There are other images of Holmes Avenue on the page for Holmes Avenue
James Gray: This mill, which was erected about 1820, was built on a square tower and rose above the roof of the barn, being a combination of a gallery and bonnet mill. It remained in active use until about 1900. Not many years ago, Court Farm, West Blatchington, stood in an isolated position, remote from Hove. As recently as 1928 not a house stood on the north side of Old Shoreham Road and opposite the top of Sackville Road was a signpost indicating a bridle path to the Three-cornered Copse and the Dyke.
James Gray: Taken 2 September 1892, this view is from the south-east looking towards the line of trees on the site of the present Holmes Avenue. jgc_36_029
2018: In the 1892 view, the West Blatchington Windmill can be seen on the far right. In 2018, the windmill can still be seen, but the land in the foreground is now the Nevill Sports Ground and beyond that are the playing fields for Blatchington Mill School. In the distance are the backs of the houses on the east side of Holmes Avenue and, to the right, the school buildings. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: At the time when these photographs were taken about 1890, West Blatchington was a remote hamlet about a mile from the nearest houses. The large trees in the left distance were on the site of the present Nevill Avenue. jgc_36_036
2018: The barn on the right in the 1890s photo has gone, and Blatchington Windmill is now passed on both east and west sides by Holmes Avenue.
James Gray: About 75 years separate these two views of the mill [see also jgc_36_041 below]. It is now impossible to date the earlier photograph [jgc_36_040], which was taken at the top of Jackass field. It was before Meadow Cottages were built and the ruins of old Blatchington Church can be seen. I would say the period was not later than 1880. jgc_36_040
2018: See caption for jgc_36_041 below. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: This later photograph of 1955 was taken about the same distance from the mill but had to be [at a] slightly different angle owing to the houses of Holmes Avenue. The sails of the mill were turned to face southwards and permanently fixed, in 1938. jgc_36_041
James Gray: Three views of West Blatchington farm, dating from about 1912 [jgc_36_047, 048 (on Holmes Avenue page) and 049]. They are copies of originals in the possession of Mr A Whittington who is the man seen at the top of the sweep, and who, in 1954, was living at 194 Ellen Street, Hove. jgc_36_049
2018: The scar on the south wall of the mill in the 2018 photo indicates where the long barn used to join the base of the mill. The banner advertises free entry between 2 and 5 pm on Sunday 9th September 2018 as part of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of heritage and culture. Its annual celebration of England’s architecture and culture allows visitors free access to historical landmarks. (Photographer: Alan Hobden).
James Gray: No comment. jgc_36_050
2018: The c1920 view is similar to jgc_36_036, taken c1890, but shows a closer, more detailed view of the West Blatchington Windmill and its attached buildings. The 2018 photo looks south down Holmes Avenue to the windmill, and shows a glimpse of the sea between the end of the barn and the trees on the extreme right. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: No comment. jgc_36_051
James Gray: General view of the mill, farm buildings and the duck pond, period about 1920. jgc_36_053
James Gray: No comment. jgc_36_056
2018: The barn on the right has gone, and the Blatchington Windmill is now passed on both east and west sides by Holmes Avenue. The blocks of flats forming The Mount housing development can be seen on the left of the modern photograph, while the path in the foreground leads from Holmes Avenue to the east entrance to St Peter’s Church. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: The mill, showing the east side of the long barn. The large trees are those now in front of the houses in Holmes Avenue. Beyond the gate, a path led to a stile that gave access to allotments fronting the Old Shoreham Road. jgc_36_052
2018: The 2018 view was taken from the east side of the mill, looking south-west, from Holmes Avenue, which now surrounds the mill. The barn no longer has a lean-to and the sign in the foreground advertises the fact that the mill is currently open to the public on Sundays, from 2.30pm to 5pm. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: All that remained of the mill after the site had been acquired by Hove Corporation. The sails were restored and Holmes Avenue driven through on both sides of the mill. The base was used as an Air-raid Warden’s Post during the 1939-1945 War. jgc_36_054
James Gray: No comment. jgc_36_055
2018: The main change to note from the James Gray images here is the addition of the barn on the north side, the dark painted building seen here on the right, which was erected in 1997. The viewpoint is from in front of the most southerly of the blocks of flats comprising The Mount, on the east side of Holmes Avenue. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: This photograph is authenticated as having been taken in October 1928. jgc_36_058.
