James Gray: The greengrocer’s shop of George Sutton at 2 Manor Terrace, in the late 1920s. Manor Terrace, a small development of five shops, was built on a vacant lot in 1925. Mr Sutton was in business here for about 10 or 12 years. Additional Information: George Sutton & possibly his son stand outside the shop. jgc_ 32_056
2019: Manor Terrace, as mentioned in Douglas d’Enno’s book Rottingdean Through Time, was the original name for the lower part of the high street south of the coast road. No directory entry for Sutton’s has been traced (being a small somewhat isolated village in the 1920s, Rottingdean did not merit many entries) and the area was extensively rebuilt during the 1930s. A fish and chip shop stands in approximately the same position today. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: This later photograph of 1935, shows the old Inn, the Royal Oak, shortly before it was removed for road widening. The cleared site has since been used as a car park. jgc_32_076
2019: The coast road has been widened and there is still a car park on the site. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The main difference in this photograph is the absence of the Royal Oak Inn, demolished in 1935, which provided most of the space for the later car park. However since 1957 many more of the buildings seen here have gone and the car park is more spacious. jgc_32_078
2019: The car park is now surrounded by a low wall and the telephone boxes have gone whilst the garage behind the car park has been replaced by a Tesco Express. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Three photographs [jgc_32_079, 080 and 081] taken at different periods in the present century. This view dates from 1900 and is optimistically described as ‘Rottingdean from the Pier’. Considering that the Pier was at sea level many feet below it will be realised that little, if any, of these buildings were visible from it. jgc_32_079
2019: Called Manor Terrace at the time of the original photograph, the road shown became part of the High Street some time in the 1930s and was renumbered on 5 January 1953.
James Gray: Three photographs [jgc_32_079, 080 and 081] taken at different periods in the present century. Not very different from the earlier photograph except that with the coming of the motor car a speed limit of 10 mph through the village had been imposed, though it was seldom observed. jgc_32_080
2019: Manor House, the building at the end of the terrace, fell victim to the scheme to widen the coast road in the mid-1930s. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: An unusual view, with the old hotel partly demolished, revealing the Royal Oak and adjoining buildings beyond. These were also demolished in the following years for street widening. Note the single decker bus which then ran from Rottingdean to the Downs Hotel, Woodingdean. jgc_32_081
2019: By 1935 the White Horse Hotel had been rebuilt and the Royal Oak Hotel demolished as the coast road was widened. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: No comment. Additional Information: Rottingdean High Street looking towards the White Horse Hotel. jgc_32_085
2019: The White Horse Hotel as it looks today. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: No comment. jgc_32_086
2019: The White Horse, an important coaching inn and meeting place for Rottingdean villagers in the 1700s and 1800s, has been completely revamped and enlarged to form a modern hotel. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Photographs [jgc_32_087 and jgc_32_088] of early motor buses of Brighton, Hove and Preston Omnibus Co. outside the White Horse Hotel. Period about 1910. jgc_32_087
2019: Manor Terrace, on the right of the photograph, was renamed Lower High Street in the 1930s. The southern part of the High Street and Manor House at the end of the terrace fell victim to the scheme to widen the coast road.
James Gray: Photographs [jgc_32_087 and jgc_32_088] of early motor buses of Brighton, Hove and Preston Omnibus Co. outside the White Horse Hotel. Period about 1910. jgc_32_088
2019: See caption for jgc_32_87 above. There is now an outdoor dining area at the rear of the White Horse Hotel. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: To anyone born after the 1939/1945 war, the long lines of people may present something of a puzzle, but this was the heyday of the motor bus, before public transport had been virtually killed by the ascendancy of the private car. Probably taken on a Sunday, the queues are of people waiting for the buses to take them back to Brighton, either by the sea front route or via Woodingdean. The scene is outside the White Horse Hotel and shows large houses removed in 1938 for St. Margaret’s flats. jgc_32_090
James Gray: Two photographs of the 1930s, showing in this view, the erection of St Margaret’s Flats, High Street. jgc_32_032
James Gray: See caption for jgc_32_090 above. jgc_32_091
2019: See caption for jgc_32_090 above. There is now a beer garden at the back of the building. Unfortunately, only the base of each decorative lamp has survived. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_32_092 and jgc_32_093] complement those on the previous page [jgc_32_090 and jgc_32_091] and were obviously taken at the same time. The year is said to have been 1936, but the presence of the Royal Oak Hotel makes me doubt this. I think all photographs date from the previous year, 1935. jgc_32_092
2019: The location mentioned by Gray is actually the rear of the newly rebuilt White Horse Hotel.
James Gray: No comment. Additional Information: Rottingdean Manor Terrace. jgc_32_097
2019: The road is the southern part of the High Street (originally Manor Terrace). The old White Horse visible on the right of Gray’s image was demolished in 1934 and rebuilt the following year. The balconies at the end of the row belong to St Margaret’s Flats, which were erected in 1938 against the background of much local protest and prompted the formation of Rottingdean Preservation Society. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: No comment. Additional Information: White Horse Hotel. jgc_32_098
2019: The White Horse Hotel as it looks today. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: We shall never see these buildings again. Both photographs [see also jgc_32_112] were taken in 1930. The policeman was standing at the crossroads where the coast road bisected the High Street. Behind him is the rear wall of the White Horse Hotel. This is now the busy Rottingdean crossing controlled by traffic lights. jgc_32_111
2019: Looking south from the High Street from the crossroads towards the White Horse Hotel. Given the increase in traffic, anyone standing there today would find themselves in a very uncomfortable position indeed. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)