Hove in the Past: George Street, Hove

Judy Middleton 2013 (revised 2024)

copyright © J.Middleton
The east side of George Street was photographed on 18 March 2009. The tree was removed in October 2012.

Previous Land Use

The 1839 Tithe Map shows that the land on which George Street and Ventnor Villas were later built, was part of a garden area of thirteen acres belonging to James Hinxman. By 1851 James Bartlett, a 71-year old market gardener, worked the George Street area as Bartlett’s Gardens assisted by two labourers. He lived in a small farmhouse with his wife, daughter, grandson and two servants. The farmhouse was situated on what became the west side of the street on a site later occupied by the Royal George pub.

The Development of Cliftonville

After the construction of Brunswick Town, the second large development at Hove was Cliftonville. Lower Cliftonville consisted of Osborne Villas, Medina Villas, Albany Villas, Hove Place and St Catherine’s Terrace. Upper Cliftonville comprised Hova Villas, Ventnor Villas, Blatchington Road and George Street. Church Road separated the two areas but at that date was called Church Street, while Blatchington Road was known as North Place at first. Note the use of place names associated with the Isle of Wight. This was the height of fashion since Prince Albert and Queen Victoria had created their holiday refuge at Osborne House in the Isle of Wight.

George Gallard, William Kirkpatrick, George Hall and Richard Webb Mighell owned much of the land in upper Cliftonville. In May 1852 they split up and Hall sold eighteen acres north of Church Road to the other three. Their holdings were augmented in June 1852 when Philip Salomons sold fourteen acres to Gallard and Kirkpatrick who developed the land into Upper Cliftonville.

George Street Emerges

copyright © J.Middleton
This interesting old postcard shows George Street in more tranquil times. On the left the gables and tall chimneys

belong to the George Street Schools (later renamed St Andrew’s Church of England School) and then there is
the Royal George pub with an advertisement for Ales and Stout painted on its south wall. Nearby there seems to
be a line of washing strung across the street. Note too the horse drawn vehicle making its leisurely way up the
middle of the road.

It seems probable that F.D. Banister designed George Street because he drew a plan of upper Cliftonville but it did not include any houses on the west side of George Street. Eventually, most of the west side of George Street was completed to match the east side of two-storey terraced housing.

Frederick Dale Banister (1823-1897) became the chief engineer of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Together with J. Hawkshaw, he designed the London Bridge Station serving this line and in 1882-1883 Banister was responsible for extending the eleven platforms at Brighton Station and other improvements including the famous concourse clock.

George Street had the smallest plots in the whole of the Cliftonville development, averaging twenty feet by sixty feet. But it was obviously meant for a different section of the population from the genteel occupants of other houses and villas in Cliftonville. In fact George Street was designed for artisan dwellings and indeed the east side of it was the first to be built in the upper Cliftonville development. George Street was nicknamed The Barracks and there was a wall closing off the north end that extended all the way to The Drove (as Sackville Road was called then).

In the 1854 Directory seventeen houses were listed and others were noted as in the process of being built. Robert Spears, beer retailer, was at number 75 and A.J. Jarman, blacksmith and wheelwright, was at number 76 and there were two bakers in the street. In 1871 Jarman submitted plans for the erection of stables and sheds and this was approved. The George Street Schools were established in 1858 (extended in the 1870s and 1894, and renamed St Andrew’s Church of England School in 1961). Hove Fire Station was established on the west side at number 85 in 1879.

The 1861 census reveals that there were many men connected with the brick-making or building industry living in George Street. For example, there were brick-makers at numbers 2, 8, 22, 25, 30, 39, 43, 67, 73, 80 and 85 and sometimes there were two or three of them living at the same address. There were brick-maker’s labourers living at numbers 3, 18, 21 and 44 and brick-layers living at numbers 15, 39, 50, 55 and 69. There were brick-layer’s labourers living at numbers at 3, 17, 24, 33, 34, 35, 37, 51, 55, 73, 82 and 85.

The houses were very crowded considering they were only the classic two-up and two-down. Eleven people were listed at number 17 and no less than seventeen souls at number 18. Three policemen also lived in the street. At number 26 there were two constables, one with his family, plus a carpenter and plasterer as lodgers. The third policeman lived at number 55 along with a brick-layer and a brick-maker’s labourer. (For a full list of occupations of George Street residents in 1861, please see the list at the end of this article).

It is interesting to note that two Chelsea pensioners lived in George Street in 1861. This does not mean that they went about clad in a scarlet greatcoat with a black cocked hat. It simply meant they were Army veterans and at that date their pensions were still paid through the Chelsea Hospital.

In August 1871 the drain was blocked from the top to the bottom of George Street. The chief culprit was rubbish emanating from Mr Feist’s marble works at 86A Blatchington Road.

In October 1872 the Surveyor reported there were ninety-eight houses in George Street but only seven of them had water laid on to their lavatories. This was to be an on-going problem for the Sanitary Department who carried out regular inspections to ensure flushing was adequate. From 1881 to 1890 there were twenty-four separate complaints about no water being laid on to the privies.

By February 1878 George Street contained no less than 632 inhabitants. In 1880 there were around a dozen shops in George Street and in 1881 a petition bearing 56 signatures was sent to Hove Commissioners requesting the name be changed to Commercial Road or some other appropriate term. The request was turned down.

By 1897 the change from domestic dwellings to commercial use had accelerated and most of the street was devoted to small shops and businesses. But a few private dwellings remained; for instance in 1912 two cottages were converted into shops. The last cottage in George Street to be converted was number 19, which became De Marco’s Ice Cream Parlour.

Snow in April

copyright © J.Middleton
A view looking south of an almost deserted George Street recorded by Mr Miles on 5 April 1911 after a fall of snow

On 5 April 1911 there was an unseasonable fall of snow. It certainly caused Mr Wiles, the well-known local photographer, to go and about with his camera. He had already been busy recording a snow scene in Hove Park Villas on 26 March 1911. The April snowstorm was reported to have left snow 6 inches deep. The weather was inconvenient for many people but it proved to be a bonus for unemployed men. Hove Council was obliged to hire some 360 of them to clear the streets.

The Trolley Bus Experimen

copyright © R. Jeeves (of Step Back in Time)
It is amazing to think this photograph is over 100 years old because it is so clear. It dates from 1914 and the poles and wires for the trolley bus experiment are visible. Note Hove Fire Station on the left.

In November 1892 a petition signed by sixty-five inhabitants was despatched to the authorities to protest against the decision to re-route an omnibus from Ventnor Villas to George Street. They claimed the street was far too narrow for buses and that four times a day ‘600 children are scattered about the street, and the increased traffic increases the possibility of accidents.’ The petition was turned down but at length common sense prevailed and the bus route reverted to Ventnor Villas.

But this did not prevent the famous trolley-bus trials from being held in George Street in 1914 with the erection of the appropriate poles and wires. The chosen vehicle was a 32-seater double-decker trolley bus with a Dodson body painted blue and cream. The top deck was open to the elements and was reached by a curved staircase. ‘Hove Corporation’ was painted along the side of the body while the top deck carried the message ‘Cedes Gearless Trackless Trolley System’. The vehicle possessed twin Johnson & Phillips 20 horsepower engines. The driver wore a dark jacket and a straw boater.

The first bus ran on 16 September 1914 and operated from 10.30 a.m. to noon. The turning circle was outside Hove Station and the route went south down Goldstone Villas, across Blatchington Road and down George Street to Church Road where there was another turning circle at the junction with St Aubyns. According to the Sussex Daily News ‘as soon as the vehicle was observed careering down George Street considerable crowds of people assembled to watch the proceedings.’ Unfortunately, ordinary folk did not have the chance to take a ride on the new-fangled machine because although the trolley bus was in action again on 18 September, seats were reserved for Brighton councillors.

The experiment was not judged to be a success, either because of the noise or because of the ominous German-sounding name of Cedes-Stoll, Hove councillors decided to have nothing further to do with trolley buses. When the vehicle stopped, there was a loud hissing noise, which was likely to alarm any horses in the vicinity. There were also some comments in the local Press about the iniquity of supporting a German company when there was a war on. Mr K. Bowen, Managing Director of Cedes Electric Traction Company, rushed to the defence, stating that every part of the vehicle was constructed in England and there were no foreign shareholders; the company’s solicitor also got in touch with the editor of the Brighton Herald. But it was all to no avail and the company was heavily hit by the cancellation of contracts by other towns too. The rejected Hove Cedes-Stoll double-decker trolley bus (the only one in the entire country) eventually found a home at Keighley where it was numbered nine in their fleet.

It is interesting to note that in the 1960s when a new surface was being laid in George Street, workers removed a brass plate set in the pavement by the Thomas Tilling Company inscribed ‘Omnibuses stop here’.

Memories and Later Times

copyright © J.Middleton
This Maypole threshold mosaic belongs to number 71 Lewes Road, Brighton and is still to be seen today.
Perhaps the Maypole Dairy Company’s shop in George Street had one too

John Bryon, who was born at Hove in 1925, remembered the aroma of Wilsher’s, the grocer at the top of George Street; it was composed of dried fruit, tea, salty bacon and cheese. The customers purchased staples such as sugar and rice loose and the shopkeeper poured them into paper cones. Halfway down the street on the left side was Maypole’s Dairy at number 54 that sold dairy products and bacon and ham. You could watch the assistants making butter into pats with wooden implements.

There is a photograph taken during the Second World War that shows an utterly deserted George Street; the chief reason being that an air raid alert had just sounded. But there was also a bye-law prohibiting the parking of cars. Thus the notion that the battle between the powers-that-be and car drivers is a recent problem is not correct.

copyright © N.Shaw
A bleak image of George Street photographed in 1942 during an air raid alert. Note the sandbagged sentry post on the corner

Another continuing concern is the changing character of George Street but this is nothing new either. First there were modest cottages, then a variety of small shops but from the 1980s at least some big name chain stores moved in, followed shortly by a rash of charity shops. In November some small traders said they were being squeezed out by a combination of rising rents and the advent of some large stores. They stated that ten years previously the average annual rent was £1,750 but in 1980 it was £3,000 while by 1982 it had soared to £15,000. At the same time freeholds that would have cost £40,000 four years ago were fetching around £150,000 in 1982.

