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
In this early view of the Grand Hotel site, you can still see the West Battery that stood on Brighton’s seafront. These guns were never used for fighting. They were occasionally fired to salute royalty, making nearby windows shatter.  The crescent of houses behind the Battery was called Artillery Place. The Battery was removed in 1858, the houses were sold, and the Grand Hotel was built in 1864.

20th century view
The layout of this photo is strikingly similar to the entrance to the Grand Hotel today.  There are changes, of course. In the background, the West Pier is still standing. The ornate lamp posts have been replaced. But it is already difficult to find a place to park on Brighton seafront!

21st century view
This shot shows the entrance to the Grand Hotel on Brighton seafront. This hotel was bombed by the IRA in an attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher.

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

  • Does anyone know who owned the hotel in the 20s and 30s ?

    By Lucy (20/09/2021)
  • Brighton Guardian – Wednesday 11 March 1868
    THE COST OF A NIGHT’S FROLIC,
    ————
    At the Borough Police Court, on Friday, William Watson Forbes, fashionably dressed, and who, it appeared, was a visitor to Brighton, staying at the Grand Hotel, was placed in the prisoner’s dock charged with wrenching off knockers and destroying bell-pulls.
    Mr. White (Chief Constable) said that the prisoner and his companions commenced their operations in North-street, and proceeded thence to Duke-street, West-street, Cranbourne-street, Grenville-place, Russell-square, Cannon-place, and the King’s-road. He had already had about 16 cases reported, and parties kept coming in to complain of some damage they had sustained during last night.
    Prisoner said that he was intoxicated, and that he did not recollect anything about it. It was his friend who did the damage and he looked on.
    Mr Bigge (Magistrate) said that if the damage exceeded £5 the case must be sent for trial for wilful damage, and prisoner would be liable to five years penal servitude.
    Prisoner said that he had been to the Theatre, and that he was certain that he did not wrench off more than one knocker.
    Miss McGuire, of 29, Cannon place, being the first witness called, stated that during last night the door of her house had its knocker broken off, a portion of the door going with it.
    Ebenezer Sharp, a bootmaker, of Cranborne street, said that his mother lived at 13, Duke-street, and that during last night the knocker had been wrenched off the door, doing damage to the extent of about 5s.
    Mr Bigge: You have rendered yourself liable to be sent to prison for two months in each case, without the option of a fine. If the damage in one had amounted to £5 you would have been sent for trial at the Sessions.
    Prisoner: I was very drunk.
    Mr Bigge: So much the worse; especially from one who would be regarded as a gentleman. I thought that such disgraceful proceedings as these had exploded some years ago, with cock-fighting and bull-baiting. We are determined to put a stop to it here: You will be fined £5 7s in the first case; £5 5s in the second, and £5 10s in the third, or, in default, two months imprisonment in each case, and pay £5 to defray the damage in the other cases.
    The money, amounting to £21 2s, exclusive of the costs, was paid.
    ———————————————-

    By Lawrence Flowers (15/02/2024)

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