James Gray: Looking eastwards to Black Rock. The Paston Place, or Banjo Groyne was built in 1877, and in 1895, Madeira Drive which until then ended there, was extended from Banjo Groyne to Black Rock. Note the cluster of motor coaches at the foot of Duke’s Mound, then the parking place for the coaches. The bowling greens disappeared after the 1939-1945 War, during which they were mined and wired off. jgc_05_175
James Gray: The Royal Crescent Hotel and Marine Parade, period about 1912-14. jgc_06_025
2020: This fine image from just before the First World War shows the Royal Crescent Hotel and other buildings on the north side of Marine Parade. The modern image shows that little has changed on this stretch of the coast road, despite the fact that adjacent Madeira Drive has been redeveloped.
James Gray: Looking east [see jgc_06_036 on the Marine Parade (1) page for the view looking west] from opposite Royal Crescent and showing the Royal Crescent Hotel in its original form. This was reconstructed and greatly enlarged in 1872. The kerbside iron railings were introduced in 1865. jgc_06_037
James Gray: These two panoramic photographs probably date from the late 1860s. They show the stretch of Marine Parade from Rock Gardens almost to Kemp Town. On the corner of Charlotte Street can be seen the building which was later demolished and replaced by the red brick Crest Hotel. Behind Royal Crescent note the bare Freshfield Road, then just an alternative way to the Workhouse and Racecourse. At the foot of the sea wall were huge mounds of chalk and earth dumped there years before and cleared away in 1872, when Madeira Drive was projected. jgc_06_040 and jgc_06_041
James Gray: A blown up section of the Marine Parade panorama seen [in jgc_06_040 above] on the previous page. This extends just from Grafton Street to Charlotte Street. Note the house at the extreme right. This is 70 Marine Parade, as originally built. Contrast this with the sepia photograph [jgc_06_043] in the next image. jgc_06_042
James Gray: A much later photograph, which could date from the 1890s or even the 1900s. Whatever its age, it gives a very clear picture of 70 Marine Parade, after its complete reconstruction, or more probably rebuilding. This most likely took place during the late 1870s or in 1880. Also seen is the entrance to Charlotte Street. jgc_06_043
James Gray: Bristol Hotel and Paston Place. jgc_06_064
2020: The Bristol Hotel has been turned into flats. Integral to the building now named Bristol Court is The Bristol Bar. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Marine Parade, Eastern Street and Belgrave Place. jgc_06_065
2020: Many houses have been converted to flats and the residents look out on the busy and noisy A259. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: The view down Duke’s Mound, towards the Chain Pier, about 1890. Not many changes, apart from the gas lamps and the protective kerbside railings, which have gone. jgc_06_066
James Gray: A mid-Victorian photograph taken from opposite Burlington Street which provides an excellent view of the Parade and beach below. It is seldom that the Chain Pier and West Pier are seen in one photograph. The wooden railings were erected in the 1830s and between the second and third horizontal rails can be seen part of the very narrow Madeira Drive, which had been constructed only a year or two earlier. Note that at the kerbside the gas lamp formed an integral part of the iron railings. The Royal Crescent Hotel bears a very different appearance from present day. This had previously been a private mansion, which early in the century had been occupied by George Canning, one time Prime Minister. jgc_06_075
James Gray: Further along Marine Parade [than jgc_06_072] in the same year, 1871. Here the scene is eastwards almost opposite Belgrave Place, seen on the left. That part of Marine Parade from Eastern Street to Eaton Place was then known as Belgrave Terrace. Note the newer looking houses beyond Eaton Place. These had been erected only a few years earlier, in 1855, and they filled up the only gap in the seafront buildings from Adelaide Crescent to Kemp Town. They consisted of 16 elegant mansions, named Percival Terrace after Mr W Percival Boxall, the owner, though later six of these were renamed Clarendon Terrace. jgc_06_073
James Gray: Looking east. jgc_06_078
2020: The original buildings are still recognisable, although the majority will have been converted into flats. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Another photograph [see also jgc_06_079 on the New Steine page] dating from the 1870 period. Building of this square started about 1825 on land owned by Thomas Attree, a well-known local solicitor who was vestry clerk. He retained the garden enclosure, which was ultimately taken over by the Corporation in 1884 for £25. jgc_06_080
2020: Fortunately this view remains very much the same (including the balconies) as when it was photographed in the 1870s. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Two more photographic copies [see also jgc_06_081 on the Marine Parade (1) page] of drawings by William Alfred Delamotte, dating from 1858. Much further to the east, from Eastern Terrace to Eaton Place. The focal point is Belgrave Place, with its date of building in the pediment of the central house. More to the east, the Post Office in Florence House, now the present 162 Marine Parade. jgc_06_082
James Gray: Three photographs [jgc_06_083, 084 and 085] of the hotel and neighbouring buildings. I can only guess at the date, which I would put at about 1870. The hotel was opened about 1935, the first proprietor being William Hallett, later Mayor of Brighton in 1855. It was named after the Marquess of Bristol. Mr Hallett founded Kemp Town Brewery and after the sale of the hotel, he lived in the adjoining house, Hamden House, 142 Marine Parade. The Bristol Hotel was closed in 1935 and converted into flats known as Bristol Court. jgc_06_083