James Gray: Two photographs [jgc_36_057 and 058] of the mill, taken from the north. Still a rural state and remote from the tide of houses which have since surrounded it. In this photograph, houses can be discerned in the far distance. I think this dates from 1932-34. jgc_36_057
2019: The rural state in the 1932-34 image has given way to a semi-urban one in this modern view, taken from the north-east. Holmes Avenue now surrounds a modified West Blatchington Windmill. The flats immediately south of St Peter’s Close can be seen on the extreme left, next to the houses on the east side of Holmes Avenue. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: This photograph gives a good impression of the farm as it was in 1904. On the left can be seen Blatchington Court with the original west entrance, while on the extreme right are Meadow Cottages. The present Holmes Avenue covers the site of the old duck pond. jgc_36_064
James Gray: Jackass field in January 1904, looking north to the windmill and Meadow Cottages. The trees in the right of the foreground are, of course, those that are still standing in Holmes Avenue. jgc_36_065
2018: Part of the old Jackass field seen in the 1904 photo is now covered by houses on the west side of Holmes Avenue, seen here on the left in the April 2018 photo. The view is looking north along Holmes Avenue to the West Blatchington Windmill, a Grade II listed smock mill, which was built around 1820. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: An interesting photograph, taken on 17 December 1955. It provides a good comparison with others in my collection which date from 20 or 30 years earlier. On the left, the remains of the old farmhouse, then in course of demolition, to be replaced later by the present flats. Beneath the tree can be seen Hove County School for Boys, built in the late 1930s. We are indebted to Hove council for their prompt action in stepping in to buy the Mill in 1937, thus ensuring its preservation. jgc_36_066
James Gray: Open fields and allotments reaching as far as the Old Shoreham Road. jgc_36_067
2019: A typical scene in Holmes Avenue, close to the windmill, with parked cars lining the roadside. The farm buildings on the left in the 1920 view have been replaced by modern flats. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Three views [jgc_36_069, 070 and 071] of the mill and farm buildings in 1936. Note the long barn damaged by fire in May of that year. The building tide had by then reached Nevill Avenue. jgc_36_069
2019: This photograph was taken from the upper part of Holmes Avenue, close to the site of the old pond, looking south. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_36_069 above.] jgc_36_070
2018: This is the view looking north up Holmes Avenue today. Only the church and the windmill have survived. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_36_069 above.] jgc_36_071
2019: See caption for jgc_36_069 above. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: In March 1931, the farm was then in full operation, unthreatened by building development, which by then had not even crossed Old Shoreham Road. The photographs are looking east. jgc_36_089
2019: This is now Holmes Avenue, a few yards west of West Blatchington Windmill. The farm and its buildings are long gone. The Mount flats now stand on the site of the former Blatchington Court Farmhouse. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_36_092 and 093] were definitely taken in 1933. jgc_36_092
2019: Grass and carts have given way to tarmac and cars in today’s view, looking south. Cars belonging to members of the congregation of nearby St Peter’s Church West Blatchington line this part of Holmes Avenue during the 10am Sunday service. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Three views of West Blatchington farm, dating from about 1912 [jgc_36_047, 048 (on Holmes Avenue page) and 049]. They are copies of originals in the possession of Mr A Whittington who is the man seen at the top of the sweep, and who, in 1954, was living at 194 Ellen Street, Hove. For many years he lived in Meadow Cottages which can be seen in the photograph on the left. jgc_36_047
James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_36_092 and 093] were definitely taken in 1933. Note the ancient railway carriage which has been here for many years. jgc_36_093
2018: The mill and church are still there in June 2018, but the farm buildings between them in the 1933 photo have gone.
James Gray: View showing old railway carriage and Mill. jgc_36_094
2018: The old railway carriage has long since been removed, along with the flint wall in front of it. The long south barn was largely destroyed by fire in May 1936, and demolished in 1939 after ownership of the mill had passed to Hove Corporation. The flats of The Mount can just be seen through the trees. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: After the disastrous fire which completely destroyed the south barn. jgc_36_096
2018: The gap between the farm buildings of West Blatchington Farm and the windmill in Gray’s image is now the route of a section of Holmes Avenue. Both photographs were taken close to St Peter’s Church, West Blatchington, looking south. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: After the disastrous fire which completely destroyed the south barn. jgc_36_097
2018: In 2018, West Blatchington Windmill stands on its island site in Holmes Avenue. The small round window, which once overlooked the south barn, is still there in the south wall. Over to the right, the old farmhouse has been replaced by the flats of The Mount. The spire of St Peter’s Church West Blatchington can just be seen in the 1936 photo, above the roof of the farm building on the extreme left. It still appears in the 2018 photo, through the trees on the left, and above the white-painted south porch. Harvested hay or straw can be seen on the right of the 1936 photo (just south of the farmhouse) covered by a light coloured tarpaulin. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: After the disastrous fire which completely destroyed the south barn. jgc_36_098
2019: The farm buildings on the right in the 3 May 1936 photo, and the West Blatchington Farmhouse (just visible through the charred timbers of the gutted south barn) have given way in the 2019 view to the flats of The Mount in Holmes Avenue. Both views (jgc_36_097 and jgc_36_098) look northwards. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: By now the tide of houses from the south had crept almost up the hill. The houses of Holmes Avenue can be clearly seen and also the bungalows in Fallowfield Crescent. jgc_36_100
2018: This photograph shows part of Holmes Avenue in the foreground. The rebuilt north barn of the windmill is clearly shorter and narrower than its predecessor. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Demolition of the long barn in progress and some of the massive oak beams – 19 April 1939. By now ownership of the windmill and associated buildings had passed to Hove Corporation. jgc_36_110
2019: View taken from the north-east. The houses in Holmes Avenue can still be seen on the left. The barn seen here on the north side of the mill was erected in 1997. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: No comment. jgc_36_123
2018: West Blatchington windmill stands on its island site in Holmes Avenue. On the right, the view of the extended church of St Peter’s, West Blatchington is now partly obscured by a tree. This image looks south across Court Farm Road and down Holmes Avenue, with a distant view of Bishop Hannington Church to the left of the windmill. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)