By 1993 there were eleven charity shops in Blatchington Road and George Street; and included in the latter were Oxfam, PDSA, Save the Children, Scope and Imperial Cancer Research. Christopher Broadley stated charity shops received an 85% rebate on rates.

There was also the problem of empty shops; in 1993 there thirteen but the situation gradually improved until by 1997 there were only two or three.

Street Improvements

One of the first attempts to improve the street occurred in 1873 when a few yards were paved experimentally with blue bricks. It could not have been a success because no more was heard about it.

In May 1903 the Borough Surveyor stated George Street needed to be paved with wood blocks. At the time the road was macadamised with Guernsey granite and during the previous three years the average cost of maintenance was put at £48-7-8d. The expense of laying creosoted deal blocks was estimated at £2,070 and this included the cost of excavations and concrete foundation. The length of the road was stated to be 1,050 feet with the width between the kerbs measuring around twenty-five feet. The longitude gradient was 1 in 88. This outlay was agreed upon and by 1909 new slab paving had also been laid at a cost of around £200.

In 1960 a grand George Street Improvement Scheme was launched and 80% of traders were said to be in favour of it. Mr John Wells-Thorpe of Gotch & Partners, 26 Regency Square, acted as co-ordinating architect. Later in the same decade Mr Wells-Thorpe would design the new Hove Town Hall after a disastrous fire destroyed most of the old Waterhouse building in 1966.

George Street was given a tidier appearance with the removal of unnecessary street furniture such as old posts and the old lighting. New lighting was installed using mercury vapour discharge lamps. The Civic Trust organised the improvements and it was its first project on the south coast and only the third in the entire country.

On 16 July 1962 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially inaugurated the new-look George Street. Six year-old Julie Reynolds presented the Queen with a pair of golden scissors on a velvet cushion. Julie was the daughter of Bill Reynolds, Secretary of the George Street Traders’ Association. The original plan was for Julie’s older sister Patricia to make the presentation but she was ill with measles. The day before the Queen’s visit, Julie got up early while her parents were still asleep and chopped off her long hair. Fortunately, her father was a barber; he gave her a neat haircut and nobody was any the wiser.

It is interesting to note that Mr Wells-Thorpe thought George Street ought to be limited to pedestrians even in those days and the Duke of Edinburgh agreed with him. The Duke of Edinburgh also wanted to know how many tons of paint had been used in the renovation (the answer was six).

Alan Gibson, of the well-known fishmonger’s Gibson & Coe, put a sturgeon in the window of his shop in George Street. As it was designated a royal fish and it was caught in British waters, he was obliged to offer the sturgeon to the Queen. She accepted the gift and Mr Gibson arranged for it to be despatched to Buckingham Palace by van.

A vast crowd followed the royal couple down George Street, held back by policemen resplendent in white gloves donned especially for the occasion. By the time the Queen reached the junction with Church Road, the crowd was so dense that the royal car was temporarily lost in its midst, which meant the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were a little late in arriving at their next destination, which was a mammoth youth rally at the Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium.

In the early 1970s a service road was provided behind the west side of George Street. Previously, the churchyard of St Andrew’s Old Church had reached as far as the walls but now much of the north part was re-claimed to provide a new school and playing field.

The next renovation took place in the autumn of 1986 in a scheme that cost £100,000. Haynes Construction, a firm from Tunbridge Wells, reconstructed the carriage way and pavement with block paving. The bricks were coloured biscuit-yellow for the pavements, reddish-pink for the roadway where parking was permitted and bluish-black for the central carriageway. It looked very attractive initially but over time the colours faded and older people grumbled they found it impossible to distinguish the edge of the kerb.

The improvements also sparked rumours that this was the thin edge of the wedge as regards pedestrianisation. In July 1999 it was stated if councillors do choose this option, then George Street would have a £325,000 facelift and work could start in February 2000 and finish by July of the same year. Contrary to the opinion of many people, the money was not going to come from council coffers but from the Government as part of an initiative to support pedestrian areas. The road surface and the pavement would have to be made at the same level and more seats would be installed and trees planted.

In fact the first phase at the south end did not start until January 2001, by which time the approximate cost had risen to £432,000. This was because engineers had carried out tests on the road surface and discovered some soft spots while the design proved to be more expensive than expected.

On 30 June 2001 ex-boxer Chris Eubank formally declared George Street open. It was a day of brilliant sunshine and crowds of people visited the street, which was festooned with bunting and there were balloons outside many of the shops. Early that morning, a man was observed blowing up numerous balloons underneath a huge net.

In August 2001 the cost had apparently risen to £450,000 and some reservations were expressed about the final result. There were grumbles about the street furniture, principally the bollards that were so slender that short-sighted people bumped into them and the council agreed to replace them with bulkier versions. Then there were the metal seats, which while pleasant to the eye, were narrow and uncomfortable. Apparently, the design was chosen especially to deter people from lying down on them at full length. There were also question as to the whereabouts of the promised trees but the council said it was the wrong time of year. By November 2001 no trees had been planted.

The Pedestrianisation Saga

In February 1983 a Feasibility Report suggested George Street should become a pedestrian precinct on Saturdays. No doubt the authors relied on a report from 1978 that stated 78% of shoppers in central Hove travelled on foot or by bus or bicycle. But a survey carried out in 1982 by the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce found only nine out of the eighty-six traders in George Street were in favour of restricting the street to pedestrians.

On 30 June 1983 Hove councillors voted by twenty-one to six in favour of closing the street to traffic on Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. for a trial six-month period. Meanwhile, angry traders staged a protest outside Hove Town Hall and Councillor Ian Moy-Loader accused the council of ‘indecent haste’.

However, because of the furore the experiment did not start until January 1984. In April of the same year a survey commissioned by the council claimed 84% of nearly 600 shoppers approved of the car ban. But the experiment proved to be a failure with some traders saying their business turnover had plummeted by 50%.

The idea was laid aside only to resurface in 1992 when the Liberal Democrats led by Councillor Bob Bailey took up the cause. But Hove councillors were not interested and again the project was shelved.

Then in March 1996 it was announced that Hove Council was to produce proposals for making George Street a pedestrian area after all although there were still differences of opinion. For example, Boots the Chemist carried out their own survey and claimed almost half of their customers arrived by car whereas a survey commissioned by the council stated that 14,436 people arrived on foot between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. suggesting that 90% were pedestrians. Alan Gibson, Chairman of the Hove Business Association and a trader in the street for thirty-five years, said 48% of his customers arrived by car.

The plans went on display at Hove Town Hall from 28 March 1996. This time the scheme was more ambitious and not confined to Saturdays. George Street was to be closed to vehicles between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. One has the impression that planners would have preferred a blanket ban but this was impossible because deliveries still had to be made.

In June 1996 some 2,000 people signed a petition in protest at the plans and the shopkeepers sent a letter and a petition to Prime Minister John Major at 10 Downing Street.

The final decision was supposed to be taken at a full council meeting on 1 August 1996. But on 19 September 1996 the Highway Management Sub-committee in Lewes threw a spanner in the works by imposing a condition that Hove Council must provide an access route to the car park in Malvern Street before any other work went ahead. Ivor Caplin, Leader of Hove Council, said ‘this is an outrageous and undemocratic ruling’. But George Street traders, who were staging a demonstration outside Pelham House in Lewes, were delighted. Nothing further was done because a re-organisation of local government in 1997 meant that East Sussex County Council no longer had a say in such affairs, which became the prerogative of the newly formed Brighton & Hove Council.

In November 1997 the Labour Party became active in the cause and organised a petition that was signed by 500 people calling for a ban on cars in George Street during certain hours. Consultants Oscar Faber and Llewelyn-Davies spent months assessing the views of the public and traders, and in December 1997 came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to ban traffic either between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. but there should be parking spaces for disabled drivers at both ends of the street and deliveries would have to be made outside these hours.

In January 1998 there was a two-hour council debate and then the Highways Committee decided to opt for an eighteen-month experimental closure to cars from Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Conservatives voted against the move while traders demonstrated outside with placards and presented a petition against the scheme bearing 4,500 signatures.

The trial scheme began on 19 March 1998 and at 11 a.m. there was one car in George Street, two policemen, three tractors and two lorries as huge shrub containers were moved into position. Removable bollards closed off the north end and a one-man band was in evidence. Ivor Caplin M.P. said ‘This is historic for George Street and represents the start of a new era for the town centre.’ But there was a great reduction in the number of shoppers. By July 1998 council chiefs were claiming the scheme was a success while traders thought the whole thing was a disaster.

A Public Inquiry into the matter began on 11 May 1999 at Hove Town Hall and lasted four days. Shopkeepers claimed a downturn in trade, in some cases as much as 13%. But Ivor Caplin reminded them how it used to be with cars parked on either side and a line of static traffic cluttering the centre of the street while the whole area was choked with pollution and traffic fumes.

Government Inspector James Coyne produced his report in July 1999 with the conclusion that he thought the scheme ought to be made permanent. But he recommended a joint working group between the council and traders and he also thought action should be taken to stop skateboarders and cyclists from being a nuisance. The report ran to thirty-one pages with a parting shot from the Inspector that when cars were allowed into the street, the environment became ‘quite appalling’.

The subject was not dropped, however, and in April 2000 it was reported some traders had lodged a private complaint of mal-administration with the Local Government Ombudsman over the way the council had handled the issue. Unhappily for the traders, the Ombudsman did not find in their favour and Councillor Simon Battle said protesters had wasted thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money by forcing a re-investigation into matters that had already been properly dealt with.

