Historic and Contemporary Images of Brighton and Hove
Based on the Regency Society James Gray Collection
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WEST BRIGHTON

Western Terrace

Neighbourhood:
Western Road area
1970s
2018

James Gray: One of three photographs [jgc_29_015, 016 and 017] of the late 1970s, seemingly all taken in the early morning. This view into Western Terrace, showing behind Debenham’s shop, the Western Pavilion, built by Amon Henry Wilds between 1827 and 1830, for his own occupation. Additional Information: Western Pavilion. jgc_29_015

2018: The Western Pavilion, an extraordinary little oriental house built by the Regency architect Amon Henry Wilds as a home and office for himself, has changed little since the 1970s.

However, the surrounding area has. Debenhams has moved to Churchill Square. The Gothic House (originally known as The Priory) just glimpsed in the James Gray image has been redeveloped, with flats above street level shops. The 2018 image shows the corner building which was originally part of the Western Pavilion now houses a hairdresser. On the opposite corner of Western Terrace a Taco Bell fast food restaurant is now a tenant of the Gothic House. (Photographer: Clare Rogers)
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1970s
2018

James Gray: A photograph taken in the early morning in the late 1970s. This shows the middle houses of Western Terrace, Nos 3 and 4, which were still in private ownership as dwellings until the First World War. jgc_29_016

2018: At the time of the original picture these houses belonged to Debenhams department store but they were carefully restored after Debenhams moved to Churchill Square and are now private homes again. The original front gardens have been reduced in size, so that each house now has a car parking space. (Photographer: Shan Lancaster)

1970s
2018

James Gray: A similar, but rather clearer view of Nos 3 & 4, Western Terrace to that on the previous page. jgc_29_019

2018: At the time of the original picture these houses belonged to Debenhams department store but they were carefully restored after Debenhams moved to Churchill Square and are now private homes again. (Photographer: Shan Lancaster)

1910
2019

James Gray: Western Terrace in 1910. At that period it was a peaceful backwater from the busy Western Road with its stately houses all still in private occupation. They were built about 1827-28 and were the work of the well-known architect Amon Henry Wilds who also erected for his own residence the small oriental building with the dome, which faces these houses. jgc_19_017

2019: Still identifiable and still a peaceful backwater. On the right of the modern image is Western Pavilion, the home built for himself by Amon Henry Wilds, paying homage to the Royal Pavilion in doing so. It is Grade II listed and remains in residential use. Wilds also lived at 6 Western Terrace which he had constructed during the time he was commissioned to build Sillwood House mansion on adjoining land. The development incorporated the mansion’s coach house, now known as 8a Western Terrace, from where the 2019 photograph was taken. (Photographer: Denise Taylor) 

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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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