Historic and Contemporary Images of Brighton and Hove
Based on the Regency Society James Gray Collection
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SOMERHILL ROAD

Somerhill Road

Neighbourhood:
Goldsmid
1936
2018

James Gray: Demolition of Wick House in 1936. This is without doubt one of the oldest houses in Hove. It was built on Wick Farm on land, which had been in the possession of the Scutt family for five generations. Thomas Scutt (1746-1794) probably built it. The photograph was taken in Somerhill Road and thus looks east to the rear of the building with the garden hidden from the view behind the high wall. The entrance to the house was in Furze Hill.

Out of the pictures away to the left could have been seen some of the farm buildings still standing. Early this century Somerhill Road was known colloquially as ‘Haystack Road’. In the far distance can be seen the girder framework of Wick Hall flats. Furze Croft flats now cover the site of the old house. jgc_11_103

2018: The demolition of Wick House was completed in 1936. The block of flats in the distance is Furze Croft which was built on the site and fronts on to the north-west side of Furze Hill. The block of flats to the left hand side of the photograph is Park Gate in Somerhill Road. (Photographer: David Lane)

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1956
2018

James Gray: Waste land, off Somerhill Road, at the rear of Furze Croft, looking north east towards St Anns Well Gardens. At one time part of Wick farm, it used to be crossed by a track known as Haystacks Road, which led to what is now Nizells Avenue. Allotments during the War, it was later used for unofficial parking, until it was sold for building. Photographed in 1956, shortly before the Park Gate flats were built on the site. jgc_11_104

2018: This is a picture of Park Gate Flats on the eastern side of Somerhill Road and occupying the site to the south-west of St Ann’s Wells Gardens. They were designed by architect Eric Lyons and built in 1958. They are on the Brighton and Hove Council List of Heritage Assets as they are deemed to be a good example of properties that spanned the gap between high-end architect-designed developments and post-war mass housing. They incorporate both traditional and contemporary materials as well as communal areas. (Photographer: Dave Lane)

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1972
2018

James Gray: Photographed on 20 February 1972, when demolition had already commenced, this substantial house had a comparatively short life. One of the first to be built in this quiet road about 1903 it has been cleared to make way for yet another block of flats. jgc_11_111

2018: Somerhill Lodge was a private house on the corner of Lansdown Road and Somerhill Road. It was demolished 1972 and was replaced by a block of flats, also called Somerhill Lodge. This is the view of the front taken in Somerhill Road. (Photographer: Dave Lane)

1972
2018

James Gray: Photographed on 20 February 1972, when demolition had already commenced, this substantial house had a comparatively short life. One of the first to be built in this quiet road about 1903 it has been cleared to make way for yet another block of flats. jgc_11_112

2018: Somerhill Lodge was a private house on the corner of Lansdowne Road and Somerhill Road. It was demolished in 1972 and was replaced by a block of flats, also called Somerhill Lodge. This is a view of the side of the property taken from Lansdowne Road. (Photographer: David Lane)

Historic and Contemporary Images of Brighton and Hove
This website has been prepared by the Regency Society of Brighton and Hove. All historic maps are provided with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland (https://www.nls.uk/) regencysociety.org

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