James Gray: One of Brighton’s meaner streets, it took its name from the Prince Regent as it was actually built during the period of the Regency, 1811-1820. Thomas Furner, who lived at no. 40, built most of the tall three-storeyed houses. Above the heads of the children, on the left, was a white stone let into the first floor wall. This bore the inscription ‘Furner’s Buildings. 1820’. jgc_25_101
2018: The buildings on both sides of the street have now disappeared, replaced by mixed housing, offices and the rear entrance to Komedia arts and entertainment venue. The façade of North Road Timber is visible in the distance. (Photographer: Chris Nichols)
James Gray: From Regent Street, looking at the backs of the houses in Jubilee Street. jgc_25_105
2018: All the buildings in the James Gray picture have disappeared. Today there is only one spot in Regent Street where the newer buildings in Jubilee Street can be seen. The east side of Regent Street was replaced by just two huge commercial buildings and between them is a ‘cat creep’ (a steep stairway running between two streets). The 2018 photograph shows the top of these steps in Regent Street leading down to the My Brighton hotel and Chilli Pickle restaurant on the east side of Jubilee Street. (Photographer: Alice Jackson)
James Gray: Two photographs of the clearance on the east side of the street, and showing the backs of the buildings in Gardner Street. jgc_25_106
2018: The original image was clearly taken near the North Road end of Regent Street. The backs of the buildings in Gardner Street can still be seen in the first of the new images although many of these now have extended low level structures for garages/storage attached. The quite substantial building on the end of Regent Street (not shown in the James Gray image) still remains. The new image is taken from behind the old building but some of the upper windows and roof lines match the original (some chimneys are gone). (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: Although these photographs are of fairly recent dates, they tell their own story. This photograph taken in January 1965 looks north. Most of the buildings are already demolished but the Central School (extreme right) still stands. jgc_25_108
2018: The Central School was demolished with the rest of the street to make way for the building which in 2018 houses Carluccio’s restaurant on Church Street and a modern office block in Regent Street. (Photographer: Alice Jackson)
James Gray: These buildings await removal, photographed 9 February 1964. Additional Information: Regent Street, Dockerills. jgc_25_074
2018: Dockerills had various shops in Church Street over the years but in 1964, when the James Gray photograph was taken, their premises were on the corner of Church Street and Gardner Street, not Regent Street as stated.