James Gray: View of the railway line, Mill Road bridge and the two Railway Cottages from the field now forming part of Waterhall Park. Period unknown but probably about 1900. jgc_35_069
2019: This was difficult to work out exactly where it was taken from. The cottages are gone and the road system near Waterhall is now different. Reproducing it therefore was also difficult. I have taken these from an access road parallel to the railway line looking towards where the cottages would have been. (Photographer: Chris Nichols)
James Gray: The meet of the Southdown hunt, 10 April 1909. Across the road the grounds of Patcham Place, then in private ownership. jgc_35_075
2019: Clearly the road is wider now and is extremely busy at all times. The open land of the grounds of Patcham Place, now a recreation ground, is little changed. (Photographer: Chris Nichols)
James Gray: The junction of Waterhall Road, or Mill Road as it is now called, with London Road in 1920. This shows the rear of Toll Gate House, referred to above (jgc_35_077), which stood there until 1934. In that year, Mill Road was widened, the old house demolished to round off the corner and Vale Avenue, across the London Road, was formed. Later traffic lights were installed and this is now one of the busiest road junctions in Brighton. jgc_35_078
James Gray: I must confess to never having previously heard these four cottages in Mill Road, Patcham, described as Paygate Cottage, although the old Toll Gate Cottage can still be seen behind the wall at the left. Note the very narrow main London Road (right) and the present Vale Avenue straggling away up the hill. jgc_35_079
James Gray: Waterhall Road, looking deceptively quiet and free from traffic. This older photograph dates from 1955, when one could expect little congestion. jgc_35_081
2019: This picture near the current roundabout is impossible to recreate. The road system is different as are the houses. This looks like it may have been taken from near the railway bridge. The petrol station is on that site. (Photographer: Chris Nichols)
James Gray: Two peaceful scenes [see also jgc_35_084 on the London Road (Patcham) page], the like of which we shall never see again at this now busy junction. In 1909, the farm cart is trundling out of Waterhall Road to turn into an equally rural London Road. Note the narrow railway arch and, behind, Patcham waterworks. The corner cottage appears in both photographs. In turnpike days this was the tollgate cottage where the collector lived, but when it finished its life in the 1930s it was used as a mortuary! jgc_35_086
James Gray: Looking down a strangely quiet Mill Road, towards the railway, in 1970. Most of the waterworks buildings seen were removed two years later, in 1972. jgc_35_144
2020: It is impossible to replicate this view today, mainly because the bypass now bisects Waterhall Road and Mill Road. The modern photograph is taken from Waterhall Road looking east towards what remains of the waterworks. (Photographer: Chris Nichols)
James Gray: These two photographs of the same lane provide an interesting contrast. In 1910, the date of the earlier photograph, Horsdean Lane was way out in the country at the back of Patcham Village. In 1933 and subsequent years, Fergusons, the builders, laid out Mackie Avenue and the neighbouring roads, until Braeside Avenue actually backed onto the hedgerows of the old lane. Later Brighton Corporation laid out Horsdean Park on the other side of the lane. jgc_35_155 and 156
James Gray: Road works in progress, December 1934, for the widening and reconstruction of the road, from London Road to the railway bridge. jgc_35_186
2020: The first section of the Brighton bypass, parallel to Mill Road, was completed in 1991 and the section between the A23 and Falmer a little later.
James Gray: The very narrow original Mill Road winding down to Patcham. The photograph shows not only how narrow this road was, but also emphasises the awkward curves. jgc_35_188
2020: The equivalent view shows the Southern Water pumping station with the engineer’s house behind it.
James Gray: At first sight this scene seems the same as today (1965). Note, however, that the railway signal has gone and so has the wall to the left of the arch. Also the high bank on the left has been removed and the present grass verge is almost at ground level. The photograph dates from 1930 before Mill Road was widened. The arch has stood 124 years, since 1841 when the railway first ran into Brighton. jgc_35_189
James Gray: The view down the widened Mill Road, in 1933. Two years before, in 1930/31 Mill Road was widened throughout its entire length. On the left can be seen the narrow lane leading to Waterhall Farm. jgc_35_195
James Gray: The new Mill Road under construction. This was a major road-making undertaking. About a mile of the old country lane, just a few feet wide, was reconstructed to form the present wide arterial road, used as a bypass to Worthing. The work occupied from March 1931 to December 1932. jgc_35_187
2020: In this image the section of the Brighton bypass from London Road to Devil’s Dyke, completed in 1991, is down the bank beyond the crash barrier on the left. Nothing can be seen of the pumping station beyond it because the trees obscure the view. (Photographer: Jane Southern)
James Gray: Two views of the Railway Bridge built in 1841. The arch is no wider than on the day it was opened to traffic. I am told that the distant view across the field was taken during the 1900s but I have no proof of this. The other which looks through the arch is definitely dated as 1923, long before the road was widened on the other side. jgc_35_193 and 194
2020: The current view from the east of the squared-off railway bridge at the bottom of Mill Road shows how hazardous it still is for pedestrians, as there is no room for a pavement at this point. (Photographer: Jane Southern)