James Gray: Photographed from the tower of St John’s Church, during 1966. The road between the enclosures and Palmeira Square, when first built, was a service, private road, with no egress beyond the Church. jgc_13_001
2018: The original image cannot properly be replicated without access to the tower of St John’s Church. However, the view at ground level still shows how little has changed. Palmeira Mansions, the grand Victorian block on the north side (on the the left of the picture) retains its original facade of 1884, facing south, and the Victorian block now known as Palmeira Grande (formerly Palmeira House) which faces west, towards the camera, is also largely unaltered externally although here it is obscured by scaffolding. Image jgc_ 13_003 (see Church Road (1) page) was taken from the top of this building.
James Gray: Brighton and Hove bus in Church Road. jgc_13_031
2018: This fine motor charabanc is waiting in the shade for, apparently, a vast horde of passengers, on the right-hand side of the road – in the only spot where this is still possible, for single-decker buses only, in front of Palmeira Mansions at the eastern end of Church Road. In the background are the outlines of St John’s Church to the right and the two-storey buildings on the south of Palmeira Square to the left.
James Gray: These two photographs date from 1912 when most of these large mansions were still occupied by wealthy families with coachmen and other servants. Outwardly these buildings are little changed today but the interiors would tell a different story as most of them are now warrens of flats. This photograph from opposite 21 Adelaide Crescent, looks north to Palmiera Mansions. jgc_11_071
2018: Trees now obscure the view to Palmeira Mansions and the lamp post has gone but the exteriors of these well-maintained Grade II listed buildings are hardly changed. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: The west side of Adelaide Crescent. Additional Information: Carriage and top-hatted driver. jgc_11_072
2018: The trees in the garden have gone, giving an unobstructed sea view which includes the Rampion wind farm on the horizon. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Few clues as to the dates of these photographs. Despite the out of focus figures in the garden, this photograph is probably not as old as it appears to be. My guess, 1880-1890. jgc_11_073
2018: The garden, which was originally private, has been taken over by the council and the railings have been removed. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This view is of a later period. Probably just before or soon after the 1914-18 War. jgc_11_074
2018: (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Two photographs of the First World War. St John’s Church Hall is still there, and is little changed. JGC_13_077
2018: The postcard of 1914-18 shows St John’s Church Hall packed with WWI veterans at what looks like a formal meal. A caption reads ‘Wounded heroes entertained by Lady Seymour, St John’s Church Hall’. The 2018 image shows the interior of the church hall now modernised, brightly painted and furnished for use by an infants’ playgroup.