Windsor Street

James Gray: Twenty-four years separate these two contrasting photographs of Windsor Street. That above taken in 1937 shows the cottages 14 & 15 almost hidden from view behind the towering rear wall of the Regent Cinema. They were older than the rest of the houses in this street, and at one time faced into the Unicorn Yard. jgc_25_001

2018: You can still see the six storeys of stairs and railings in the 1960s photo (jgc_25_002), and the 2018 photo, but now half hidden by a new block of flats, where the back of the Regent Cinema would have been. (Photographer: Nick Pannett)

James Gray: This photograph dating from 1961 shows the garages on the cottages site, but the present spoilation of this central town street had not yet begun. jgc_25_002

2018: See jgc_25_001 above. (Photographer: Nick Pannett)

James Gray: A photograph of June 1963, showing old houses between Windsor Street and Queen’s Road. On the right, the backs of two houses at the top of Church Street, south side. I do not know the original purpose of these buildings or why they were built. They may possibly have been stables at one time, but this seems unlikely. Certainly they were not part of the Unicorn Yard, which was much nearer to North Street. jgc_25_003

2018: The most prominent building in this yard has since been demolished – the 2-storey premises with all the first floor windows open. Now we can only see its back wall, which the two parked cars are facing. Another feature visible in both old and new photos is the flattened chimney stack, just under the words ‘Church St’. (Photographer: Google Earth)

James Gray: [See caption for jgc_31_215 above.]  jgc_31_216

2020: The properties on the left nearest the camera have been rebuilt, but the gap can still be seen which originally gave access to parking. Further building from Queen’s Road has taken place since 1962. The houses in the distance are on the north side of Church Street, next to the former Drill Hall for the Royal Sussex Regiment, which is now a Grade II listed building. (Photographer: Alan Hobden)

James Gray: Three comparatively recent photographs [jgc_21_053, 054 and 055] of buildings at the top of this busy street but which nevertheless show significant changes from the present time. The alternative entrance to the Regent Cinema in January 1966. This was the cheap entrance giving admission to the 1/- and 1/6d seats (original prices). In my youth I spent many weary hours queuing here in the hope of getting in before the final programme started! jgc_21_054

James Gray: Three comparatively recent photographs [jgc_21_053, 054 and 055] of buildings at the top of this busy street but which nevertheless show significant changes from the present time. This 1958 photograph, the oldest of the three, shows the same cinema entrance, with the Dance Studios on the floor above. In the tall building beyond were for many years the Argus offices. All buildings seen, demolished in 1977.  jgc_21_055

James Gray: This photograph shows the rebuilt inn during the period 1900/1910. In contrast to the old inn, which is replaced, this had a very short life. In 1916 Provincial Cinematograph Theatres acquired the site from Smithers Brewery, and in 1920, the inn, the stabling, the houses in Windsor Street and several in Queen’s Road were removed to make way for the Regent Cinema. Thus, another of Brighton’s old inns passed into history. jgc_21_059