Looking back from 2013, the row seems to be from a different age, so used have we become to the ‘new’ George Street. One major difference now is the proliferation of chairs and tables set up outside the premises of pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries, which could never have happened under the old order.

Recent miscellaneous news

On 23 August 1995 a car driven by a 77-year old woman, reversed into a stationary Peugeot, shot forward, smashed into five more cars and ended up in the window of card shop called Tru Love. The car crushed a baby buggy containing 22-month old Matthew but fortunately the baby was lifted clear with only cuts and bruises.

In the 1990s a series of French Markets were held on outside stalls in George Street. For instance, the Dieppe Market was held on 9 June 1996 and the street was closed to traffic. There was a French Market in the street on 19 September 1998 and it was reported that up to 20,000 people attended. But George Street traders grumbled it did not bring much trade their way with the exception of the cafés. The local traders were even angrier after the Dieppe Market held on 25 September 1999 because the street resembled a tip with discarded boxes, crates, cardboard, paper and rotting food. The traders also felt it was unfair competition when people from across the English Channel did not have to pay the rates and taxes they were subject to. There was another French market on 30 August 2003. But the idea of temporary market stalls seem to have caught on although nowadays it is more likely to be local farms and businesses selling their produce on a Saturday.

copyright © J.Middleton
Another view of the French Market in George Street taken on 30 August 2003. The different coloured rose buds on sale were scented and made of wood.

George Street traders held their first ever pancake race on Shrove Tuesday, 16 February 1999. A team from Byden’s DIY won the race while the second place went to a team from the Council Environmental Services. Broadcaster Derek Jameson was involved in the pancake race held on Shrove Tuesday 7 March 2000. Mr Jameson started three heats and the final. W.H. Smith provided the winning team.

A Storm to Remember 28 July 2014

From around 6 a.m. a ferocious storm descended on the south coast. There was thunder, lightning, hailstones the size of small coins and the torrential downpour was the equivalent of three weeks’ worth of rain in one hour. Not surprisingly, the storm caused damage to some businesses and private properties. Although many people blamed the council for blocked drains, no drainage system could have coped with the sheer volume of water.

In George Street staff members at Boots (numbers 59/61) were to be seen in the morning sweeping the water out of the store and into the street with large floor mops. The store was closed until the damage was cleared up.

On the opposite side of the road at number 42, the Chestnut Tree Shop was badly affected. It is a charity shop that raises funds for a children’s hospice located near Arundel. When the shop manager Jade Hoskins arrived for work, she could not believe how much damage had been done. The rain had cascaded through a flat roof at the back and ruined much of their donated stock. By 2nd August there was still a notice on the door stating that the shop was closed until further notice. In fact the shop did not re-open until the second week of September 2014.

Mural

The creation of a giant mural in the alleyway next to the Cliftonville Inn began at the end of September 2014 and was completed by the end of October. It was a fascinating project for passers-by because it grew piece by piece. Unfortunately, work started just as a dry spell came to an end and of course paint could not be applied when it rained.

The people behind the mural were arts company Brighton Think Big. Graffiti artist Req and his team were photographed in front of their finished artwork and it was printed in the Argus (1 November 2014). The Argus stated they had completed ‘a month of hard spraying and rolling’.

Passers-by were alerted to something happening when a giant wall was sprayed with white paint and a small notice attached to the Bon Marché frontage informed the public of the project. The first finished object was the pink car at the east end; then there was bunting and a few iconic beach huts; the famous portrayal of Pinkie by Richard Attenborough, followed later by the words Brighton Rock. Old postcards had been used for inspiration and the white van travelling north up George Street can be seen in this blog. The bathing belle holding aloft a lifebelt was a popular postcard of its time and no doubt considered risqué. The image of a woman and child standing in a doorway refers to the time when George Street was mostly residential and this was the last domestic dwelling in the street.

Then there was a nod to the Tithe Map and a sailing vessel, which could be the Royal Escape, and a lovely depiction of a black Labrador enjoying Hove Lawns. The image of three swimsuit beauties, with extremely long legs, comes from the Fifties. The last piece to be finished was a salute to a saucy postcard at the west end of the mural.

These two photographs were taken on 7 May 2022 and show the sorry state of the once lovely mural. There used to be a convention that people with graffiti on their minds did not deface an artist’s work. Now graffiti is everywhere. Opposite the mural is the wall belonging to the Cliftonville Inn. It was recently painted white, but of course this proved to be irresistible, and graffiti appeared on it in no time.

These two colourful new murals below, are to be found on the west side of George Street twitten, on the north wall belonging to The Royal George, and appeared in early August 2023.

Hard Times and Hope

Many traders felt that Brighton & Hove City Council was not particularly interested in promoting the cause of shopping in George Street, although the council was efficient enough in ensuring collection of the high rates on time. Indeed, residents were of the opinion that Hove rates went east to assuage the ever increasing needs of Brighton, while precious little trickled back to be spent on the west side of the city.

A bitter blow came when nearby Tesco decided that customers to their capacious car park would have to spend a minimum of £5 to enjoy two hours of free parking. This meant that there was little time left to explore George Street with its diverse range of shops and restaurants. The parking problem was really the elephant in the room because there was precious little in George Street itself, while the afternoon ban on cars led to an almost ghost town scenario.

Local people signed a petition requesting the council to amend the ban on cars in the afternoon summer months from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m. The petition gained 2,600 signatures; in addition, a survey was carried out amongst some 1,300 people and 74% supported the change. In November 2017 the council decided it would make a trial of the new scheme from April to October 2018.

Then, in February 2018, Tesco decided that it would extend its parking time from two hours to three hours for a trial period of three months. This was welcome news and it had come about because of the hard work done by the ‘Save George Street’ campaigners. (Argus 22/2/18)

Love George Street

It is pleasant to record that some of the George Street shop keepers and other interested persons have decided to take up the cudgels, so to speak, on behalf of the street against what they perceive as the neglect or even indifference of Brighton & Hove City Council. The council has been notoriously Brighton-centric, virtually neglecting Hove while happily collecting the rates.

Almost every day we read in the national Press about the decline of the traditional High Street, due largely of course to the rise of on-line shopping. Unfortunately, it is not a level playing field for town traders, big or small. This is because giant warehouse-style stores situated out of town have the advantage of a cheap rating value, whereas businesses in town centres have to pay high rates. At George Street, this is a particular problem. For example, a small shop measuring just 5 metres by 12 metres has the sky-high rateable value of £20,000 – this means that the shop keeper must stump up £1,000 a month over a ten-month period. For a small business this is a shattering amount of money to find, besides the costs of actually running a business and paying staff. The shop keeper needs to earn a profit to make a living. There is also the danger that the council might find itself killing the goose that laid the golden egg – in other words, empty shops mean no rates paid at all. Indeed, it is in everyone’s interests to keep George Street alive and kicking – perhaps even vibrant. Consider the fact that in George Street and its immediate neighbourhood, there are some 90 businesses employing over 1,000 people.

George Street hit the doldrums in the period from 2012 to 2017 when the street was losing from five to ten businesses a year.

The campaign started out as ‘Save George Street’, then it became ‘Respect George Street’ and now it is ‘Love George Street’; in 2019 this message was beautifully blazoned forth in Christmas lights at the south end. The notion behind the campaign is that it is up to the locals to try and make George Street as attractive as possible so that people want to spend time (and money) there.

The campaign has already had some notable successes. For instance, there was the standardisation of when the street is pedestrianised, which is now set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day; previously, during summer months (April to October) traffic was not allowed until 6 p.m. which was madness because by then some of the shops had closed. Thus George Street became quite deserted in the afternoons, resembling a ghost town. There have also been efforts to reinforce the rule that bicycle-riding is not permitted during pedestrian-only hours. Then there was the problem of street cleaning. But now the group has direct contact with City Clean in order to ensure the street is cleaned regularly, and jet-washed twice a year.

Another feather in their cap was when George Street became the first High Street in the country where ‘chuggers’ were banned – these were usually young people who were paid by various charities to solicit donations from passers-by, and became a major annoyance. Another solved problem was when fake sellers of the Big Issue suddenly appeared – they were not officially authorised sites, instead they were placed there by criminal gangs.

The ‘Love George Street’ group are particularly proud of their success in supporting and organising a recent drive on behalf of the Brighton & Hove Red Box Project, which seeks to end child period poverty. When it was learned the project was struggling, they stepped in to help. Within the short space of eight weeks, the group had amassed enough donations to fill emergency red boxes that were placed in every primary and secondary school, and college from Peacehaven to Mile Oak.

There was even enough donations left over to give to Brighton Women’s Centre and other voluntary women’s groups.

To foster a community atmosphere in George Street, the group organised a street party for Christmas 2018 where there were children’s song and dance, and a Father Christmas who would pose with children when their parents wanted to take a photograph (for free). There were roasted chestnuts, and the Salvation Army Band, plus choirs. Anther idea was to hold special days to honour various groups – for instance, Emergency Services Day, and a Police Community Event.

‘Love George Street’ is full of aspiration for future projects such as the provision of old-style street lamps, known as Charles Dickens lamps, or solid planters to enhance the street, as well as traditional benches – some of these to be embellished with the Hove coat-of-arms. There are also plans to augment the Christmas lighting to make a spectacular show, and for 2020 something original to mark Pride week.

George Street Shop Notes

East Side (south to north)

Number 1. In October 1871 the surveyor reported a carpenter’s shop had been erected in the yard without the permission of the Hove Commissioners. By 1960 the well-known department store Stuart Norris were listed at 1 / 2 George Street. But today Barclays Bank occupies the same site, which is numbered in Church Road.

Number 3. In October 1871 the surveyor reported a building in the yard of this house was being used to dry fish without the permission of the Hove Commissioners. In 1960 Radio Rentals ran their business here.

Number 3 – This shop has been subject to frequent changes. For instance, in September 2018 Bodrum Charcoal Grill was in business, but by March 2020 the shop was empty and there was a different name above the shop-front

Numbers 4 & 5. In 1960 there was an Art Needlework Depot called Rita at number 4 while L. Cohen, confectioner, was at number 5.

