Photographs - then and now
H. Candlin, greengrocer and fruiterer at the corner of Rock Place and St James's Street (this shop is listed in a street directory in 1927 - date of photo is unknown)
Image produced with permission from Brighton History Centre. Added at the Brighton History Centre on 01-06-04.
This is what 78, St. James' Street looks like today (23/03/05). Compare it with your photo of the shop taken early last century.
Photo by Phil Jeffrey
Comments about this page
This is the shop where my great grandmother Ellen Jeffrey (formerly Downing) lived and my great grandfather Alfred Jeffrey worked at the time of their marriage 28 February 1897. Alfred lived just down the road at 3 St James Street. If anyone has photographs or information that might be relevant – I would love to hear from them.
We were very interested to see this photograph. We are seeking pictures of the Grenville family business (butchers and milliners) at 27, 83 and 87 St. James Street between 1850-1900.
The photo had to be after 1939 as the trolly bus wires are shown. Trams only had a single wire
Spooky…looking up my name on Google and this picture came up, I knew I had some family in Brighton and this confirms it.
This is almost certainly a wartime picture; and not just because the sign on the side of the building says ARP (above the poster for Ovaltine). Is there a shelter in Rock Place? Colin Webb establishes the earliest date because of the trolley bus wires. By 1948 the premises were occupied by Merrington & James Ltd, a firm of builders. Howley’s cycle shop was still there, however. Interestingly, Forfars returned the building to its early use. In 1867 it was a bakery run by Mrs Louisa Ingledew. (Obviously a Kemp Town dynasty!)
My great grandfather owned two grocery stores in St James’s Street. ‘Blaker Stores’ number 24 was the main store, and was sold to Sainsburys in 1922. That store was on the corner of Dorset Gardens, the other one was 29 St James’s Street.
I lived next to Sainsburys over Clarks Bread Shop from 1947 till 1954. In 1952 two escapees from Borstal tried to break into Sainsburys through their roof (all the shops had flat roofs at the rear of the buildings). I rang the Police, yes we had a telephone in those days, and the youths were caught. Sainsburys gave me a cheque for Five Pounds. Black and white cheque that I had to sign on the back. Such a large amount of money.I had to go to the Court and these lads spat at me in the court. I was so frightened of them but they were sent back to Borstal. Spent the money on much needed clothes.
I lived in St James’s Street from when I was born in 1956 till I was 19 years old. We lived at 51 opposite this picture. My family had a greengrocers called ‘Croucher’. It later changed into a fish and chip shop, and today is a Chinese. Every day I walked to school up Rock Gardens to Queens Park School.
My Grandfather (Leonard Deadman) ran a men’s outfitters called “Rodmans Ltd” at 3 St James Street till it shut in the early 1960s. I believe he worked there from 1932 after he moved from Slough where he was manager of the Slough branch of Rodmans.
My g-g-grandfather, John Henley, was a tailor with a shop at 77 St James’s Street in the 1830s (and 1840s?). Presumably next door to or opposite the shop at No.78 in the photo. His father, William, was an upholsterer who may also have worked from the same shop. After John married in 1838 he moved to Vine Place (his father-in-law was William Vine, miller), but his mother Ann still lived above the shop. Would appreciate any further information, or old photos of this shop.
Colin Webb is right, the date cannot be earlier than 1939 as the double twin wires of trolleybus service 42 are shown. This also suggests an end date as the 42 service was abandoned when the trollybus routes were cut back to just the 26/26a/46/46a services on 24/3/1959 so this picture was probably not taken any later than 1959. The advert for Ovaltine headed ” ARP” (Air Raid Prevention?) suggests wartime, or just after.
This is a photo of my grandfather’s greengrocer’s shop in St James’ street. The family lived above the shop and then moved to Abbey Road, Kemp Town. I think the shop was there from about 1914 until the late 1930’s and was well-known for its specialty produce. My aunt Lillian sometimes worked in the shop as a young woman. My grandmother’s name was Mabel Lawrence and she came from Lewes.
My grandfather, George Candlin, was in the greengrocery trade in Greenwich in the late 1890s. In 1891 a relation, John Candlin, moved from London to Hove and traded as a shoemaker in George Street. I was curious to see a comment by a Patricia Candlin, which is my maiden name. Having lived in Brighton since 1950 I have realised my namesake lived in Brighton too. At one time we both used Batemans in East Street as our opticians. It would be interesting to know if we are related.
Hi, I am interested to know if any of the two Pat Candlin’s had any links with Shropshire (Myddle). A Richard left for London in the 18 century, I think he was a victualler. There was also families of the same name around Wellington and Oswestry. I am descendant from George Candlin b 1765, in Myddle. Kind regards.
Would anyone happen to know what Devonshire Mansions (block of flats corner St James St/Devonshire Place) used to be called when it was a hotel in late 1800s or early 1900s? I know there was a hotel called New Steine at some point, on the same road, opposite side. There was also a ladies tailors in the building on the ground level called S.D?itz (not sure of missing letter as I can t see on the old photo I have) Many thanks for any help or info/pictures anyone might have. Thank you.
Reply to David Candlin. No connection with my Candlin family as they were London and Brighton based. Good luck with your searching.
Further to Patricia Candlin (24/12/2007); Hopefully you still look at this site.
Through combined research with another family member, we think that we may be related, the link is Henry Candlin b1869 (your grandfather). If Henry’s father was John b1842 in Greenwich then that would confirm our belief.
Does anyone know about a family who lived at 5 St James’s Street by the name of Wilkinson with showbiz connections? In fact one of the daughters, who called herself Hedy or Heidi, lived there right up into the 1980s or early 1990s when I think she was knocked down by a car. I would like to try to get in touch with her son.
