Buildings demolished in the mid 1960's

I took these photographs of buildings on King’s Road just to the west of the sea-front end of West Street as they were being demolished in the mid 1960’s to make way for the Top Rank Suite (now the Odeon Cinema).

Vibrant and fun
I wanted to make a record of an untidy, raucous, but vibrant and fun bit of the Brighton I knew. I think the names of the shops, cafes and bars say it all: Ye Olde Humbug Shoppe, the Pelican Bar, the Astoria Cafe, Kreemery Inn.

Once attractive Regency houses
As you can see some of them had once been attractive, delicate Regency houses, but others…well, you can see how the developers were able to claim that their ritzy new scheme would be far superior.  You may just be able to make out a Victorian or Edwardian advertisement painted on one of the upper walls for “Never-Synk Safety Bathing Costumes”.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.