Photographs 1924-2015

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Claim to fame

Hereford Street’s main claim to fame is that in 1894 it was the birthplace of a certain Thomas Henry Sargent. Of course he was to become known as Max Miller ‘The Cheeky Chappie’, who was widely regarded as the greatest stand-up comedian of his generation. At the time of his birth the area contained some of the worst slums; these were as bad as any to be found in London or the industrial north.

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Back to back houses

The photograph taken in 1924 was an early morning winter shot of this poor and depressing slum. It shows the houses on the north side of the street, looking towards Bedford Street. The protruding poles from the houses were used as clothes lines; the tiny backyards did not provide enough space. The photograph which shows the backs of the houses also shows the flint wall which separated the ‘back to back’ houses; there was a mere six foot between each house and the wall.

WWII bomb damage

On the left of the photograph dated 1927/28, some of the newly built council houses can be seen. Built very cheaply at a time of financial stringency in 1925/26, they were among the poorest houses ever built for Brighton Corporation. Many were destroyed by bombs in WWII and subsequently demolished. Replacement Council houses were built c1952 and Hereford Court flats built on the site of Willett’s malthouse.