Photos and articles about Brighton and Hove in the time of coronavirus. See our collection and add your own!

Then and now photos

19th century view
What a difference! These old cottages were demolished in 1875, to make room for an extension to Middle Street school.  You can just make out the building at the end of the street. It was a large private house, later taken over by the Hippodrome, and still standing today.

20th century view
Jellied eels, oysters, and fish are on sale instead of Thai food. The white building at the end of the street is now part of the old Hippodrome.  The building on the left was part of Middle Street school. The building has been demolished, and the school’s playground is now on the site. The driveway entrance still exists.

21st century view
This shot shows Boyces Street in The Lanes, which runs between West Street and Middle Street.  As you travel back in time, keep an eye on the white building at the end of the street. Also, compare the Thai restaurant in today’s street with the eating establishments of earlier times.

19th century view
Image reproduced with permission from Brighton History Centre
20th century view
From the private collection of Bert Clayton
21st century view
Photograph by Tricia Leonard

Comments about this page

  • The old Middle Street Primary School was a robust Victorian red brick pile. The arched entrance gate on the left with the child barrier in front was never opened – we went in and out through a gate further down on the left, next to the tree. The tall gabled hall was used for morning assembly and Friday afternoon ‘Country Dancing’ which all the boys hated as it was too embarrassing to dance with little girls!

    By Adrian Baron (24/01/2007)
  • I read with interest the article by Adrian Baron, unfortunately the school was opened in 1805, 30 years before Victoria. It was a date that none of us forgot owing to the Battle Of Trafalgar. I was one of the boys who hated Country Dancing on a Friday, so much so that George Eacott and myself got ourselves made ink and stationary monitors to avoid it.

    By Bob Wells (01/06/2007)
  • Thanks Bob. What I meant was that the extension (seen in the 20th Century photograph) that replaced the two old flint cottages (in the 19th Century photograph) was Victorian – yes, the school was founded well before Victoria came to the throne. I like the way you subverted the system to avoid Country Dancing – wish I had thought of that.

    By Adrian Baron (22/08/2007)
  • I used to go to this school. I can still remember the smell of it and the stone steps leading up to the next floor and also a vague memory of the canteen, where dinner was served.

    By Caroline (27/01/2008)
  • Great little school – I went there from 1950 to 1951 and was Head Girl- Terry Clarke was Head Boy. Mr.H.H.Parnell was the headmaster. The delighful Mr Law was my Form teacher in my last year, Mr Stopbridge before that. Some of the pupils were: ?? Waterhouse – Roy Glover (whose Mother owned the Corner shop on the corner of Russell and Upper Russell Streets), Sheila Andrews- Kathleen?? – Judy Donaghue – Pamela Johnson, Margaret Summers, Inge and Ruth Rosenbeg, Ann Ruishworth. Anybody remember?

    By Elizabeth (Bertha) Byrne (25/04/2010)
  • Just about where the 21st Century picture was taken, there was a Men’s Hairdresser name of Myers. I used to go there in the 1950s to try and get a Tony Curtis type DA (duck’s ass) or a Jeff Chandler hairstyle. There were three stylists in those days: Old man Harry Myers and his son, with Bennie an assistant. The Myers were quite garralous and I remember the old man quipping that he was Mexican (he did indeed resemble the archetypal Mexican cowboy character from current Westerns (they were in fact all Jewish). The young Myers (forename escapes me) moved to premises in Temple Street and thence to a tiny salon top of Hogarth Road in Hove, together with the old faithful Bennie. Last I saw of younger Myers was in a flat in Shoreham early ’90s where I persuaded him to give me a haircut for £4! Wonder if he’s still wheeling and dealing?

    By Brian Hatley (16/07/2011)
  • I attended Middle Street school from 1946 to 1951 and I too was in Mr Law’s class. I have good memories of him. I vaguely remember you Bertha and also the classmates that you have mentioned. Some additional ones are Jacqueline Stevens, Kathleen Corrigan, Alan Sugarman, Tony Fisher, Ken Poundsberry and Peter Shiner from Bardsley’s fish and chip shop. Teachers were Mr.Stockbridge, Mrs.Cameron, Mr.Manton. I have recently had access to the school admission registers and have copied a full list of fellow pupils if anyone is interested in that time. After leaving Middle St. I went with Terry Clark to Brighton Hove & Sussex Grammar School and Judith Donoghue and Robert Courtis went to Varndean. 

    By Peter Guy (26/07/2011)
  • I went to Middle St 1963 to 1969, I can remember Miss Tugwell as Headmistress then, Mr Wright who introduced apples for 1d during playtime . I remember being an Apple monitor (dizzy heights) and being Captain of Wisden (red) other houses were Saxby, Goff and Mallory.
    Names of kids I remember:
    Boys: Gary Trew, Anthony Lais, Jason Spicer, Paul Vaughn, Gerald Clay, Colin Case, Sean Everson, Karl Ackvernick (?) Andrew McCloud (emigrated to Australia) Chris & Steven Cohen,
    Girls, Linda Bush, Jackie Carey, Gay Turner, Siobhan Jackson (?). Janice Barlow, Glennis Steer, Mandy Cohen,
    Teachers: Mr Harris, Miss Cameron, Miss Stanger, Miss Wenchil, Miss Revel, Mrs Bishop dinner Lady, Mr Law (Music).

    By Derek Mann (16/01/2021)

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