Taking a further look at the photo, I don't think they could have been laying tram lines. The gentleman in the snap would have been standing at the top of the road that ran from the Pepper Box down past the Xaverian College to East or West Drive, and Queens Park. Queens Park Road ran from the bottom left hand corner, passing to the left of the Pepper Box and the tall steeped roof church. Opposite the church to the left was the top of Islingword Road, and the corner building was eventually the Beaufort Public House.

This may have been taken when the houses at the top of the south-west side of Tower Road were being built (early 1920s?), or at least when the land opposite the Xavierian College was being cleared.

In the absence of any overhead wires, poles or a tram shelter, I cannot see this picture being later than 1901 - with the park opened in 1892, a short span to narrow down? The roadway does not lend itself (to me) to the idea that they are laying tracks either. Cannot zoom in on those people but styles of dress would maybe help those who know more. I would agree that the houses to south-west were not built at that time and I'm curious what was on that big sign board facing the other way, was it the builder's sign? When were these completed? This is photo number 19, but of whose series, of maybe a postcard publisher?

Hi, I have a good idea that these men are erecting the trolley bus cables, don't know the date but I used to catch the trolley bus just about that point in 1945. Perhaps this helps?

The house behind the Pepper Pot is fully constructed dating it post 1900. The house south appear not to be however. This suggests pre 1905. So it's between 1900 and 1905 for me!

Furthermore to my earlier comment of 29/07/2007, trying to pin point that photo date: the tram routes 'Q' & 'C' past the Pepper Pot in Queen's Park Road then along Egremont Place to terminate by St James's Street at Upper Rock Gardens, actually opened on Thursday February 6th 1902, so this helps define this photo to be post 1900 and pre 1902. Although with later variations to actual tram services after this split between Race Hill and Upper Rock Gardens, all tram routes were fully up and running properly by July 1904 when the system was complete with its 50 cars at that point in its history, including the unused short section laid to the Hove boundary at Goldsmid Road.