James Gray: When these two old photographs passed into my possession there was no information as to where they were taken, although the dates were written beneath them. The public house, Connaught Hotel, provides an easy clue to this one. The site is at the north west corner of Hove Street and New Church Road, then almost unbuilt on. Land between Hove Street and the Aldrington boundary was often used by the circus at the turn of the century. Date of the photograph 10 August 1892. Additional Information: Elephants. Sign offers Vallance Estate land for sale. jgc_13_154
James Gray: These two photographs [jgc_15_090 and 091] were taken from meadows then existing south of New Church Road on 17 July 1891. Here the horse and wagon are standing on the site of the present 22-24 New Church Road, looking north across the road to Brooker Hall, then the home of Mr J O Vallance, whose ancestors lived in Hove Manor House. In 1926 this house was bought by Hove Corporation and was opened to the public as the Hove Museum in 1927. Additional Information: Horse having shoe inspected. jgc_15_090
James Gray: Just a little further to the west but in the same meadow. The house seen across the road is the present 29 New Church Road, then the first house in Aldrington across the Hove boundary. Together with the two similar houses to the west (screened from view by the cart) it had been built in the 1880s. For many years this house was the home of the Hounsome family but about 1936 it was opened as the Brighton & Hove Liberal Jewish Synagogue, and in more recent years a large new building has been erected in the back garden. Additional Information: Chained bear on top of cart. jgc_15_091
James Gray: The horse bus, bound for Castle Square, Brighton, at its terminus in New Church Road, about 1900. This bus linked up with the horse tramway to Shoreham, the rails of which can be seen. In the background, Aldrington House, now Lady Chichester Hospital. jgc_15_094
James Gray: The steam engine and Falcon trailer of the Brighton and Shoreham Tramway, at the Aldrington terminus in New Church Road, just a few yards away from the scene in the previous photograph.
James Gray: Semi-detached houses, 10-12, on the south side, at the corner of Aymer Road. Photographed 29 April 1962, demolished the following year and now awaiting redevelopment. jgc _15_097
2018: A low-rise block of flats called Aymer House has been built on the site of 10-13 New Church Road. The Vallance family, who lived at nearby Brooker Hall, claimed descent from Aymer de Valence (c1275 – 23 June 1324), a Franco-English nobleman who is buried in Westminster Abbey. (Photographer: Jane Cheema)
James Gray: This house had a very short life. Adjoining Brooker Hall on a large area of ground it was a ten-bedroomed mansion built as recently as 1929 by McKeller and Westerman for Mr. W. K. Lusty who lived there until his death in 1953. It remained in the family after his death but was sold and demolished in 1969 only 40 years after it was built. One wonders why it was not bought by Hove Corporation as an annexe to the Museum, which is only next door. Photographed from the south side of New Church Road on 16 January 1966. jgc _15_098
James Gray: After removal of the house (see jgc_15_098 above) redevelopment speedily followed. In this photograph taken in January 1970, from within the grounds of Brooker Hall, can be seen building work in progress on the block of flats, which will replace the house. jgc_15_099
James Gray: Photographs of the Lady Chichester Hospital, in its early days. Aldrington House, which occupied the whole area between Westbourne Gardens and Rutland Gardens, was built in the late 1880s and was in private occupation for 30 years. It was taken over for use as a hospital about 1918 and continued for some time. jgc_15_100
2018: Aldrington House was built for Mr and Mrs Hammond. Lady Chichester Hospital treated patients with nervous disorders from all over the British Isles and overseas. It was closed in 1988. Now it is Aldrington NHS Day Hospital for the care and treatment of local people with psychiatric problems and dementia. (Photographer: Jane Cheema)