James Gray: When Radinden Manor Road was laid out in 1925 as part of the building development in the Shirley Drive area, it was intended that it should continue through to Dyke Road. For some reason this did not materialise and the road stopped short at a thick hedge where it joined Orpen Road. 38 years later, in June 1963, the hedge was removed so that the road could follow its original course as a feature of the Martlets development in the Upper Drive. Progress has been slow however and now in 1967 there are many houses still to be built in this project. jgc_17_033
James Gray: See jgc_17_033 above. jgc_17_034
James Gray: The lane seen above would have been the continuation of Radinden Manor Road (see previous photographs) had this been carried through to Dyke Road as seemed likely when this was first projected. jgc_17_035
James Gray: The lane led only to garages at the rear of gardens. Many of the trees and bushes have been cleared by 1968 although the development of the area by houses has been much slower than was anticipated. jgc_17_036
2018: The 2018 photograph shows the completed development known as The Martlet. The older house on the left in the first of the 1963 images is still there on the corner of Orpen Road. It has recently been established by Tim Carder, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club’s historian, that the club’s first pitch was on the site of The Martlet. (Photographer: Helen Glass)