In January 1998 Wine Cellar opened here, three weeks later than expected. Brighton & Hove magistrates had requested four names on the licence whereas the company had only expected to have to supply one or two. It was only the second Wine Cellar premises to be opened in Sussex and hundreds of different wines were on offer. The opening of the Wine Cellar seems to have been the last straw for the Victoria Wine Shop, located a few doors further up George Street. It closed in February 1999; in fact it was one of four Victoria Wine Shops that closed in Sussex. First Quench was the owner, the company being formed after a merger between Victoria Wine and Thresher.

By September 1999 there were plans to turn the whole building into a major new wine bar called Parisa although some traders objected. The Parisa went ahead anyhow but it was of short duration because in November 2001 the SFI Group bought out the Parisa chain, which owned twenty-eight bars, and on 31 January 2002 the George Street premises re-opened as the Slug and Lettuce.

Numbers 4 & 5 – This photograph was taken in September 2018 when the George Street Tap occupied premises formerly home to the Slug and Lettuce

Number 8. In February 1892 Mr W.T. Nye (of numbers 8 and 9 George Street) applied for a renewal of a petroleum licence to keep eighty gallons of petroleum in a field west of Sackville Road. The shed and iron drum in which the petrol was stored was stated to be in good repair and permission was granted.

In 1935 a music shop opened at number 8 that was later known as Wickham, Kimber and Oakley. Richard Wickham and Ernest Kimber worked for several years at Godfrey’s in Western Road, Hove before making the decision to branch out on their own. In the 1940s they opened their second shop in George Street at numbers 95 and 95A, at the same time taking Harold Oakley into partnership. In 1966 at number 8 Mr Wickham had a total record stock of 30,000 items and the BBC used to buy some items for their sound archive. This shop closed on 31 March 1974.

Number 9. In 1960 George Pharmacy was located here while in 1974 University Plastics occupied the premises and it was a DIY store.

In July 1992 Martin and Bernice Gross opened a coffee shop and bistro called Rainbow’s. It was arranged over two floors and so there was enough seating for eighty-two people.

But the enterprise did not last long and in September 1993 Oliver’s Bar and Brasserie opened there. The menu included Uriah Heap’s ‘umble steak and kidney pie, and Little Nell’s lamb hotpot. In January 1995 vandals broke in, splashed sauce and custard about, put bleach in the fat fryer and wrote in cream ‘Alarm this place’. Owner Christine Borthwick lamented that the premises were wrecked.

By 1996 Le Lion d’Or was established here. The Golden Lion Group owned it and they were a Brighton-based company that also ran Hove Place Hotel in First Avenue. The décor was described as 1920s style with black tables and chairs; in 1996 it won an award as Hove’s best shop-front and particularly memorable were beautifully curved large brass push-bars on the doors. By January 2013 the Lion d’Or had been up for sale for a year and concerns were felt when it was known bookmakers Paddy Power wanted to open a business there. Did George Street really need four betting shops? Already in place were William Hill and Ladbroke’s while Coral aimed to move in shortly.

Number 10. In 1960 Leonard Thompson, optician, was the occupant of this shop. By 1999 S.C. Babyaid operated their charity shop here. Later on Alan Moon opened Cocoon Knits. He re-activated the George Street Trader’s Association. There were many colourful advertisements for his shop, including knitted orange fruit that was hung from the branches of the tree outside, and a group of knitters covered an entire double-decker bus with knitted squares of different colours, destined eventually to become blankets for charitable purposes. The shop offered beginner’s classes in knitting and crochet. But unfortunately Mr Moon was unable to make a viable living out of his enterprise and closed in 2013. By the autumn of the same year Jaba Yard, selling women’s clothes, was operating in the shop.

The above photograph shows 'Shaun the Sheep' outside Number 10, the Jaba Yard shop. This example of ‘Shaun the Sheep’ was inspired by the iconic 1960’s artist Bridget Riley. There are 40 individually designed sculptures of ‘Shaun the Sheep’ displayed around Brighton & Hove’s streets, parks and other public areas from the 9 September until 5 November 2023, in connection to a fund raising event for the Martlets Hospice.

Numbers 13 & 14. Lester’s had had a shop on this site since 1948. In 1960 it specialised in toys. In 2001 Gary Lester said his father started the business selling carpets, lino and prams but now he sold furniture and sofa beds and three generations of the family were involved in the business. Unlike other George Street traders, Gary Lester was in favour of making it a pedestrian area. The Lesters also had business connections with Boundary Road, Hove, where they used to sell baby equipment at number 43 and toys at number 44. But by 2001 they sold furniture at numbers 56 and 57. By 2012 Costa coffee shop occupied the premises.

copyright © J.Middleton
In 1960 Lester’s toy shop occupied numbers 13/14 but in 2012 Costa coffee shop set up business.

Number 16. The World’s Stores were located here from before the First World War. On 13 June 1934 a fire started in a shed at the back of the premises and at one stage flames were shooting up to a height of fifteen feet. Hove Fire Brigade was soon on the scene but it was two hours before the fire was extinguished. It was thought around £500 worth of groceries and provisions had been destroyed. The World’s Stores was still in business here in 1960.

Number 19. This was the last cottage in George Street to be converted into a shop and it became De Marco’s Ice Cream Parlour. It was still in business in 1960.

By 2000 the Portman Building Society occupied the shop; it was stated the rent came to £41,000 a year and was subject to review every five years. By this time the premises were numbered as 18/19 George Street and today it is still occupied by the building society although the name has changed to Nationwide.

Number 23. In 1914 Alfred Gregory ran his cycle repair business from this shop and he shared the premises with Madame M. Delest who took in laundry. In 1960 there was still a connection with laundry since the shop acted as a receiving office for Channel Laundry Services Ltd.

In 1964 Rene Danin and her husband moved to Hove from London, having sold their florist’s business, and instead opened Rene Florists in this shop.

Numbers 28 & 29 – In March 2020 the Flight Centre relinquished its lease because of lock-down. The two properties belong to the Geneva Investment Group, and form a minute part of a multi-million portfolio owned by Ivan and Matthew Sorokin. The Group put in a planning application to Brighton & Hove City Council to refurbish the shops, remove roof lights, instal a new window and door, and provide two flats above them. This was not what caused local uproar – it was the fate of a humble flint and stone wall in the back garden, that very many people did not even know existed, which caused consternation among conservationists.

It is not surprising that people in George Street do not realise its significance because in many cases it has been rendered and looks like any other wall. However, the part of the wall facing east and forming the garden wall to houses on the west side of Ventnor Villas, is in its original state, and was built some 160 years ago. In fact the now fragile wall once formed part of the eastern boundary of the Cliftonville Estate, and therefore it is of historical significance. The planning application should have included a heritage statement regarding the wall. Part of the application was about providing a roof terrace and installing cedar screening. Besides the thorny prospect of overlooking into private gardens, the cedar screening was a problem. The council gave planning permission for the improvements on condition that the cedar screening was not fixed to the wall. The Group said they would fix the screening to the floor of the terrace.

Labour councillor, Gary Wilkinson, said the residents of Ventnor Villas were aware of the growing trend for further developments on the flat roofs of properties in George Street, while fellow councillor, Clare Moonan, stated ‘all new developments are expected to conserve and enhance the city’s archaeology and architecture.’ (Argus 17/8/20 / 8/9/20).

Number 31. In 1914 Charles Edward Tulley ran a china warehouse in the premises. In 1960 Heath & Heather, herbalist, ran their business here and by 1974 it was occupied by Realfoods, herbalists.

In January 1996 the 15-year lease became available, the annual rent being £12,500. By January 1999 the Hove Accessory Centre was in residence and amongst the goods for sale displayed outside the shop was a life-size resin statue of the late Princess of Wales wearing a long, figure-hugging pink dress. The statue was created in Poland and had a price tag of £200. It raised a few eyebrows

Number 32. In 1914 Frederick Clegg, china dealer, occupied the premises. In 1960 Dunn’s Footwear were in business here.

By 1974 there was a furniture store called Furnimart. In around 1984 Julian Pelling purchased Fine Records and Ian Wallace joined the firm in 1986. In 1994 it was stated that the two men ran the business together with Ian’s girlfriend Silvanna Galen. One part of their trade was devoted to vinyl records as there was an international market for them. It is interesting to record that in 2013 vinyl is making something of a comeback after so many years in the recording wilderness and Fine Records is still in business.

copyright © J.Middleton
This excellent photograph of Albion spectators in 1922 is an example of Wiles’s photographic work carried out in his George Street premises. Note the solitary female wearing a hat adorned with white feathers.

Number 33. Thomas Walter Wiles established a stationer’s and a toyshop in these premises in 1905 and remained for twenty-two years. For local historians Wiles’s claim to fame was as a prolific photographer of local events who developed his films in a dark room at the back of the premises and then produced postcards for sale. There was also a studio at the back and the business was very much a family enterprise because his brother George and his daughter Mary assisted him.

copyright © J.Middleton
Here is another example of Wiles’s photographic activities taken on 17 June 1911 with children on their best behaviour wearing their best clothes for their treat. The postcards would be on sale in his shop and must have provided a lucrative trade.

In 1950 Betsy and Sidney Harris started Harris’s Leathergoods on the premises. Eventually they handed over their business to their daughter Diana and son-in-law Lewis Mann. Betsy Harris died in February 1991 but the shop continued until 2000 when it became Lindy Lou and sold luggage and bags; it was still there in 2005. Today the resident business is Bert’s Home Store.

copyright © J.Middleton
In 1999 Harris’s Leather Goods occupied number 33 but today there is Bert’s Home Store.
The photograph was taken on 19 November 2013.

