James Gray: Below is another photograph of the old Dispensary building, on the opposite side of the road. There is no clue as to the period, or of the occupancy of this building. jgc_31_200
James Gray: Brighton, Hove and Preston Dispensary, about 1900. This building was occupied by the Dispensary from the time of its erection in 1849 until the early 1930s. Afterwards used as offices, it became for a time the ill-fated Churchill House. Additional Information: Designed by Herbert Williams. jgc_31_155
2020: The railings are still there on the west side of Queen’s Road, but the old Dispensary building is long gone from the east side. In its place is the Community Base at No 113, and the Community Kitchen, on the near corner of North Road. On the far corner is Sundial House, followed by the red-brick Lovefit Cafe at No 110. The tall Regus Building, Queensbury House, is in the background. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Looking down North Road, about 1958. This shows three prominent buildings all of which have now gone. The old dispensary building at the corner, built in the 1960s. The Presbyterian Church Hall was destroyed by fire in 1981, while the Grand Theatre, lower down, suffered the same fate in the disastrous fire in June 1961. jgc_31_201
2020: All the buildings in the 1958 photo have now gone. In 2020, the Community Kitchen occupies the corner site on the right, whilst next down North Road is the Brighthelm Centre, followed by Tower Point at No 44.
James Gray: Looking south, at the east side of Queen’s Road about 1958. The old dispensary building has since been replaced by large offices, as has, at the far end, the Oddfellows Hall, built in 1853 and removed in 1969. jgc_31_202
2020: In 2020, the large office block also houses the Community Kitchen, on the corner of Queen’s Road and North Road, and the Community Base next door.
James Gray: Peaceful Queen’s Road, between Church Street and North Road, in 1911. This stretch of road was formally called Windsor Terrace and at one time the roadway was up to the level of the left pavement. jgc_31_205
2020: The buildings on the left (west) side of Queen’s Road are easily recognisable from the 1911 scene.
James Gray: The same road 53 years later [than jgc_31_205] with many changes on the east side. The Oddfellows Hall, once a busy, lively place now stands empty and dejected, its future uncertain. Several plans for its redevelopment have foundered because of the difficulty of providing car parking facilities. jgc_31_206
2020: An office block named Hanover House stands in the place of Oddfellows Hall at No 118 Queen’s Road.
James Gray: The unkempt appearance of the rear of the Oddfellows Hall, from the old burial ground, on the same day as previous photograph. H P Tamplin, High Constable, laid the foundation stone on the right on 27 June 1853. The hall on the upper floor was the scene of many happy evenings’ dancing for me, during the 1920s. jgc_31_207
2020: Occupying the site of the former Oddfellows Hall is the modern office building, Hanover House, at 118 Queen’s Road. The rear windows face south and overlook what used to be a burial ground, but is now a public garden. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Four more 1960s photographs [jgc_31_208 to jgc_31_211] of this prominent building. Three show the frontage in Queen’s Road and the other [jgc_31_211] the Foundation Stone in the rear of the building, facing the Burial Ground. Happily, this still survives, built into the replacement building’s southern wall. The Hall was opened on 26 June 1854 and demolished during August 1969. jgc_31_208
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_31_208 above.] jgc_31_209
2020: The same site is occupied by Hanover House, a large block of self-contained offices at 118 Queen’s Road. The rear of the block overlooks the Brighthelm Community Garden, a public open space, which is maintained by volunteers. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Two photographs [jgc_31_212 and jgc_31_213] of the early 1950s, concentrating on old established businesses, which have now passed from the Brighton scene. This view shows the fishmonger’s shop of Tree and Pierce, at No. 12, on the west side. Founded by John Tree in 1850, it closed in March 1957. jgc_31_212
2020: The pub on the left has been variously run as the William Tell, Polar Bear Central, The Pig and Paradise and The Lift, but in 2020 it is called the Hope and Ruin, which also occupies No 12.
James Gray: Two photographs [jgc_31_212 and jgc_31_213] of the early 1950s, concentrating on old established businesses, which have now passed from the Brighton scene. Rose’s the pawnbroker’s, at 124, on the east side. This was founded by Philip Rose in 1853, but closed in 1956. Both businesses had been in the same premises throughout their lives. jgc_31_213
James Gray: Durtnalls premises in October, 1962. The business was founded in 1855 at 149 North Street and remained there until 1927. In 1916, however, a depository was opened at 125 Queen’s Road. After 46 years these premises were sold and demolished so that the site could be redeveloped as an office block. jgc_31_214
2020: The office block which replaced the original Durtnalls building at 125 Queen’s Road has a fabric store on its ground floor in 2020. Ackerman Music is to the left, and Mountain Warehouse to the right. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: A view of the premises of T Lulham & Sons, 130 Queen’s Road on 27 October 1967, when reconstruction was just starting. A very old established business it was founded in North Street by Thomas Lulham in the 1840s. The business was transferred here when this building was erected about 1872 and continued until 1967 when a move was made to another part of the town. The building still stands but has been extensively reconstructed inside. jgc_31_218
2020: The attractive façade of this old shoe manufactory building at No 130 Queen’s Road remains almost unaltered in 2020. The empty shop unit to the left of the Tanning Shop was previously occupied by TOG24, which has now relocated to nearby Churchill Square. Both views were taken from the west side of Queen’s Road, adjacent to the entrance to Air Street. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)
James Gray: Crowds gather in Queen’s Road, by the Clock Tower, for the visit of the Calais Municipal bands on 15 August 1907. The interest here is surely provided by the people and the transport, not by the buildings. At the right, however, note the entrance to the White Lion Hotel (now occupied by the large Boots building) and the comparative newness of the Clock Tower, then only 20 years old. jgc_31_221
2020: The huge Boots store on the right now dominates this scene with part of the Clock Tower on the left.
James Gray: A view down to the Clock Tower in 1932, which shows the widening of West Street in progress. Note that the building at the North Street/West Street corner was about to be occupied by Horne Bros. after nearly 70 years as Smith’s, the drapers. jgc_31_225
2020: The modern office block occupied by ‘One Family’ now towers behind St Paul’s Church in West Street. Behind the Clock Tower, the former Burton store is now home to the book store, Waterstones.
James Gray: Old original houses of the 1840s, numbers 120/124 Queen’s Road, on the east side, photographed on 30 May 1982, shortly before their demolition to be replaced by modern shops and offices. jgc_31_227
2020: Although greatly redeveloped since 1982, these buildings on the east side of Queen’s Road retain their original façades. The trees toward the left mark the junction with Church Street, whilst the building in the distance is Hanover House, at No 118 Queen’s Road. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)