James Gray: Between the years 1921 and 1924 Hove Corporation embarked upon its first estate of council houses, with some opposition from middle class inhabitants of the growing new Church area. Houses were built along the Portland Road frontage west of the school, and then back to the railway cutting on land formerly used as market gardens. In all more than 200 houses were built, mostly in Ingram Crescent, named after the Ingram family, previous landowners. Away from Portland Road they were brick covered with white colour-wash, so the estate was soon known as “The White City”.
James Gray: After the buildings in Ingram Crescent had been finished in the early part of the 1925, Hove Corporation were left with an area of vacant land between the two wings of the Crescent. They wisely decided that as the housing shortage was so acute more houses should be built here, but leaving an open frontage on the west, east and north side, during 1926, thus completing the Ingram Estate. They had a life of only 48 years. Photographed in September 1974, they were demolished within 6 weeks. This view: west and north side – Nos 9-14 and 15-16 partly hidden. jgc_16_038
James Gray: Nos 1-4 hidden. Seen Nos 5-9, on the north side. All demolished September – October 1974. jgc_16_042
James Gray: In contrast, here is a photograph of October 1923, showing houses in Ingram Crescent, which had been a year earlier built on the west side of the east wing. The three blocks seen contained flats, Nos 2-8, 10-16 and 18-24, just in from Portland Road.