Number 35. In 1914 W. Bravery & Son ran a watchmaker’s business here. In 1960 the business was listed as Importers Retail Salesrooms Ltd. Tea Merchants while Miss Bravery lived in the upstairs flat. From 1967 to 1998 Raymond and Molly Buckland ran Coffee Importers from the shop. The most evocative scent in George Street was the smell of freshly ground coffee beans wafting out through the air extractor set in the window. In June 1998 it was stated Langdon Foods had sold the business to Puccino’s although the Bucklands continued to live in their upstairs flat. In June 1999 the Bucklands complained they were virtual prisoners in their own home because of pedestrianisation. The shop was renamed L’Espirito del Caffe and was still in business in 1999 but by 2013 it had become the Revival Coffee Company.

Number 37. In the 1890s this was the chief office of Lewonski & Sons, proprietors of funeral horses, open cars, glass cars or closed hearses. At that time Samuel Thomas Lewonski, who was thought to have Polish origins, was described as having a mane of black hair and a fierce handlebar moustache. By 1910 Lewonski had branched out into other spheres of business, being listed in the Directory as an auctioneer, valuer and manufacturing upholsterer and there was a goods warehouse too. The auction rooms were at 37 and 37A George Street while his residence and office was at 201 Church Road. He suffered a reverse on 18 April 1908 when a fire broke out in his furniture repository at 4 Shirley Street, Hove. The fire caused consternation when it was realised several men employed by Lewonski were still inside the building and there were three horses stabled too. But men and horses were all safely rescued. The alarm was raised by men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who were on their way to a smoking concert at Hove Town Hall. The men also proved to be a great help in keeping the excited crowd in order because there were so many spectators they were hampering the firemen’s efforts. In fact the four streams of water issuing from the hoses belonging to Hove Fire Brigade seemed to be having little effect and the Brighton Fire Brigade was sent for. Soon Superintendent Lacroix and a strong contingent ‘came tearing up on the motor fire engine, followed by the Duke Street section with their hose cart.’

Samuel Thomas Lewonski also found time to be a Hove councillor. He was much against the acquisition by the council of St Ann’s Well Gardens, famously declaring the gardens to be no more than a boghole and a quagmire. In 1928 he became the proprietor of the Hove Electric Empire cinema in George Street (see number 77).

copyright © J.Middleton
A fire destroyed Messrs Lewonski’s furniture warehouse at 4 Shirley Street on 18 April 1908. This view shows the aftermath and no doubt copies of the postcards were published by some of the many witnesses.

Lewonski married Mary Ellen Holdstock, a cousin of James Coe who ran the fishmonger's at 40/41 George Street. The couple had three sons and a daughter and later lived at 38 Goldstone Villas. Mrs Lewonski died on 28 May 1926 and her widower died in his nineties on 21 December 1942. They were both buried on the south side of Hove Cemetery where their grave is marked by a pillar with an urn on top.

In 1960 the shop was a hosier business called Rosslyn and by 1999 the premises were occupied by Stead & Simpson, selling shoes.

copyright © G. Bernard
This evocative photograph is of one of Samuel Lewonski's sons.
He is Ernest Lewonski (1890-1936) and his wife Ellen.

Number 37

copyright © D. Sharp

The co-founder of Cake Box is 61-year old millionaire Sukh Chamdal. He owns Debden Hall, Essex, where, unfortunately, he wished to clear a site for building purposes, and ordered some trees to be chopped down.

On 22 June 2023, he and four other defendants appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court charged with illegally felling at least 132 trees in woodland near Debden Hall. The men pleaded not guilty. It is not known at present what type of trees they were, nor whether or not they had protected status. The remit comes under the jurisdiction of Epping Forest District Council. (Argus 7/7/23)

Number 39

Number 39 – This is a fine image of James Lee’s grocery shop, complete with delivery boy and bicycle. Although the photograph dates from the 1920s, the shop front is still typically Victorian with curved window sills and glazed tiles – most probably dark green. In the window there are several still familiar brand names such as Bovril, Chivers and Shippams. Note also the broom heads and brushes suspended above the shop-keeper’s head. The grocery shop dates from 1886, and lasted until the 1930s.

copyright © J.Middleton
In 1960 there was a sweet shop at number 38 while today Glow is in business. In 1960 number 39 was Dee’s the grocer and later on became the Card Centre; today it is Baby Star. The photograph was taken on 19 November 2013.

Number 40 & 41. Jimmy and Bert Coe came to Hove from London in 1898 and opened a fish shop in George Street, followed by a butcher’s shop in 1909. In 1898 May Bailey worked for James Coe as a housekeeper although she was engaged to Albert Coe. The couple had known each other for fifteen months but then Albert told her he thought it would be better if they parted. May left him a note and in October 1898 threw herself under the London Express train. Her body was found midway between Patcham Tunnel and Preston Station.

In 1913 Hove Council told Coe’s to stop curing or drying fish on the premises. In 1914 Coe’s supplied fish to Hove Sanatorium (Foredown Hospital, Portslade); in May of that year the bill came to £2-11-11d while in June it was £2-10-3d.

On 20 March 1914 Coe’s four-wheeled van and horse were outside the shop when the horse was startled by a passing motor-car and bolted. The horse ran out of George Street at full gallop and into Goldstone Villas where gallant Police Constable Bertie Pronger attempted to stop the horse and was dragged forty yards for his pains. But he did stop the horse and the grateful Hove councillors awarded him a gratuity of ten shillings and sixpence for his bravery.
Fishmonger Coe liked to cater for different tastes and apparently outside at the back of the premises there was a barrel full of live eels for those who relished such a delicacy.

During the 1920s and 1930s Coe’s used to rear their own chickens and turkeys in flint-walled yards that backed onto the Easthill Windmill buildings in Portslade. In 1925 the brothers held a game licence and their full names were recorded, Albert Thomas Henry Coe and James Charles Henry Coe. James Coe’s cousin Mary Elland married Samuel Thomas Lewonski, a prominent Hove businessman with premises at 37 George Street who also ran the Electric Empire Cinema at 77 George Street. Mary died on 28 May 1926 and James Coe attended her funeral at Cliftonville Church.

James Coe died aged 74 on 29 June 1945 and was noted as being one of Hove’s foremost fishmongers. He was also Treasurer of the Hove branch of the Conservative Party and members of the Conservative Club acted as pallbearers at his funeral, which was held in St Andrew’s Old Church and attended by his two sons, three daughters and their families.

Coe’s wife Ellen Margaret died on 4 September 1946 aged 69 and their son Albert John (Jack) Coe ran the business. Jack Coe’s brother Jimmy Coe married Doris Attwater, daughter of Mrs D.E.J. Attwater, licensee of the Royal George at 93 George Street, and both Doris and Jimmy assisted in running the pub.

Jack Coe was a member of Hove Council and in the 1970s was still running the shop together with his daughter and son-in-law Alan Gibson. By this time the fishmonger’s and butcher’s shared the same premises with fish sold on the north side and meat at the south side. At the back in the middle Queenie (or Peggy) occupied the cash desk and all transactions were paid for there. Things could go a little haywire should you decide to pay for your fish and meat together, instead of separately, as then the lady would become concerned that an item had not been paid for. Six men were employed full-time, and two men part-time on the fish side while another six men worked full-time on the meat counter. In 1983 Gibson & Coe moved to 49 George Street. Jack Coe died on 10 June 1989 and his wife Marguerite Florence (Margie) died on 2 January 1993 aged 78. They were buried on the north side of Hove Cemetery. By the 1990s Superdrug had moved in to numbers 40/41.

Number 42. In 1861 when George Street was a residential street, this house was occupied by a woman who took in laundry to earn money. One hundred years later, the premises had long been in use as a business or shop, and in 1960 you would find Archie Mayler, a tailor, there. By 1999 Going Places had taken up residence, and by 2013 Chestnut Tree House had moved in. Chestnut Tree House is the Sussex children’s hospice. There had been a growing trend for charity shops to occupy premises in George Street and Blatchington Road, although it must be a puzzle off-setting high rents with money earned from donations. In 2019 Chestnut Tree House was up for sale. The annual rental paid on the property had been an astonishing £21,000 but if you wanted to, you could purchase the freehold for £310,000. Freeholds rarely come up for sale in George Street with canny owners wishing to hang on to their investment. However, the shop was still in business at the end of 2020. (Argus 14/6/19).

Number 44. In 1914 the builder’s H.J. Attwater occupied the premises. By the 1930s Easiephit Footwear was in business there. In the early hours of 17 February 1932 fire broke out and Hove Fire Brigade was summoned. By the time Chief Officer Dumbrell and his men arrived, the stairs were a mass of flames and Mr and Mrs Harris were trapped upstairs. A ladder was quickly placed to the upper window and the manager and his wife, two dogs, four puppies and a cat were rescued. In 1960 Easiephit Footwear Ltd. Boot-makers were still in residence and Greenlees & Son ran the business, which, amazingly enough, was still there in the 1970s. By 1999 Philip James, jewellers, were in residence and by 2013 it was the Diamond Nails Studio.

Number 49. In 1914 Thomas Goodwin, boot maker, ran a business here. In 1960 the shop was a butcher’s known as Allens (Hove) Ltd and in 1974 it was still a butcher’s shop now run by the Leeson Brothers. Then in 1983 another butcher took over when Gibson & Coe moved in. In 1992 sausages made on the premises with a meat content of 74% came third out of 138 entries in a national competition. Alan Gibson was elected Chairman of Hove Business Association in 1995. In 1997 Gibson & Coe won a gold award for its pork and sage sausages at the 28^thButchers’ Fair at Utrecht in Holland, the largest fair of its type in the world. In January 1999 it was stated the shop sold haggis all the year round but not many. However, in the run-up to Burns Night in 1999 they sold 600lbs. In December 1999 Alan Gibson received a silver cup after being named Hove Business Personality of the Year. Gibson also received an invitation to meet the Queen, as a representative of the Hove Business Association, at a reception held at the Corn Exchange on 20 March 2001. By 2013 02 Phones occupied the premises.

copyright © N.Shaw
Cornford’s produced a beautiful looking bill but what is amazing
to us is that in 1900 you could have such an elaborate funeral for under £10.

