James Gray: This photograph shows the recently built house, 103 Preston Road, at the corner of Dyke Road Drive. The Drive was then in course of being constructed from Dyke Road to Preston Road. The wall seen to the left previously extended from the Viaduct nearly to Preston Village and was built in 1817 by William Stanford of Preston Manor. The house beyond the railway line is Highlands, in Stanford Road. This house and several others in Preston Road were built by Holloway Bros., Builders and Albert Holloway is one of the figures seated in the garden. jgc_18_028
2018: The ground floor of the house on the corner has been used in recent years as a photography studio, a digital/web design company and at the time of the photo was being refitted to be a dentist. (Photographers: Mike and Josie Doodson)
James Gray: This photograph should be considered in relation with that of the large private house, seen on the previous page [jgc_18_028]. It is, in fact the continuation north-westwards up Dyke Road Drive and part of the house wall and railings can be seen at the extreme right. Most of the large houses of Preston Road, built in the 1870’s and 1880’s were the work of Holloway Bros., whose yard and offices were here at 1a Dyke Road Drive from the 1870’s until 1931. This photograph was taken in 1906. jgc_18_029
2018: The former offices and yard of Holloway Bros have been merged with the large building next door at 101 Preston Road, now a dental surgery.
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James Gray: A photograph of the early 1920s. The truck is standing outside 103 Preston Road, at the corner of Dyke Road Drive. The building, seen in detail on another page, remained a private house until 1930 when the ground floor was converted to shops. Additional Information: T E & J Muzzell, Building Contractors. jgc_18_031
2018: The ground floor of the house on the corner has been used in recent years as a photography studio, a digital/web design company and at the time of the photo was being refitted to be a dentist. (Photographers: Mike and Josie Doodson)
James Gray: Entrance to the goods sidings adjoining Dyke Road Drive, at the turn of the century. A good view of Stanford Road School, built in the 1890s and at the left, Daniel Friend’s house, The Highlands. jgc_26_070
2018: The old goods sidings are now the Brighton railway line Down Main Stablings. In 2014 larger siding facilities were opened between Preston Park and Brighton stations to accommodate new 12-carriage Thameslink trains. The entrance to the old sidings was widened and the wooden gates replaced.
James Gray: A look over Dyke Road Drive railway bridge to the back gardens of Preston Road. The purpose of this photograph was to focus on the modern detached house facing south, (centre). This was Greenleaves, built in 1933 in nursery grounds known as Roselyn Gardens. It was demolished in 1964 and a terrace of houses is being built on the cleared area. Photographed March 1963. jgc_26_078
James Gray: Demolition of the 1876 bridge in progress – 1960. jgc_26_079
2018: The 1876 bridge was replaced by the stronger, wider, steel and reinforced concrete bridge seen here. The two tall buildings on the other side of it are The Park Centre at 177 Preston Road (to the right of the picture) and Preston Grange (in the centre). The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust occupies The Park Centre, which houses various healthcare facilities. Preston Grange is a block of flats standing just north of Grange Close, the terrace of houses built in 1966-9 on the site of a 1933 house called Greenleaves in what was once the Roselyn Gardens Nursery – see also jgc_26_078. Just visible are parts of Preston Park and St Peter’s Church Preston. (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: Demolition of the 1876 bridge in progress – 1960. jgc_26_080
2018: Looking south-east across the bridge (for view north, see image jgc_26_079) the roof of St Bartholomew’s church is visible on the right of both the 2018 and the 1960 images. Beyond it, on the horizon, the 2018 picture shows the tower block of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Kemp Town which is currently being redeveloped, hence the adjacent cranes. The mast of the Whitehawk Hill transmitting station is clearly visible on the horizon further east. Just beyond the bridge are the sidings of the Brighton Down Main Stablings (see jgc_26_070). (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: Dyke Road Drive bridge, from Stanford Road, 21 August 1960. This bridge was built in 1876 as part of the scheme for a continuous new road from the Drive, Hove down to Preston Road. It was never envisaged that it would have to carry heavy motor transport, so in 1961 it was closed and two years were spent while it was completely rebuilt. jgc_18_210