke Road when it led only to garages at the rear of gardens (previous photograph). Many of the trees and bushes have been cleared by 1968 although the development of the area by houses has been much slower than was anticipated. All three photographs [jgc_17_035 and 036  on the Orpen Road page plus 037] were taken on 8 September 1963. Additional information: The Martlets development occupies this site. jgc_17_037

James Gray: The original photograph, from which this was copied, was taken in the year 1908, from a house on the east side of Dyke Road, now numbered 312. In that year there were but a few houses above the Dyke Road Hotel (now Dyke Tavern), and none at all on the west side. The view is across the tramway lines to the cultivated area of King’s Farm. On the extreme right is Goldstone waterworks and the line of the narrow lane, now Nevill Road, can be traced down to its junction with Old Shoreham Road.

James Gray: The ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Church of the Good Shepherd, in 1920. This was to replace a small iron church, which stood in Dyke Road close to Matlock Road. The new church was opened in 1922 and the parish formed in 1926 out of the parish of Preston. jgc_26_064

James Gray: These two photographs were taken on the same occasion as the one previous. They show firstly the procession down from Dyke Road, from the old church to the foundation ceremony, and the return journey up the hill. The actual date in 1920 is not known to me.  jgc_26_065

2018: The procession is halfway between Matlock Road and The Drove outside 288 and 286/284 Dyke Road. Trees are now very much larger, but the houses are much the same, 286 (left hand semi-detached house) has had its balcony filled in with glass to make a small room. (Photographer: Hugh Robinson)

James Gray: See caption jgc_26_065 above.  jgc_26_066

2018: The procession was leaving the new church site which is going to be built in the gap behind. They are passing 274 Dyke Road which is the last of three similar, quite large three storey terraced houses. The church roof can be seen in the updated photograph and the tree on the right is now about 40 feet tall. (Photographer: Hugh Robinson)

James Gray: Photographic copy of the well-known painting depicting the removal by oxen of the West Mill, from Regency Square to the Dyke Road, in March 1797. jgc_26_081

2019: In 1797 little existed in Brighton west of West Street. It is not clear exactly from where the artist viewed the scene but St Nicholas’s Church can be seen in the distance.

James Gray: This Inn derived its name from the nearby mill which stood until 1885, a little to the south where Caffyns Garage is now. In 1866 James Trusler became the owner of the mill and the neighbouring land. He was not a miller but leased the mill to various millers in the town and he adapted these two or three old cottages for use as an Inn. Photographs taken about 1870. jgc_26_082

James Gray: This photograph, taken at the junction of Dyke Road and Millers Road, shows the old Windmill Inn in course of demolition. Looking down Dyke Road can be seen the Booth Bird Museum, erected in 1874, and the lodge of Highcroft, which later gave its name to Highcroft Villas. Dyke Road had been widened earlier the same year. It is evident that the Windmill Inn had been reconstructed and its roof level raised. (See earlier photograph of the Inn). jgc_26_084

James Gray: This substantial house stood at the corner of Dyke Road and Highcroft Villas for about a century. Built about 1890, it was different in character from all other houses in this road above Old Shoreham Road. It is seen in the distance in the small 1890s photographs further on. It was demolished in the early 1990s and the site is now empty (1993). It is interesting to see the old tram shelter still there but this was removed many years ago. The dates of these photographs are uncertain and the figures on the backs suggest at different times. Probably taken since 1960. jgc_26_085

James Gray: [See caption for jgc_26_085 above.] jgc_26_087

2018: In 1999 a terrace of six houses was built on the site of Hillcrest, which stood on the corner of Dyke Road and Highcroft Villas. This view from Dyke Road shows the backs of the houses, almost hidden behind fence, hedge and trees. The entrance is via the gated Highcroft Mews off Highcroft Villas. (Photographer: Jane Southern)

James Gray: A view of the Dyke Road Hotel, in 1912, probably looking little different from when it was built some 17 years earlier. Probably of more interest is the tramcar. This was car No 7, one of the first 25 cars, which were delivered in time for the opening of the Tramway system in 1901. These were supplied by the British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. the bodies being built by Milnes Bros. at their works in Wellington, Shropshire. Additional Information: Now named:The Dyke Tavern. jgc_26_089

James Gray: Three views [jgc_26_091, 092 and 093] of this road, dating from about 1895. Looking up the road to Trusler’s Windmill Inn, soon after the widening. Note the lamp post left in the middle of the road. The two houses seen are the present 60 and 62 Upper Drive, Hove. jgc_26_091

2018: The view in 2018 bears little resemblance to that in 1895. Nos 60 and 62 The Upper Drive are now obscured by the 1960s block of flats called Park Lodge.

James Gray: Three views of this road, dating from about 1895. Lower down the road than previous, but looking in the same direction. Probably some weeks before, because the road has not been widened, though the crosses show the line of the widening. jgc_26_092

2018: This view is from just a little further down Dyke Road than image jgc_26_091 but it is a little more difficult to see the buildings on the left of the picture because of the trees.