Number 50. In 1894 William Cornford established his undertaking business here and it remained right up until the 1980s when it moved round the corner to 100 Blatchington Road; there was another branch at 8-9 Queen’s Parade, Hangleton. By the 1990s Floriana’s, a popular café, was in business here and the frontage had been altered to include an old-style window. In March 2001 Maurice Lambert took over. He decided to retire at Christmas time but soon became bored and opened a restaurant called the Bay Tree. In May 2001 a thank-you lunch was provided outside the restaurant for workmen from contractors Colas who had been busy carrying out street improvements. Traders clubbed together to pay for the meal, which included quiche, sausage rolls, fruit salad, tea and coffee. By 2013 Café Quench was at number 50.

Number 52. It was in 1946 that brothers Eric and Maurice Lester opened their furniture store in this shop and it was still in the hands of the same family in 2008, which must be some sort of record in George Street. The business might have continued to the next generation if there had been the interest in doing so. However, in June 2008 Eric’s son Gary Lester said that none of his four sons wanted to take over the reins, and he expected to close the shop for good at the end of the month. He admitted that these were not easy times to be trading, what with the rise of on-line shopping plus a slowdown in the housing market. There was also the matter of having to pay £500 a week in council rates. Gary Lester said, ‘I’m sad that we’re closing but if you are not making any money then you cannot survive.’ (Argus 4/6/08)

Numbers 53/54. In 1861 these two numbers were separate residences. At number 53 a servant, and a stonemason lived in one, while the house next door was a little more crowded with the wage-earners being a labourer at the Gas Works, an agricultural labourer, and a porter. In 1960 Brighton Tele-Radio Services could be found at number 53 while Maypole Dairy occupied number 54. By 1999 those houses had gone, and instead a new structure of questionable taste had replaced them, occupied by the Royal Bank of Scotland. By 2018 the bank had been closed for several years, and there were repeated complaints about its sorry state with demands for the owners do to something about it. One resident said ‘The dilapidated RBS bank … is dragging down the street and putting customers off.’ At least the cash machines were removed. But then that was a necessity because in August 2017 thieves climbed over the roof, and calmly helped themselves to up to £81,000 from them. At the end of 2020 scaffolding was in place outside the premises, and perhaps at last a long-awaited refurbishment has begun. (Argus 9/5/18).

Number 55. In 1914 Arthur Pinker ran a fruiterer’s business in this shop and the one next door at number 56. By the 1920s Boots the chemist was at number 55 and in 1924 Hove Council approved alterations to the shop. Now that Coe’s has gone and Cornford’s has moved, Boots easily holds the title of the business with the longest association with George Street. Boots stayed at number 55 (on the east side) until the 1970s and then moved across to the west side where it was numbered 59-61. In the late 1990s Boots acquired the next shop on the north side, formerly occupied by Wizard. On 13 November 1999 Jenny Langston, Mayor of Brighton & Hove, officially opened the newly extended Boots. Meanwhile, at number 55 on the east side, the shop was empty in 1999 but by 2013 was home to Mind, a charity shop.

copyright © J.Middleton
**This photograph was taken on 15 September 2020 outside Cafe Bellini at number 56 – a sunny respite between lock-downs**

West Side (north to south)

copyright © J.Middleton
Dean and Perry Jenkins’s open-air fruit and vegetables stall at the top of George Street provides a welcome splash of colour. The photograph was taken on 29 October 2013

Number 57A. In July 1879 it was stated proceedings were to be taken against Henry Newton trading from this shop for selling mutton and pork unfit for human consumption. In 1960 Mrs Fryer ran a tobacconist’s shop here.

On 27 March 1999 Ivor Caplin, M.P. for Hove & Portslade, opened Sensational Sausages. Jeff Galvin and Mark and Meryl Grover were behind the enterprise and they sold around thirty-five varieties of sausage. By 2004 they sold olives and dry foods as well as a selection of South African goods. In November 2004 the business was up for sale and there was one year left on the lease. The entire premises were held on a full repairing and insuring lease at a cost of £13,000 a year. By April 2005 David Barr was running Sensational Food at the shop. He said that pedestrianisation had led to a dip in business but his niche market meant his customers returned eventually.

copyright © J.Middleton
Rainbow Flowers is the new kid on the block and was photographed on 29 October 2013. The business closed on 28 March 2014.

Later on Dean and Perry Jenkins expanded from their greengrocer’s shop on the corner of George Street and Blatchington Road and then the latter site was sold. Dean and Perry Jenkins then decided to operate as an open-air stall and the shop became a café briefly before Rainbow Flowers opened here in 2013.

In February 2003 it was stated that Dean Jenkins has been trading in George Street since 1994. He began his career at the age of seventeen when he joined the family business at the Open Market in Brighton. Everybody who goes to George Street is familiar with his delightful open-air display of fruit and vegetables at the top west side, with, in early December, a stack of Christmas trees awaiting homes; he trades as DPJ Fruits. Since he works on his own, sometimes Mr Jenkins is obliged to lock his till, and nip along to buy his own bits and pieces.

It is truly remarkable that in these difficult times his stall has never been targeted by thieves. That is until recently. When he returned from one of his brief trips on 27 January 2023, he saw that a box of cabbages had vanished, and then when he went behind the counter, he found the till too had gone. Someone informed him that the box of cabbages had been seen in Goldstone Street, but by the time they got there, all the cabbages had disappeared. However, despite this setback, Mr Jenkins stated he has no intention of changing his job because he loves it, and he knows so many people, and they know him. But in future, if he has to leave the stall, he will ensure the till is locked up in his office. (Argus (6/2/23)

copyright © H.J.G. Flowers
This photograph of George Street dates from around 1910. In the backgroundcan be seen Freeman, Hardy & Willis and young Harry Flowers stands by the window wearing his smart suit adorned with watch chain He worked in the shop and his father George Flowers ran the shop next door.

Number 63. Freeman, Hardy & Willis, boot makers and shoe shop, occupied this shop and were another long-standing presence in George Street. They were there before the First World War and were still in business in the 1970s when they acquired number 62 as well. They remained until around 1990. By 1999 numbers 62/63 were occupied by Shoe Fayre and another shoe business followed. Then in October 2013 the British Heart Foundation’s new charity shop opened here.

copyright © H.J.G. Flowers
George Flowers, saddler and harness maker, stands proudly outside his shop in around 1894. He was named George after his father who served in the 17th Lancers and was killed before he was born in the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Number 64. In the 1890s George Flowers, saddler and harness maker ran his business from this shop. His father, also George Flowers, served in the Army and was in the front line of the 17^th Lancers at the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balalclava on 25 October 1854 where he was killed in action. His wife was with him in the Crimea and after his death she returned to England where her son was born. Young George Flowers was educated at the Star & Garter Home, Richmond. In 1960 Raymond Sherman lived in the upstairs flat while Tredgetts, Florists, occupied the shop. The premises were empty in 1999 and by 2013 Celly’s Hairstyle (everything £9) was in residence.

Number 65. In the 1960s Lynwool occupied the premises. It was run by two spinsters and sold supplies for knitting and needlework. By the 1990s Cooper’s the jewellers were trading from this shop. In March 1999 the owner Keith Cooper complained too many traders were talking down George Street but he felt enough confidence about the future to invest some £15,000 on improvements to his shop. Fourteen years later, the shop is still in business. In November 2013 Mr Cooper said he had been running the shop for around thirty years.

On 23 March 2015 two men snatched a gold chain worth £500 from Cooper’s and raced off as fast as they could but it was not their lucky day. Simon Cooper was working upstairs in his office while his two daughters Sophie and Lucy were in the shop. When he heard the alarm he rushed downstairs and ran after the men. Meanwhile, bystander Robert Nemeth saw two men running up George Street and thought they were rushing to catch a bus but when he saw Mr Cooper in pursuit, he realised what was happening and joined in too. They all ran up Goldstone Villas and through Hove for almost half an hour until Mr Cooper and Mr Nemeth lost sight of the men at Sussex County Cricket Ground. But a police van was soon at hand and the breathless duo soon spotted their quarries in Holland Road; two men were arrested on suspicion of theft. Later on, Mr Cooper said he did not know how he managed to keep on running because after all, he was in his fifties. (Argus 24 March 2015)

It was a sad day when Cooper’s closed its doors in April 2019 because the family business had been there for so long. Simon Cooper, together with his twin daughters Sophie and Lucy, ran the shop, while Simon’s son Oliver had a fully operational workshop on the premises. The closure was said to be due to high business rates and the difficulty in customers finding parking spaces. Cooper’s moved to Southwick Square.

Number 66. In March 1893 Mr Smith was fined £1 with costs of £1-17-6d for selling milk adulterated with water, not less than 20%. In January 1998 pensioner Charlie Payton said he was born in this house in 1914. His father, Sidney Paynton, was a furniture dealer and the family lived above the shop. In 1960 there was a tailor’s business here registered as Albert Morley Ltd. By 1999 Bernard the Baker’s were in the shop and by 2013 Timpson’s were in residence. They are shoe menders, key cutters etc.

Number 67. In June 1879 proceedings were taken against George Gravett for selling crabs in his shop unfit for human consumption. He was fined 40/- and costs but he was given the alternative of a month’s imprisonment. In 1960 V. & H. Cooke ran their tobacconist’s business here. By 1999 Clark’s shoes were in residence. The shop was specifically for adults while their other shop on the opposite side of the road catered for children.

Number 70. In 1861 a gas labourer, an agricultural labourer and a washerwomen occupied the premises. In 1960 by Brighton & Hove Goldsmith’s Company ran a jeweller’s shop here. By 1999 the Samaritans charity shop had arrived.

