James Gray: These were built in the late 1940s as a temporary extension of the pre-war Whitehawk Council Estate. They were designed to have a life of about 10 years, and soon after that period had elapsed, their removal commenced. This photograph is taken of Wilson Avenue just below the junction with Piltdown Road. Date of photograph – 20 July 1958. jgc_23_121
2019: Gray’s image is very redolent of postwar austerity. All the ‘prefabs’ have gone. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: The disused allotment grounds between Roedean Road and Henley Road. On the Henley Road frontage has since been built the Roman Catholic Church, St Louis, King of France. Date of photograph – 7 October 1962. jgc_23_123
James Gray: On the left the John Howard Home for Nurses and in the distance the Bristol Gate flats. jgc_23_124
2018: The 1962 photograph shows the John Howard Alms Houses (for former nurses) behind some disused allotment land. That tussocky patch of land is now the site of a substantial residential development that obscures the houses from view, although the Bristol Gate flats are still just visible in the distance. The John Howard Cottages, as they are now known, were refurbished in 1994 and are beautifully preserved. (Photographer: David Jackson)