James Gray: The horses and carts of Harris & Co. These two smaller photographs show the carts at the rear of the Lewes Road premises at the junction of Upper Lewes Road. Period unknown probably 1890s. jgc_28_023
2018: The original view appears to have been taken from the rear entrance to Harris and Co’s premises which is now an alleyway leading to what would have been the mineral manufacturer’s yard. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_28_023 above.] jgc_28_024
2018: See caption for jgc_28_023 above. (Photographer: Ron Fitton)
James Gray: The premises of J F Crone, builder, at 16 Upper Lewes Road. It is difficult to date this photograph. Mr Crone was here from the turn of the century until the mid 1930s, so street directories do not help. However the boy’s Eton collar suggests a period about the time of the First World War. The family lived in the adjoining house, IVYDENE, No. 17. jgc_28_025
James Gray: This large house, with a guard rail in front, was built about 1860, in what was known as Gypsy Lane, for Mr Daniel Hack, a well-known Quaker. In 1892, it was owned by Mr E A Wallis who still lived there in 1940, so for its first 80 years the house seems to have had but two owners. For a time it stood empty, until requisitioned by Brighton Corporation to house problem families who had been evicted or were without homes. During this period conditions here were so bad that it acquired the colloquial name “Heartbreak House”. Photographed on 30 August 1956, it was later demolished and Council Flats built on the site.
James Gray: Early in 1947 Brighton Corporation took steps to purchase compulsorily the 7 1/2-acre Sylvan Hall Estate at the junction of Ditchling Road and the Upper Lewes Road. At that time four large Victorian Houses stood there in extensive grounds. These were respectively Sylvan Hall, Hill Lodge, Woodfield Lodge and 28, Ditchling Road. As these old houses were removed, blocks of two and three storey flats were erected, and the first of these were occupied early in 1951.
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_20_059 above.] SYLVAN HALL : Approached by a long drive leading up from the lodge and entrance in Upper Lewes Road. At the time of the photograph the house had been converted for use as Corporation flats prior to eventual demolition. Photographed on 14 March 1952. jgc_20_060
2018: Sylvan Hall was demolished to make way for flats. The road up to the site of the hall remains, now known as Canterbury Drive. (Photographer: Simon Cooper)
James Gray: These three photographs [see also jgc_20_063 and 064 of the Junction of Upper Lewes Road and Ditching Road] were taken within a short distance of each other, little more than 100 yards in fact. This photograph is of the Lodge at the entrance to the extensive grounds. Note the high wall at the extreme left of this photograph. jgc_20_062
James Gray: For 25 years after the development by Council flats and houses of this estate, the old house remained a Victorian relic in the midst of 1950s buildings. It seems to have been built in the 1850s, at some periods being known as Sylvan Villa and Sylvan Lodge. For many years recently it had been split up into several flats. Photographed on 29 April 1976, the old house was demolished during the following year, and the cleared site used for modern council flats. jgc_20_065
James Gray: This photograph shows the Lodge of Sylvan Hall, which stood in the Upper Lewes Road, at the end of the long drive that led to the big house. jgc_20_066
2018: The Lodge has been demolished, revealing the council blocks which had already been built on the site of Sylvan Hall itself (visible now behind mature trees). The constant in both photographs are the railings to the bottom left of each photograph. (Photographer: James Newell)
James Gray: These photographs of 29 April 1976 give no idea of the seclusion of the spacious grounds, which formerly surrounded Sylvan Hall and which continued until the 1939/1945 War. The Lodge also has now gone. jgc_20_067