Number 71. In 1960 a carpet dealer operated from this shop. By the 1990s Potter’s Men’s Wear was in residence. In March 1999 the management were so incensed at the size of their rates bill that they put it on display in their window to draw attention to the expenses they incurred. The bill came to £8, 924-25. The shop closed down at Easter in the same year. Tony Davis, director, laid the blame on the car ban and a 12% drop in trade. By 2013 Carphone Warehouse was in residence.

It was a French bulldog called Bobbie that inspired the opening of dog-friendly café Chubby Chops. Bonnie belongs to joint owners from Hove Joel Ariaman, aged 29 and 25-year old Alex Ziembinska. When Bonnie was a puppy they found it really difficult to find a café or restaurant prepared to allow Bonnie to enter; hence their light-bulb moment.
They did their research by opening their business in a pop-up shop in Brighton Square in June 2014. When this proved to be well received by the public, they decided to open Chubby Chops in George Street, moving there in December 2014.
There are two menus – one for people, the other for doggy customers; both using local produce and homemade to boot. Noel and Alex are ambitious too; in fact Joel said they would love to be a doggy Starbucks with premises elsewhere and perhaps franchising their concept. (Argus 6/3/15)
Unfortunately, the enterprise proved short-lived and by the end of November 2015 it had closed. The idea just did not take off in George Street.

Number 72 – The popular shop Pet’s Corner had an arresting makeover on its frontage, and was pictured in October 2018

Number 73. In 1861 the premises were occupied by two brick-makers plus a brick-layer’s labourer. By the 1990s Granada TVs were in business there. On 14 July Louise Taylor opened her bridal boutique called Once Upon a Time. For the previous seven years she had been a cheerleader for Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.

Number 75. In 1960 Home Decorators occupied the premises. In 1975 Dixon’s ran their electrical goods business here. This photograph of the current occupant Caffé Nero was taken on 15 April 2015.

Back in the 1850s a blacksmith and wheelwright occupied number 76; today, in modern premises Vodafone is in business. The photograph was taken on 29 October 2013. Note the flourishing young tree, which sadly had vanishedby late December 2013, probably blown over by the gales. George Street had been in existence for at least 150 years before trees were planted.

Number 76. Aaron John Jarman was one of the first occupants of George Street, carrying on the trade of blacksmith and wheelwright from at least 1854. By 1861 he had taken over next-door’s shop at number 77 as well and in August 1871 plans were approved for him to build stables and sheds. Later on a cinema occupied this site and when this was demolished, two new shops were built. It is interesting to note that in 1960 number 76 was occupied by a modest-sized Tesco’s. The premises later became a British Gas showroom; it closed down on 30 November 1995 due to supposed lack of sales. By 1999 a business called Carter’s operated here selling electric and gas appliances. By 2012 Vodafone was in residence.

Hove Electric Empire advert from 1916

Number 77. Hove Electric Empire.
In December 1910 Hove Council approved plans for an ‘Electric Theatre’ submitted by J.H. Hickton and H.E. Farmer. Building work went on apace and on 11 April 1911 the Picture Palace opened its doors. The Directory for that year gave the street numbers as 76, 77 and 77A but by 1914 it had settled down to just number 77. The cinema had exotic features such as domed towers and the façade was embellished with decorative plaster-work, particularly over the entrance. The base of the building was protected by an area of dark brickwork extending upwards to a height of sixteen bricks. Inside the building there was an orchestra pit and a 16-foot high dome. Classical figures adorned the proscenium arch. In 1920 Denman & Matthews submitted plans for a gallery and Hove Council gave qualified approval. But first they wanted to see details of the steel work and ‘a guarantee satisfactory to the Council’ in respect of the reinforced concrete. Then the Watch Committee needed to be happy about the seating accommodation.

In 1911 Arthur Cooper Feast received a renewal of the cinema licence. The licence seemed to travel from man to man with astonishing speed. For instance by 1914 F.G. Smith held the licence while the following year it was issued to E. Webb. Walter Easter and Robert William Herriott held the licence from 1919 and then in 1921 it was transferred to Charles Dunesby. In 1928 Samuel Thomas Lewonski took over. He was a colourful character and a man of many parts. (See also under number 37). Children going to the cinema often saw Lewonski there. He was of small stature and always dressed in black as befitted an undertaker. The children called him Old Wonky.

The high turnover in management may have had something to do with the refusal of Hove Council to allow cinemas to open on Sundays. Right back in 1911 Mr Feast had applied for a seven-day licence but was refused. In 1924 Mr Dunesby tried again as he wanted to open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. He wrote ‘There is a very great demand by my patrons as there is no cinema open in Hove at the present time (on Sundays) … and the consequence is that they have to go into Brighton, where all the cinemas are open, and they find great difficulty in getting back in wet weather when the omnibuses are full.’ A petition in favour of Sunday opening with 560 signatures accompanied the letter. Unfortunately, council officials found that 140 names did not appear in the Register of Electors. The request was turned down. In 1927 Mr Dunesby tried again together with Mr Goldberg from the Tivoli Cinema but this time some of the religious authorities came out strongly against Sunday opening and the licence was not granted. It fell to Mr Lewonski to be the lucky man to whom the seven-day licence was at last issued in 1928. But this was only after a Hove referendum showed a majority wanted to have Sunday opening.

In the 1930s a notice appeared near the pay-box stating This cinema is clean. It is not a flea-pit. But it was still a small cinema only able to seat 350 patrons and although a sound system was installed in 1932, it simply could not compete when new cinemas opened in the vicinity; the Lido in Denmark Villas opened in 1932 and the Granada in Portland Road opened in 1933. The Hove Electric Empire closed in 1934 and the last film screened was Jack’s the Boy starring Jack Hulbert.

The premises were demolished and re-built as two shops. By 1960 number 77 was occupied by Dresswell Gowns, ladies fashion shop, run by Mrs L.M. Jacobs and David J. Jacobs was also listed as living at this address. Later on Kenneth Armstrong was in charge and in January 1990 he retired handing over the business to his daughters Maureen and Heather. He died in October 1990 leaving a widow Brenda. In 1995 the daughters closed the George Street shop and relocated the business to 115 Church Road, Hove and thereafter to 56 Church Road, Hove, once the home of Combridges. Meanwhile number 77 was occupied by County Bookshop in 1999 and by 2013 was home to EE Orange Mobile.

Number 78. In November 1888 it was reported that there had been complaints about the rag-and-bone shop here and the Sanitary Inspector was given instructions to make sure matters improved. In 1914 T.W. Barnes & Co ran a general merchant’s business in the shop. By 1960 A.E. Kent & Co, biscuit distributors, ran their business here.

In July 1967 Pat Phoenix, star of Coronation Street, came to open the new Ann Logan baby shop. She arrived in a chauffeur-driven white Mercedes, flanked by policemen and the street was brought to a standstill. The baby shop was still trading in 1974. By 1999 Dorothy Perkins occupied numbers 78/79 and are still there.

This photograph taken on 24 June 2010 shows James Devenny entering Willow. He was a well-known local character who loved to wear exotic outfits. He lived in Blenheim Place, Brighton, and died at the age of 62 on 17 October 2022

Number 80. In the 1860s William Lidbetter, a gardener, lived in the house and he also took in lodgers. In March 1860 William Charles Atkins, his wife and child, had been lodging with Lidbetter for some eight weeks and owed him £9-14s plus some money he had borrowed. Atkins was prosecuted. The shop was not listed in 1960 and presumably was empty and it was also empty in 1999. In 2013 women’s clothes shop Willow was in business.

Number 81. In 1914 John Moore ran a hairdresser’s business here and interestingly enough it was still a hairdresser’s in 1960 when Frederick A. Reynolds was the man in charge. By 1974 the shop had become a restaurant called the Eating House and by 1985 it was called Figs. In September 1985 Paul Grunder and Graham Rowell opened their restaurant called Blossoms; they had previously run the Tureen in Upper North Street, Brighton. In 1999 Blossoms won an award as the best café and takeaway. By 2001 the restaurant had been renamed The Terrace and by 2013 had become Cala’s Restaurant.

Number 83. In 1914 Richard Watking & Son, domestic engineers, occupied the premises. By 1960 Currys Ltd, cycle agents, were in business here. By 1974 electrical firm Curry were in residence. Currys closed down in 1998 and the shop was leased at a passing rental of £18,000 to Sussex Beacon, the local Aids charity. By 2013 the shop was empty, having previously been occupied by the Perfume Warehouse.

copyright © Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
An early 1900s photograph with Hove Fire Station in the background, all the men are wearing flowers on their lapels

Number 85. Hove Fire Station was established here in 1879. Although the building served as headquarters, various pieces of fire-fighting equipment were stored in different parts of Hove. In 1889 the Chief Officer requested the authorities to install a hydrant near the Fire Station so that the fire engine might be washed. A new service pipe was installed linking the main in George Street to a hydrant at the rear of the premises; it cost £26. In April 1891 it was decided that indicators to the Fire Station should be placed on lamps at the south and north ends of George Street. In May 1898, Mr Coombes, who was in charge of the Fire Station, was presented with a handsome marble clock on the occasion of his marriage.

copyright © J.Middleton
The men of Hove Fire Brigade (all sporting moustaches) were nimble on their
feet and often won prizes for their speed of deployment in National Fire Brigade
competitions. In this photograph two cups are on display together with the
Challenge Shield embellished with a fireman's helmet on crossed firemen's axes.

The Hove Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1879 and continued to run services from George Street until 1914 when it became a municipal enterprise. There were some reservations about the takeover because the quarters were so inadequate but it went ahead anyhow. In 1914 the Fire Station contained the engine house on the ground floor where the motor pump and steamer were stored; on the first floor there were four rooms occupied by the Station Officer while at the rear there was a watch and recreation room for the volunteer members. Lainson & Son were the architects who designed the watch room in 1908. At the back of the premises there was a two-stall stable but horses were no longer stabled there and Hove councillors thought the space might be converted into a duty room.

Plasterer Wally Warder created the Hove coat of arms at the apex of the building and it is still to be seen to this day although the colours are not accurate because the background of the saltire (St Andrew’s cross) should be blue rather than red; over the years this colour has faded to pink.

