historic street on the site of Churchill Square and the Brighton Centre
Comparison map: Historic streets alongside 2019 layout of Churchill Square
James Gray: The Boatman’s Arms, at the corner of Little Russell Street, in 1930. This is not the original building which was quite old and which became an inn in 1865. 62 years later, in 1927, it was rebuilt in this form. In Little Russell Street the entrance shown under the inn led to Little Russell Court, four tiny cottages which were demolished in 1932. jgc_29_180
2018: Little Russell Street on the left (west) has become the much wider Russell Road. The Boatman’s Arms stood very approximately between the traffic lights and the back entrance door to the Brighton Centre. (Photographer: Suzanne Hinton)
James Gray: These snapshot photographs are thought to have been taken about 1958 or so, although photo jgc_29_190 [on the right] seems earlier than the rest. Interesting features are in this photograph, the west wall of the Alhambra Theatre (Palladium Cinema), the Cannon Brewery with the chimney (photo No. 189) and (photo No. 191) a part of the Church of the Resurrection, used for the last of its life as the Central Meat Market. This quite old Brighton street has now been completely obliterated. jgc_29_188 and jgc_29_190
James Gray: See caption for jgc_29_188 above. A part of the Church of the Resurrection, used for the last of its life as the Central Meat Market. jgc_29_191
James Gray: See caption for jgc_29_188 above. jgc_29_189
2018: All gone. (Photographer: Suzanne Hinton)
James Gray: These snapshot photographs are thought to have been taken about 1958 or so. Interesting features are the west wall of the Alhambra Theatre (Palladium Cinema), the Cannon Brewery with the chimney [also see jgc_29_189] and a part of the Church of the Resurrection, used for the last of its life as the Central Meat Market [also see jgc_29_191]. This quite old Brighton street has now been completely obliterated. jgc_29_186 and jgc_29_187
James Gray: Left to right Nos 57-60, Russell Street, they were at the foot of the street on the east side, photographed on 20 June 1954. These old houses have been derelict and boarded up for many years. They form part of the huge West Street – Russell Street site owned by Brighton Corporation and will be cleared when development finally commences. Demolished October 1956. jgc_29_192
James Gray: Two very ancient cottages, of whose existence most Brightonians were unaware. They are approached through a very narrow passage at the side of 35 Russell Street, which is now guarded by a forbidding wooden door. They were named after the Bodle family, who owned land in Brighton in the 17th century. Slum clearance removed them in 1935, a few days after this photograph was taken. jgc_29_193
James Gray: A very clear photograph of old buildings, at the foot of Russell Street (west side), all boarded up and awaiting demolition. Unfortunately, they were in this condition for very many years, so the photograph could date from the late 1950s almost through to the mid-1960s. Note the two old public houses. At the extreme right, the Lord Nelson (No 5) and lower down, the Russell Arms (No 3) both date from the early 19th century. jgc_29_194
James Gray: Neighbouring public houses, Russell Street west side. Russell Arms (No 3) and Lord Nelson (No 5). Date of photograph uncertain. jgc_29_195
James Gray: A photograph of No 55, formerly yet another beer-house, the Fisherman at Home. Inhabitants of Russell Street were well provided for. Next to the right is 57, the gap between was the entrance to the stage door of the Alhambra Cinema. The building at the rear was the Sports Stadium in West Street. jgc_29_196
James Gray: The Lord Nelson public house (No 5). jgc_29_197
James Gray: Another view. jgc_29_199
James Gray: The old Cannon Brewery, in Russell Street, 28 April 1968. The exact age of the building was not known but there had been a brewery here for more than 100 years. In the 1840s John Barnett had a brewery at 16 Russell Street and by the 1850s he had named it the Cannon Brewery. It remained in use as a brewery until the last war, but in recent years had been a bottling store for Tamplins Ltd. Removed in late 1968. jgc_29_126
James Gray: 1957-1958. No comment. jgc_29_123
James Gray: 29 April 1962. The Church of the Resurrection built in 1877 ceased being used for that purpose in 1912/13 and then became the Central Meat Market. The building still stands in 1966 but will be demolished as the West Street redevelopment scheme proceeds. jgc_29_184
James Gray: The substantial doorway of No 23 same side as a previous photograph [jgc_29_197], but further up. jgc_29_198
James Gray: The Lord Nelson. Most of these buildings were cleared away during the 1950s as part of the West Street redevelopment. jgc_29_175
James Gray: This photograph shows hoardings advertising silent films at the Palladium cinema. The Lord Nelson, which was a few doors up on the left, was only one of six public houses in this short street. Most of these buildings were cleared away during the 1950s as part of the West Street redevelopment. jgc_29_176
James Gray: The busy scene outside the Meat Market, in the early 1920s. Looking north to Upper Russell Street. At the right can be seen the entrance to Russell Place, with the openings to Bodies Court and Kents Court beyond. The large building at the left was formerly the Church of the Resurrection, built in 1877 for the poorer people in this area but given up about 1912. The names MARLEY and BORTHWICK appear together in only the street directories of 1921, 1922 and 1923, so the photograph must date from one of those years. jgc_29_179
James Gray: On the east side of Russell Street, between Russell Place and Little Russell Street, was this court or inlet, around which were grouped small flint cottages numbered 43 to 49, Russell Street, as seen in this photograph of 1912. All these children doubtless attended the nearby St Paul’s School. At some time between 1916 and 1920 these cottages were removed, being replaced by commercial premises used by the Brighton Pure Ice Company and later by wholesale meat importers. jgc_29_177