James Gray: During the 1860s, when large villa-style properties were being erected in Withdean, these adjoining houses, Woodslee and St Johns, were built on the London Road, just north of Harrington Road. Woodslee was the northernmost of the two. For a long time in recent years the houses were occupied by a Catholic girls school [Lourdes Convent]. In 1972, shortly before the properties were sold for redevelopment, these photographs were taken so that a record of the houses would remain. Western side of St Johns. jgc_34_039
James Gray: Woodslee, showing the extra storey added in recent times. jgc_34_041
2019: This block of flats on the Kingsmere estate stands approximately on the site of Woodslee. The older block of flats seen to the north in 2019 is Cliveden Court which was built before Lourdes Convent closed and the buildings were demolished. (Photographer: Bill Kocher)
James Gray: The stables of Woodslee, the view being north-east, to the backs of the houses on the west side of Cornwall Gardens. jgc_34_042
2019: James Gray’s caption is inaccurate; the photographer in 1972 would have been facing north-east toward the new block of flats in Cliveden Court. The 2019 image shows exactly the same window in the modern flats as can be seen in the 1972 image. (Photographer: Bill Kocher)
James Gray: See jgc_34_039. View of the southern side of St Johns. jgc_34_038
2019: Both the 1972 and the 2019 photographs look north. Woodslee and St Johns stood at the heart of what is now the Kingsmere development of blocks of flats. (Photographer: Bill Kocher)
James Gray: Two photographs of the Chapel, built when the two mid-Victorian buildings, Woodslee and St Johns, were taken over by the Sisters of Nevers for use as Lourdes Convent. Now demolished. Glimpses of the two houses can be seen in this view. jgc_34_044
2020: The chapel was rebuilt in 1938 to the design of J S Gilbert. As none of this exists, see comments on photo jgc_34_038. (Photographer: Bill Kocher)
James Gray: Two photographs of the Chapel, built when the two mid-Victorian buildings, Woodslee and St Johns, were taken over by the Sisters of Nevers for use as Lourdes Convent. Now demolished. jgc_34_045
2020: See jgc_34_038 and jgc_34_044. (Photographer: Bill Kocher)