James Gray: This large house, which had an extensive garden running south to the backs of the houses in Codrington Place, was built in 1861. Within a few years it became the property of Henry Willett, a man well known in the social and political life of Brighton during the second half of last century. He made many bequests to the town, chief of which was the Willett Collection of pottery. After his death his family continued to live in the house until 1917. jgc_26_199
2018: Arnold House, which became a hotel in 1939, has been demolished. It was replaced in 1971 by a block of flats called Heather Court. The extensive gardens James Gray mentions now form part of the Waitrose supermarket car park. Montpelier Lodge, built in 1830 and visible to the right of Heather Court, is No 16 Montpelier Terrace. The Willett Collection of Popular Pottery can today be found in Brighton Museum. (Photographer: Tony Bailey)
James Gray: This large house, which had an extensive garden running south to the backs of the houses in Codrington Place, was built in 1861. Within a few years it became the property of Henry Willett a man well known in the social and political life of Brighton during the second half of last century. He made many bequests to the town, chief of which was the Willett Collection of pottery. After his death his family continued to live in the house until 1917. jgc_26_200
2019: See captions for jgc_26_199 and jgc_26_201. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: By 1924 the house was owned by Mr R J Heather and it was he who, in 1939, opened it to the public as the Arnold House Hotel. Later the adjoining house (seen on the right), Montpelier Lodge, was acquired and absorbed by the hotel. In 1971, when the house was 110 years old, it was decided to demolish it, but not Montpelier Lodge, so that flats could be built on the site and in the garden. Date of the four photographs – May 6 1971. Demolition of the house had then just started. jgc_26_201
2019: See caption for jgc_26_199. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: See caption for jgc_26_201 above. jgc_26_202
2019: See caption for jgc_26_199. (Photographer: Helen Glass)