
James Gray: Photograph of the Old Fox Tavern, in 1924. Built in the 1830s, and at one time a greengrocer’s shop, it became a public house about 1850, known as the Old Fox Tavern. Why it was later known as the Old Fox is something of a mystery. It was closed on 30 September 1938, when the licence was surrendered but the words “the Old” can be seen on the Marlborough Street wall to this day. jgc_26_224.
2018: The building is still recognisable. The ground floor commercial premises were unoccupied and for sale at the time this photograph was taken. The old lettering on the Marlborough Street wall mentioned by James Gray can still be seen although it is much painted over. A street sign has been added beside the Marlborough Street side of the building above which a boiler outlet and water overflow pipe can be discerned. (Photographer: Mathia Davies)
James Gray: The reverse view of 16-21, Upper North Street, in December 1958. Demolished 1960. Houses fronting on to Dyke Road, formerly known as 3-6 Upper North Street, but later numbered in Dyke Road. Photographed 5 March 1961. They were demolished in May 1965, and the large cleared site will be used for an extension to Marks and Spencer’s store. Additional Information: View from St Nicholas Churchyard. jgc_26_220.
James Gray: After the demolition of the houses seen on the previous page, Marks and Spencer extended their store over part of the site, the remainder being used as a car park for several years. This was hidden from view by the long high fence seen in the above photograph, taken in 1969. The imprint of one of the removed houses can be seen against the wall of the Labour Exchange building. Finally, the Car Park was given up, and now, in 1983, a large block of offices is being built here. Additional Information: View from St Nicholas Churchyard. jgc_26_221
2019: The frontage onto Dyke Road and Upper North Street is occupied by Lees House. The extension to Marks & Spencer lies behind. The block of offices has been completed and is called Lees House. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This clear 1954 photograph shows the façade of Nos 24, 25 and 27, on the south side of this road. No. 26, hidden from view behind 27, is approached through the passage with the iron grill. This arrangement of houses is of long standing, local directories suggesting it might be as far back as the 1870s, but this is speculation. There are other examples in Brighton of one house being hidden behind another. jgc_26_203
2019: This is unchanged. No 26 still exists, hidden away and now called The Cottage. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Photographs (jgc_26_204 and jgc_26_205) of 1870, showing Upper North Street at the junction with Spring Street and Clifton Place. Once again the chief difference from the 1970 scene, a century later, is the almost absence of traffic and people. jgc_26_204
2018: In these three modern images, jgc_26_204 to 206, it is the corner building which is the most prominent. The new Presbytery mentioned by James Gray is seen clearly in the modern photos. Its fine red brickwork and solid stone window surrounds earned it Grade II listing in 1988. The church itself is also Grade II listed. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Photographs (jgc_26_204 and jgc_26_205) of 1870, showing Upper North Street at the junction with Spring Street and Clifton Place. Once again the chief difference from the 1970 scene, a century later, is the almost absence of traffic and people. jgc_26_205
2018: The Presbytery is in the foreground on the left and the gable of the school building is visible beyond the tower. In between lies St Mary Magdelen’s Church, a Roman Catholic church built by Gilbert Blount and officially opened in 1864. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This particularly fine photograph was taken in 1871. St Mary Magdalen’s Church had been built a few years earlier, in 1862. Note the significant gap beyond the Church. This is where the school building is now. The erection of this school commenced in April 1872, the work being done by the well-known Brighton builders, Patching and Sons. The small house to the left, then occupied by Charles Fox, boot maker, was reconstructed and extended, for use as the presbytery in 1890. jgc_26_206
2018: See captions for jgc_26_204 and jgc_26_205. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: Old houses, Nos 16-21, awaiting demolition in October 1958. 20 years earlier, old houses in Regent Court, at the rear of these houses, were demolished and the site became derelict for nearly a generation. These houses were removed in 1960 and now, in 1962, a large building is being erected here for the Ministry of Labour. At the start of the 19th century this spot was known as the Church Hill chalk pit, and an old marine, Corporal Staines, who served under Nelson at Copenhagen, lived in a cave hewn into the chalk. jgc_26_217
James Gray: The reverse view of 16-21 Upper North Street, in December 1958. Demolished 1960. Houses fronting on to Dyke Road, formerly known as 3-6 Upper North Street, but later numbered in Dyke Road. Photographed 5 March 1961. They were demolished in May 1965, and the large cleared site will be used for an extension to Marks and Spencer’s store. jgc_26_219
2019: The site of 16-21 Upper North Street shown in this view and in jgc_26_217 is now occupied by Crown House, 11 Regent Hill. (Photographer: Helen Glass)
James Gray: This has nothing to do with Western Road and should not be in this volume but I had to find room for it somewhere. It is of Peters Wine Stores at 57 Upper North Street, in 1907. Built in the 1860s soon after the adjoining Church it was a Wine and Spirits Merchants from the start and seems to have received a full licence in 1925 as in that year it assumed its present name of the Hampton Inn. jgc_19_040
2019: The Hampton Arms pub now stands at 57 Upper North Street, though it would hard to guess from the image alone. The current building seems to have been remodelled since the original photograph was taken in 1907. (Photographer: Nick Eastham)