James Gray: Few main roads in Brighton have changed less over the years than Marine Parade. Individual houses have been demolished or rebuilt but generally Marine Parade presents the same appearance as it did a century ago. Even the width of the road is the same. These three photographs of 1925 [jgc_06_108 and jgc_06_109 and 110 on the Marine Parade (2) page] show the area around Royal Crescent, and are worth studying in conjunction with the large photograph of 1875, on a previous page. jgc_06_108
2020: jgc_06_108 and jgc_06_109 taken in 1925 show the 14 terraced houses of Royal Crescent, decorated with black glazed mathematical tiles, and the Royal Crescent Hotel, now Royal Crescent Mansions, from the east and west respectively. Little has changed since these images were taken nearly 100 years ago – apart from the rather discreet addition of one dormer floor to the hotel, almost hidden behind the balustrades. In April 2020, the road is almost as deserted as in the originals – this time due to a national lockdown to control the spread of a coronavirus pandemic. (Photographer: David Sears)