James Gray: The original Arcade, shown in these photographs [jgc_19_102 and jgc_19_103], had a very short life of only 11 years. In 1923, the extensive premises of Smithers Brewery which covered a large area with frontages at 201 Western Road and 89-90 North Street, was demolished. The cleared site was utilised for the construction of this arcade of shops, curving from Western Road through into North Street. There were nine shops on the east side of the Arcade and eight on the west. In 1934, when the widening of the last block of old Western Road was undertaken, the whole of the east side had to be rebuilt, which necessitated the removal of the glass roof for the time being. The Western Road entrance was set back several feet and redesigned.
James Gray: A later photograph, probably of 1934 which advertises the Astoria Cinema, opened in 1933, as well as three other cinemas and the Brighton and Sussex Building Society, forerunner of the Alliance & Leicester, with its Head Office in North Street. jgc_19_114
2020: Three, 211 Western Road, is in the part of Imperial Arcade which was remodelled by Garrett & Son in 1934 to look like the prow of a ship. To the right of the Dyke Road entrance to the arcade is Eurozone, which is in the part which was not remodelled. (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: Scenes of the widening at the eastern end, between Regent Hill and the Clock Tower. jgc_19_116
2020: 200 Western Road is on the left of the original image. This is now the eastern end of Marks and Spencer, just visible on the left of the 2020 image which shows the shops and flats above them of Imperial Arcade. The Clock Tower is now easier to see because of the road widening that took place in the 1930s.
James Gray: Scenes of the widening at the eastern end, between Regent Hill and the Clock Tower. [See also jgc_19_116 above, jgc_19_118 on the Western Road (1 page and jgc_19_115 on the Western Road (2) page] jgc_19_117
James Gray: Clearing the site after the removal of the old buildings. On the left can be seen the backs of the original shops on the west side of the Arcade, and the Arcade roof which has not yet been demolished. jgc_19_119
James Gray: Scenes at the eastern end of the old road, between 1930 and 1935. The clearance almost complete. Only two buildings 200 and 201 still remain of the old, narrow road. jgc_19_139
James Gray: The eastern end of Western Road in late 1966, a few months prior to the demolition of all these shops (on the right), before work could start on the vast Churchill Square. jgc_19_154
James Gray: Newly built shops are nearly ready for occupation and road widening is in progress. The Clock Tower and the Quadrant come into view for the first time. Now only two of the old buildings, Taylors and Meakers, remain. On the left of the photograph can be seen the tall chimney of the defunct Smithers’ Brewery. jgc_19_120
2020: This is similar to image jgc_19_116 but taken from the other side of Western Road. The most prominent building in the 2020 image is what in 1929-34 was part of Soper’s Drapery Emporium at 77-83 North Street. In 2020 Metro Bank is at No 81. The whole of this side of the building was exposed when the shops on the south side of Western Road seen in the original image were demolished in the late 1960s. (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: The original Arcade, shown in these photographs [jgc_19_102 and 103], had a very short life of only 11 years. In 1923, the extensive premises of Smithers Brewery which covered a large area with frontages at 201 Western Road and 89-90 North Street, was demolished. The cleared site was utilised for the construction of this arcade of shops, curving from Western Road through into North Street. There were nine shops on the east side of the Arcade and eight on the west.
James Gray: A February view of Nos 200/212. Those shops beyond the Arcade are disposing of their stocks, by sales, as the buildings are soon to be demolished. Additional Information: Justine Ltd.
jgc_19_109
2020: As a result of the widening of this part of Western Road in the 1930s, the frontages seen in the 2020 image stand in what would have been the interiors of the buildings seen in the James Gray image.