James Gray: These photographs give some indication of the extent of the damage caused by the dreadful hurricane which hit Brighton during the night of 16/17 October 1987. By the time of the photographs, 1 November 1987, most of the debris had been removed but the magnificent trees which had flanked the Level had been decimated. Looking west, showing Union Road and the gardens of Park Crescent. jgc_020_037
2018: New trees have grown back where ones in the storm of 1987 had fallen down. That whole side of the Level is covered with tall trees now. (Photographer: Eleanor Price)
James Gray: The entrance to Park Crescent from Union Road, showing the most westerly house, No 1. The year of the photograph is unknown but the tramlines suggest a period between 1904 and 1910. The photograph was found in an old cupboard at the offices of Mellor and Mellor, estate agents of St James’s Street, who kindly gave it to me. jgc_20_047
2018: Little has changed to the main building, though the large tree has gone and the low wall has been replaced with a simpler design. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)