James Gray: Three views of this road, dating from about 1895. The view looking south, from just outside Booth’s Bird Museum. The high wall beyond enclosed Bleak House, demolished in the 1930s and replaced by Fairways. Part of this wall still stands in front of 184-190, Dyke Road. Note the newly planted trees and compare them with as they are today. jgc_26_093

2018: The notice board and window beyond the door of the Booth Museum of Natural History (which changed its name in 1971) are obscured by ivy.

James Gray: This photograph is doubtless of the same year as that on the preceding page – 1893 [see jgc_26_095 below]. Here, the view is beyond the Bird Museum and the long brick wall is that enclosing Highcroft, a late Victorian house which had extensive grounds. The three houses are something of a mystery. Nothing resembling them can be found today so it is not possible to say accurately where they stood. The house on the left of the three looks to be on the site of the Windmill Inn, but that was a single storey building. jgc_26_094

James Gray: The view north-westwards along the rural lane which is now Dyke Road. Twenty years previously the only house in this district was Port Hall, which gives its name to the houses in Port Hall Road, here shown as recently built. The row of posts and wire marked the boundary between Brighton and Hove, and those on the left the extent of the widening of Dyke Road carried out later in this year. The house on the right is the present 148 Dyke Road. Additional Information: The long building of the Booth Museum can be seen in distance. It now houses the second largest regional natural history collection in the county. jgc_26_095

James Gray: The drawing is included just to show the relative positions of the house and mill. In fact, the mill was some 70 yards further back than the house and its exact position is shown on the photograph of an early Ordnance Survey Map. jgc_26_099

2018: The undated drawing was not to scale, so it is not clear how far to the left the modern image should extend. Port Hall itself is easily recognisable, even though it is almost hidden behind a high wall. On the left are Nos 172 and 174 Dyke Road, which are Edwardian.

James Gray: In the year 1888 a large house called St Margarets was built at the corner of Dyke Road and the Old Shoreham Road in what was then the Parish of Preston, for Mr Edward Beves. At that period the site was almost in open country there being just an occasional detached house higher up the very narrow road leading to the Dyke Road and Henfield.  The house remained with the Beves family until the time of the 1914-18 War. After standing empty for a year or two in 1921 it was sold and reopened as Wistons School, mainly for girls.

James Gray: See caption for jgc_26_108 above.  jgc_26_109

2019: See caption for jgc_26_108. (Photographer: Jane Southern)

James Gray: The main entrance gates to the school just around the corner in Old Shoreham Road. At the right can be seen the backs of houses in Chatsworth Road. These photographs provide good views of the fairly large gardens. Additional Information: Now BPAS. jgc_26_110

2018: This is the view of Wistons from Old Shoreham Road. The entrance is now in Chatsworth Road and a car park has replaced the tennis courts behind the wire fencing. 

James Gray: View of the house and gardens from the east. The photograph was taken from the Old Shoreham Road showing also the south side of Chatsworth Road. Date of both photographs – 19 June 1966. Additional Information: Now BPAS. jgc_26_111

2018: This is the view of Wistons across the former tennis courts, now a car park, at the junction of Chatsworth Road and Old Shoreham Road. Wistons has been extended since 1966. (Photographer: Jane Southern)

James Gray: Photograph of the 1914-18 War, showing this area. Soldiers marching down Dyke Road and crossing the Old Shoreham Road, 12 October 1915. Note the double sets of tram lines and think of the contrast with this busy crossing today in 1974. jgc_26_112

2018: In this view to the north-west from the junction of Dyke Road and Old Shoreham Road, the building seen on the left is Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), until 1975 the Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School.

James Gray: The Booth Museum of British Birds, housing the collection of the late Mr Edward Thomas Booth, was established here in 1874. Hunnysett’s mill stood a little to the south of The Windmill Inn, shown on another page. Mr J Trusler who owned it, leased it to millers. This mill gave its name to Millers Road and was pulled down in 1885. An artist’s impression of this part of Dyke Road in 1875.

James Gray: Sir Page Dick built Port Hall in the early years of the 19th Century, and for many years stood a long way from the town remote from other houses. It was later occupied by Sir Charles Hockaday Dick, Curator of Brighton Museum. It gave its name to the windmill, which at one time stood behind it, and to the neighbouring roads. There is no reliable evidence to show how the house acquired its name. Additional Information: The house is said to be haunted by the ghost of a red crusader.   jgc_26_100

James Gray: Photograph of the 1914 -18 War, showing this area.
Another draft making the turn from Dyke Road, through Seven Dials into Buckingham Place, en route for the Station, 21 August 1915. Both drafts were from 2nd Eastern General Hospital, located in the Brighton Grammar School and grounds. jgc_26_113