2020: The building acquired an impressive balcony in the late 19th or early 20th century. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_06_083 above.] jgc_06_084
2020: The buildings today remain very much the same as they were in the original photograph of the 1870s, including the perimeter wall of what was the Bristol Hotel – now Bristol Bar. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_06_083 above.] jgc_06_085
2020: The view looking west is still recognisable from the photograph of the 1870s but the main road now dominates the scene. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: The only photograph I have ever seen which shows two sets of rails on the beach. Those nearest the sea carried the Marine Electric Railway, while those seen through the lower railings were of the extension of Volk’s Railway. jgc_06_087
James Gray: Westwards from Paston Place, about 1912. jgc_06_088
James Gray: Two photographs, in the summer of 1922, showing the eastern bandstand and the enclosure of Jack Sheppard’s Entertainers. This was a popular summer feature in the years just before and after the 1914-18 War. If only the streets were as free of traffic today. jgc_06_092 and jgc_06_093
2020: Gone are the eastern bandstand and Jack Sheppard’s Entertainers replaced by attractions of a different hue. The Palace Pier, however, remains as does the lift to Marine Parade seen on the right of both images. Note also the tower of the British Airways i360 observation platform on the right in the distance. Traffic remains an issue on Madeira Drive! (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Three photographs [see also jgc_06_098 on the Madeira Drive page] taken by the De Smidt brothers of Brighton College at some time during the 1890s. No descriptions are needed. jgc_06_099 and jgc_06_100
James Gray: Southdown Bus No 133 on 27 March 1923. jgc_06_095
James Gray: A postcard view of Marine Parade and the lower promenade, about 1931. The chief point of interest is that the kerbside railings, which flanked the south pavement, were still there as late as this year. jgc_06_116
James Gray: Few main roads in Brighton have changed less over the years than Marine Parade. Individual houses have been demolished or rebuilt but generally Marine Parade presents the same appearance as it did a century ago. Even the width of the road is the same. These three photographs of 1925 show the area around Royal Crescent, [see also jgc_06_108 of Royal Crescent itself and jgc_06_110 below] and are worth studying in conjunction with the large photograph of 1875, on a previous page. jgc_06_109
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_06_109 above.] jgc_06_110
2020: This stretch of Marine Parade looking east from the pavement opposite Bloomsbury Place still remains largely unchanged. The imposing buildings on the left, at the eastern corner of Marine Square, are Collingwood House and Portland House. Beyond them are Portland Mansions, Kingscliffe House and Bristol Court. All have been converted to flats.
James Gray: Looking across the roadway to the Bristol Hotel, between Seymour Street and Paston Place. Of the same period [see jgc_06_083, 084 and 085 above] as those on a previous page, one being a clearer copy. Note the extremely dirty condition of the roadway in all these photos. jgc_06_111
2020: This view is centred on what was the Bristol Hotel and is now the Bristol Bar. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_06_111 above.] jgc_06_112
2020: The buildings remain recognisable, although many have been converted into flats. The former Bristol Hotel now incorporates the Bristol Bar. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Looking west to Clarendon Terrace, Percival Terrace and in the distance, the end of Belgrave Terrace. jgc_06_113
2020: Clarendon and Percival Terraces remain substantially the same although all have now been converted into flats. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: Marine Parade, looking east to the Kemp Town Terraces and showing Belgrave Terrace and Belgrave Place. Period about 1870. jgc_06_114
2020: The buildings are still recognisable from the photograph of 1870. This updated photograph was taken on a quiet Sunday morning without the distraction of the traffic and noise on the A259. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: An early stereoscopic view of Percival Terrace, Clarendon Terrace and Chichester Terrace. Period not known, but it could be as early as the 1860s for the kerbside railings are not seen. Additional Information: ©Philippe Garner. jgc_06_115
2020: There have been few changes to the appearance of the buildings since Gray’s photograph was taken. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: This photograph dates from before the 1914-1918 War. jgc_06_127
2020: Images jgc_06_123, 124, 125 (on the Brighton East Seafront: images on the beach (2) page) also all look east over the Esplanade, which once formed part of the Kemp Town Enclosures for the exclusive use of the residents. The Esplanade was purchased by Brighton Corporation and opened to all in 1952.
James Gray: This fine photograph of the imposing Arundel House, 13 Arundel Terrace, dates from 1872. At that time the Terrace was less than 50 years old having been built between 1826 and 1834. Arundel House, the first building to be completed, was originally known as the Bush Inn, after William Bush, its first licensee. By 1856, however, the Inn had been transferred to its present position at the corner of Arundel Road and Arundel Place, and at the time of this photograph Arundel House was occupied as a girls’ school. jgc_06_128
James Gray: The modern photograph, 1956, shows later alterations on houses to the west. [See jgc_06_128 above for Arundel House history.] jgc_06_129
2019: Arundel Terrace today appears to be in good condition and all buildings are painted white. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
Text is being prepared or edited for this entry. It will be available soon.
jgc 05-147 and 06-021