If any of these people ever come back to this page: To Stephen Henley; 77 St James’s Street is immediately to the left of the two photos shown above on the other side of Rock Grove which is the road between them. From very early in the 1900s it was Avery’s Photographers shop latterly run by my uncle Leslie Avery until he retired about 1984. It is now a Taiwanese restaurant. Somewhere I possibly have a photograph. My mother did her photography apprenticeship there with Leslie’s father in the 1920s. To the Candlins: In the 1950s & early 60s there was a Judith Candlin lived in Sussex Square. I believe she had a younger brother. My mother was in touch with their mother after we left Brighton and somewhere I might be able to find her address book if of interest or know someone who might from the old Sussex Square days. Tim (at) permanden .co.uk if anyone needs to get in touch. My wife’s Gt grandfather John Laing Humphries was born in Brighton and is shown in the 1881 census as having a drapers and tobacconists shop at No 41 St James’s Street which has been demolished so we haven’t been able to find any photographs of that either. TCS.
Julie, the hotel was called the Devonshire hotel, across the road was the New Steine hotel. If you visit the Brighton museum there is an old photo of the New Steine which shows both hotels in their original glory.
Message for Sue (above): my family lived at 5 1/2 (five and a half) St James Street from the late 1940s through to about 1964. This was my mother’s family (James and Eileen Botting). Their daughter Lorna is my mother. We have no recollection of a Wilkinson family but my mother’s memory is not now quite what it was.
When I started serious photography, I bought my very first SLR camera at Averys in St. James Street in 1969. It was a Practika Nova, not the best camera but my budget only went to that. I later I graduated to Pentax SP 1000s with M42 screw fittings. I still have five of my old Pentaxes sitting in front of me as I write this. Beautiful cameras that took every photo of my family and my kids and pets growing up. I was so enthralled by photography and still am, but I don’t use the darkroom anymore because I get raging backache leaning over the enlarger. I have a good digital camera and at the moment I am thinking of using my old film cameras again for mono only. I will develop the film myself and scan the negs though my negative scanner. I know that the purists among us will frown upon that, but think of my aching back…Mike Peirson.
Message for Patricia Candlin 24/12/2007. I am the other Patricia Candlin b1940 (now Hughes). I have just seen your comment of 3/7/2008 and apologise for delay in replying. I am looking into my research to check for connection. Could you let me know if you are still available on this site? Regards, Patricia Hughes
Message for Moira re Rodmans. The shop certainly did not close in the late 60s. I worked there in 1975/76. The manager then was a Mr Langley. Rodmans at this time had shops in Worthing, Littlehampton and I think Portsmouth.
My husband’s great great grandmother, born Martha Barrett, according to the Old Parish records was born at 11 James Street in 1813, and her father was a grocer. She migrated to NZ on the Randolph, one of the first four ships in 1850. I would be very interested in any information on 11 James Street then and now. Thank you.
Hi Chrisanthi. If you look here, you will see there is a page entitled ‘A Pictorial History of Number 11’. Regards, Andy
Message for Derek, re: Rodmans. I was certainly wrong about Rodmans shutting in the 1960s. Interesting that you remember the Manager, Mr Langley – I remember him too. My Grandfather and his wife lived above the shop till the early 60s, we used to enter the upstairs via the wooden stairs within the shop. I would be interested if you have any more info/memories regarding Rodmans?
Some of the messages above mention Lilian Candlin who was an accomplished writer on Brighton and Sussex local history matters. She wrote several articles for the long defunct Sussex County Magazine in the 1940s & 50s and published at least two books on Brighton’s traditions such as long-rope skipping and the ceremony of Blessing the Nets. I went to talks she gave, as an old lady, in the early 1980s[?] for B&H Archaeological Society and she was a great orator and communicator on all things historic Brighton. I do not know what her ‘trade’ was, but if she had been a teacher… she would have been one that you did not cheek or cross! Her books are gold-dust for anyone interested in Brighton’s past.
For all Candlins,
My Grandmothers’s Maiden name was Candlin and I have photos of my Great-Great-Grandfather Next to the Door.
Message for Moira,
When I worked there as a spotty 16yr old, I remember we had a monthly visit by a Mr White (Colin?) and I believe a Mr Patching (?) who were managers or directors I think. There was an Alf Ford, who sometimes came over, but think he was mainly based at Littlehampton.
It was a really old school shop, and in 76 and as a teenager it was almost like working in a museum, nothing had changed. The upstairs accommodation was the used for storing old shop display equipment and the little kitchen was where we made our cups of tea. This room had two or three steps that went up to a window that you could open and go out into the flat roof, I guess this was the only outdoor space for the flat.
The second floor, which must have been the bedrooms were really in poor state by this time, as was the attic which seemed to be shared by every pigeon in Brighton.
The basement cellar was a real creepy place, and if I recall correctly you could gain access right under the road.
It was a fun place to work until I moved on. Plus the added advantages of lots of young ladies working in the surrounding shops, hot sunny days.
Seems a long while ago now.
Lily Candlin, from the shop in St James Street was a friend of my Aunt Marion Newman who lived with her mother Harriet Newman over the shop, which was The Rock Dress Agency, 73 St. James Street, I was a little girl aged about 3 when I started living there too when my Mum Gladys, nee Newman was in and out of hospital a lot. I was born in >1932 btw. My paternal grandparents were licencees of the Meeting house Tavern in the lanes near Vokins.
My in laws lived in George Street, off St James Street.
My Grandfather Dr. Percy Rutherford Adkins, a Physician lived at 37, St. James’s Street, Brighton, with his wife Blanche Adkins (nee Hennis) circa early 1900’s. He passed away in 1917. Formally of 39, Upper Rock Gardens.
My ancestor had a drapers shop number 12 St James Street from 1861 until his death in 1877.
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