Holland Road

James Gray: The steam wagon of Messrs. Robins stationary in Holland Road Goods yard of the Southern railway, in the mid-1920s. Note that the speed limit of the wagon was 8 miles per hour. At the left can be seen the backs of houses in Lyndhurst Road. Additional Information: Reid’s London Stout, Mann’s Cyder  jgc_11_082

James Gray: Period the same as the others, 1900-1910. This was the site of the original Hove Station, which was to the east of the bridge and not to the west, as was the later Holland Road Halt. jgc_17_013

2018: A Wickes DIY store now stands on the sidings site. The railway building and platform seen on the far side of the rail tracks in the James Gray picture have gone. (Photographer: Helen Glass)

James Gray: In 1891/1892, the building seen, top left, was erected as the Hove Electricity Works, generating Direct Current for the householders in east and central Hove. There were very few buildings beyond Sackville Road, and hardly any north of  the railway. In fact Davigdor Road was then considered as being on the northern fringe of the town. Even after the Southwick Power Station was built in 1906 the Works continued to operate, with decreasing customers, until generating ceased on 30 June 1958. The building was then put to other uses until its demolition in the summer of 1985. Date of all photographs 29 May 1983.  jgc_11_130

James Gray: In 1891/1892, the building was erected as the Hove Electricity Works, generating Direct Current for the householders in east and central Hove. There were the very few buildings beyond Sackville Road, and hardly any north of the railway. In fact Davigdor Road was then considered as being on the northern fringe of the town. Even after the Southwick Power Station was built in 1906 the Works continued to operate, with decreasing customers, until generating ceased on 30 June 1958. The building was then put to other uses until its demolition in the summer of 1985. Date of all photographs 29 May 1983. This view is of the rear of these buildings, seen from adjoining Holland Road.  jgc_11_132

2018: This view from the railway bridge on Holland Road, north of the junction with Davigdor Road (to the right), shows the rear of Spitfire House. The trees in the current image are in the car park of the Peacock Industrial Estate. (Photographer: Annie Drynan) 

James Gray: These are photographs of buildings cleared away in preparation for the threatened erection of a larger superstore for Sainsbury’s Ltd. They were taken on 19 May 1985, well in advance of their demolition though now (1988) they have long gone. Just around the corner in Holland Road, and immediately adjoining the old Davigdor Road (East Hove) School, were these buildings. The large roofless one was built in the 1900s as an ice factory and cold store, while lower down were more recent structures, first a builder’s offices and yard, and finally the motor showrooms of Caffyns Ltd. These seem to have been built at some time in the 1920s, though not exactly in the form as shown here.  jgc_11_135

2018: This image shows an area slightly to the south, a continuation of the housing estate. The two trees in the current image match those in the original one. See also jgc_11_134 on Davigdor Road page. (Photographer: Annie Drynan) 

James Gray: Dr Barnado’s Home in Holland Road in 1907. When first built it was occupied by the YWCA and then jointly with Barnado’s. They left before the War and the building is now a Jewish Synagogue.  Additional Information: 2007: unoccupied. Young Women’s Christian Institute inscription visible. jgc_11_056

2018: Now offices linked to the Holland Road Baptist Church next door. The porch is still inscribed ‘Young Women’s Christian Association’.  (Photographer: Helen Glass) 

James Gray: HOLLAND ROAD – One can only speculate on the motives, which led this same Victorian photographer to take a picture of the almost completely deserted road, looking north from the corner of Alice Street. As to the year, the photograph shows a part of the Palmeira Stores building at the north – east corner of Western Road. We know this was built in 1873 so probably the picture dates from that year. jgc_11_060 

2018: The spire of Holland Road Baptist Church, built in 1883, is now visible in the distance.  (Photographer: Helen Glass) 

James Gray: Two photographs of the gymnasium at the corner of Lansdowne Road and Holland Road, dating from the early years of this century. The building was erected in 1886 and continued to be used for this purpose until 1929. In that year it was demolished and replaced by the existing Jewish Synagogue.  jgc_11_068

2018: Now the Hove Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Originally built as a gymnasium in 1883 by George Fuller, it was not demolished but converted into a synagogue in 1929-30 by Marcus K Glass, architect of several English synagogues. See also jgc_11_069 below. (Photographer: Helen Glass) 

James Gray: See caption jgc_11_068 above. Additional Information: Rather than demolished, it was restored and refaced: the roofline is still similar. jgc_11_069 

2018: Now the Hove Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Moss’s Gymnasium was not demolished but converted and refronted, concealing the rooftop lantern light from the front. See also jgc_11_068 above. (Photographer: Helen Glass) 

James Gray: This Inn, built in the 1850s, was hidden from view from Holland Road behind this arch, and the rest of this long building was a livery stable, apart from the small shop premises adjoining Alice Street. The date of the photograph is not known – probably about 1900. In later years the premises were occupied as a service station and garage, until 1938 when the whole site was cleared and the present Hotel was built. The Bennison family occupied these premises for a period of 40 years. Additional Information: Straw Boaters. jgc_11_070

James Gray: The Presbyterian Church at the top of Holland Road was built in 1903-4 and this photograph seems to have been taken shortly after this time. jgc_11_122

2018: The church (St Cuthbert’s Presbyterian Church) which was on the west side of Holland Road with its junction of Cromwell Road has gone. It closed in 1984 and was demolished in the same year. On the site is now a block of retirement flats, Bell Mead, at 124 Holland Road. There are now traffic lights and metal railings at the road junction. (Photographer: Alison Minns) 

James Gray: The last days of steam. Passing through Holland Road halt (soon to be closed). Period late 1950s. jgc_11_144

2018: Holland Road Halt was open from 1905-1956. There is no trace of the station now, though Wilbury Villas bridge in the far left of the original image remains. The telegraph pole in the left of the original image has gone as have all the barriers and signs. (Photographer: Alison Minns) 

James Gray: This provides an excellent view of the original shop front. Originally intended for an hotel, Palmeira House was opened as Palmeira Stores in May 1873. In 1927, the whole of the frontages in Western Road and Holland Road were removed and the present day windows substituted. Additional Information: Now Tesco. China tea 3s 4d, Ceylon tea 2s 8d, tennis balls 11s 6d. jgc_11_038

2018: Palmeira House was built in 1862-3 as the Palmeira Hotel but by 1866 remained unoccupied. In the 1870s Brighton and Hove Cooperative Supply Association took over and refurbished the premises and Palmeira Stores, as indicated by James Gray, opened in May 1873. High above street level at the eastern end of the building the date 1873 can still be discerned. Those wishing to shop at the store had to be a member of the association and pay an annual fee. Edward VII is reputed to have visited whilst on a visit to Hove. Palmeira Stores remained in existence until the spring of 1962.