James Gray: A later view, probably of the 1930s, showing the open area between the [Cox’s] Works and the Lewes Road Viaduct. Note the covered stairway, which led to Lewes Road Station on the Kemp Town branch railway. Passenger services ceased running on this line on 31 December 1932. jgc_28_059
2018: Everything in this scene had gone by the late 1970s/early 1980s. The area in the photograph now lies somewhere in the area now occupied by Sainsbury’s car park. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: This photograph [and jgc_28_062 and 063 on the Lewes Road (2) page] was taken on 28 October 1979, when the scheme for the construction of the new traffic layout at this busy junction had been announced but not started. Such is the delay in getting things commenced nowadays, that it was not until well into 1983, nearly three years later, that demolition began. First to go were the remains of the Viaduct and the Cox’s offices and works. Then the Vogue Cinema went along with a few of the lower houses in Hollingdean Road. It now remains to be seen whether the impending redevelopment is worth all this upheaval and destruction. jgc_28_064
James Gray: Two photographs of this small branch line, both showing Lewes Road Station, albeit in a bad state of dilapidation. Not being a railway expert, I cannot offer any opinion as the year of these photographs, but in view of the condition of the rails in this photograph, this may date from the 1930s, after passenger traffic ceased. jgc_28_068
James Gray: This photograph seems much later as the rails have gone. The dust destructor chimney, demolished in 1962, is seen, so the photograph must date before then. jgc_28_069
2018: Lewes Road station (on the Kemptown railway line) was closed to passengers in 1933 and closed completely on 26 June 1971. It was demolished in the 1980s to make way for the Centenary Industrial Estate. The station buildings were roughly where the line of trees are in the modern photo. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: Goods train on the Kemp Town line, headed towards Kemp Town Goods Depot, having just crossed over Hartington Road bridge (site of old and little used Hartington Road halt) – period unknown. jgc_28_070
2018: Hartington Road Halt was closed in 1911. The area was cleared in the 1970s and is now the site of William Clarke Park, also called The Patch. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The Kemp Town railway was opened on 2nd August 1869, and soon afterwards an intermediate station serving the Lewes Road area was provided here. For many years it served a feeder station for Brighton Central. The introduction of trams and later, motor buses caused a decline in passenger traffic with the result that the line closed in December 1932, except for some goods traffic. The start of the Viaduct is visible at the end of the platform. jgc_28_078