By 1923 conditions at the Fire Station were very cramped and although there were five permanent members of the Fire Brigade there were no quarters for them in the building. It was also stated the Fire Station’s ‘situation in George Street renders the exit with the modern heavy motor fire engine, of which the Council now has two, extremely awkward and dangerous.’ The rent was £50 a year but the lease would expire in 1928 and Hove Councillors had the opportunity of buying land in Hove Street from the Vallance Estate and building a new and spacious Fire Station. This handsome building designed by architects Clayton & Black was officially opened on 2 June 1926.

In May 1966 an old shop front was removed to make way for the incoming Wimpy Bar and the words ‘Hove Fire Station’ were clearly visible underneath.

Today Georgie’s Cafe/Coffee Shop occupies the premises and has been there for a number of years. In November 1998 it was stated the restaurant paid a rental of £20,000 a year and the freehold had been sold to London & City Estates for £175,000.

copyright © J.Middleton
Georgie’s has been at number 85 for many years. At the top of the building the Hove coat of arms can be seen, dating from the time when Hove Fire Station occupied the premises

Number 90. This shop laid claim to being the longest established fried fish shop in Hove, having started in around 1900. In 1908 Albert Thomas Witherden was in charge and in 1914 the premises were described as a fish supper bar. Dennis Hugh Shippam purchased the business in around 1953 and the name was changed to Shippam’s in 1962. It was still in business in the 1970s. For many years the window boasted a large figurine of a cheerful fish with a chef’s hat on his head standing on its tail. By 1999 Clinton’s Cards occupied numbers 90/91.

Clinton’s closed down in June 2019 due to the end of the lease, but there is still an outlet in Churchill Square.

Number 93. The Royal George Public House. It was built on the site of a small farmhouse dating from the time the area was a market garden. The 1861 census recorded a victualler living at number 93 but no pub name was recorded. Luke Feast was the victualler in question and he was aged 32 and had been born at Plumpton. He lived with his wife Lucy who was the same age. By 1867 Charles Leddon was in charge of the pub and according to the 1871 census a widower and son occupied the premises. By the 1880s William Grinyer was behind the bar and apparently busily diluting the drinks. In 1894 Grinyer was the subject of legal proceedings for selling whisky adulterated with 5% of water. In October 1894 the summons were withdrawn because the defendant had paid the costs, including the analyst’s fee, amounting to twelve shillings and sixpence in total. William Grinyer continued to be landlord and by 1905 his widow was the licensee. By 1910 W.J. Grinyer, presumably their son, was the landlord.

Brighton Brewery owned the Royal George from 1871 to 1900 when Tamplin’s took over. In 1924 Tamplin’s reconstructed the building and in the 1950s Tamplin’s sold the pub to Watney’s.

In October 1928, in the spacious hall at the back of the pub, the re-opening and consecration of an Ancient Order of Druids Lodge took place, possibly Ames Lodge. On the south side of the pub there was a wall dividing the premises from the George Street Schools. By 1954 the wall had fallen into a bad state of repair but nobody knew who was responsible for it. After discussions, it was decided to split the cost between Tamplin’s and the school authorities.

The Attwaters were the last landlords of the Royal George and were licensees for thirty-eight years, beginning with Frederick Attwater who was there until 1951. Mrs D.E.J. Attwater followed on and was still the licensee in 1962. Her daughter Doris helped to run the pub and when she married Jimmy Coe, he also helped out. Jimmy Coe was the brother of Jack Coe, the well-known George Street fishmonger. (See under numbers 40/41). The Attwaters left the Royal George on 1 November 1964 and the pub was demolished the following year, Watney’s having sold out to Pricerite. It is ironic that today part of the site is now covered by the Wetherspoon’s Cliftonville Inn.

By 1999 QS (clothes) occupied number 93 and by 2013 it was M & Co.

It is pleasant to record that the name The Royal George is once again in use at George Street. This is because the pub on the west side, formerly Wetherspoon’s Cliftonville Inn that closed in March 2023, opened its doors on 10 August 2023 as The Royal George. The pub is now owned by Indigo Leisure; they own the Wick Inn too that also had its historic name restored after having suffered some dreadful name changes. The named licensee of The Royal George is Aimee O’Reilly, and she is co-managing the pub with Claudia Hosgood. (Argus 11/8/23)

The new Royal George in all its freshly-painted splendour

Number 93/94

The Royal George pub was once to be found at number 93. The pub was demolished in 1965, and Watney’s sold the site to Pricerite.

Then numbers 92/93/94 – at one time three separate shops with the British Heart Foundation being at number 92 – became one unit occupied by M & Co – there in 2013 but closed down in March 2023.

On Friday 30 June 2023 a new enterprise was opened. It is a new name in Brighton and Hove – Guild Care, and it is certainly different from the usual charity shop in that it sells all sorts of top quality items at bargain prices. Guild Care seeks to support older folk, and those with learning difficulties, and dementia.

Alex Brooks-Johnson, chief executive officer of the charity, was delighted to welcome local and famous author Peter James to cut the ribbon. James has achieved the astonishing record of selling over 20 million books, and obligingly, he signed some copies for sale at the shop. (Argus 4/7/23)

copyright © J.Middleton
The George Street Schools opened in 1858.
This photograph dates from the 1970s by which time
it had been re-named St Andrew’s Church of England School.

George Street Schools. William Kirkpatrick donated the site on the west side of George Street and the agreement to build the school was dated 25 June 1857 between the Revd Walter Kelly, vicar of Hove, and John Parsons, builder; James Woodman was the architect. There was a 70-foot frontage to George Street while the west side of the school abutted the churchyard. The school was ready to receive its first scholars (all boys) by 1858; girls were not admitted until later. The School Registers from 1865 provide not only the name of the child but also the district he came from and the occupations of the father or mother. The occupations listed include shepherds, sailors, many labourers, bird-catchers and a washerwoman. Boys came from the immediate vicinity and also from Fishersgate, Copperas Gap, Portslade, West Blatchington, Withdean and Preston. Considering the distance some boys had to walk to school, it is not surprising that in bad weather they did not turn up. Also when October came around, many boys were absent for potato picking to earn money for their families.

School places were in great demand and the school expanded in the 1870s. Unfortunately, the new building was erected on the girls’ playground, which meant that outdoor space became very limited. But still the demand grew and the school was again enlarged in 1894. By 1904 the number of pupils exceeded the recommended accommodation number by at least fifty. His Majesty’s Inspector commented in 1904 about the boys ‘Teaching is good and successful and discipline in the Classrooms is quite satisfactory but I noticed rough, ill-mannered behaviour in the small play yard.’ About the girls he reported ‘Discipline is excellent and the interest shown by the girls in their work is praiseworthy.’ He found the infants delightful as ever.

In spite of the popularity of the school, in 1926 the Local Education Committee decided on a reduction in the number of teaching staff. Out of the whole area eleven posts were to be lost but it was decreed five of them must go from church schools. As a result the school became badly understaffed and there was an average of 43 pupils to one teacher.

In June 1931 the school became a mixed junior and infant school although there had been grave misgivings about such a revolutionary move. In March 1961 the school finally became known as St Andrew’s Church of England School. But overcrowding remained a problem. The only solution was to build new premises on the nearby churchyard. It was decided not to disturb the human remains (around 2,000 of them) but build the school on a concrete raft on top. Unhappily, many beautiful Victorian monuments were demolished and lost forever although a record was made of the inscriptions. The foundation stone of the new school was laid on 3 March 1976 and was ready for occupation in 1977, having cost £210,000. The old site in George Street was sold for £87,000 to Linkwood Construction Ltd. a London property company.

Number 95. This site has certainly seen a variety of uses over the years. Going back to 1861 when George Street contained no less than 169 households, a carpenter, and a laundress lived here. Fast forward to 1960 and Wickham, Kimber and Oakley, Wireless Dealers were in business. By 1999 it was Radio Rentals, and in 2013 William Hill, Bookmakers, were to be found on site. By 2022 the premises were empty, but in 2024 a new coffee house with the fascinating name of Chasing Rabbits was happily ensconced.
The Urban Dictionary’s definition of ‘chasing rabbits’:- doing something totally irrelevant or being distracted from what you intend to do.

Number 96. Fad’s, the home decorating store, closed its doors for the last time on 28 August 1999. Fad’s, and its predecessors Bargain Wallpapers, had been in George Street for twenty-nine years. The empty premises were rapidly converted and a new Wizard store opened in September. The previous Wizard store had been in a much smaller shop near the north end of the street and was taken over by Boots. But Wizard did not last very long at number 96 and by 2013 Robert Dyas was in business there.

copyright © J.Middleton
This photograph was taken looking south down George Street and MVC, the music and video store, still occupied number 97. The billboard advertised that the Lion d’Or Bar (at number 9) was open all day.

Number 97. In 1999 the MVC Music and Video store occupied the premises but by 2013 Bon Marché had moved in. The store closed in 2020.

Number 97 – Bon Marché closed its doors in December 2019. This photograph was taken in February 2019 and the fascinating instrument the busker is playing is a modern version of a cello – sounded good too

Number 98. In 1889 C.G. Goddard designed and built a bicycle at the Dolphin Motor and Cycle Works located here. By 1960 the premises had expanded up to number 101 and was home to Bellman’s food market. This was later taken over by Tesco’s who sold it to pub chain Wetherspoons in the 1990s. Wetherspoons spent some £800,000 on converting it to a pub, which they decided to call the Cliftonville Inn. Quite why they opted for this name is not clear. The Cliftonville Hotel was next to Hove Railway Station (now called The Station) and the Cliftonville Inn was in Hove Place (now the Red Lion). Of course the new Cliftonville Inn was situated in an area previously known as Cliftonville but part of its site was once home to the Royal George Public House.

The premises closed down in March 2023, and unfortunately the much-appreciated hanging baskets of flowers went too, leaving the facade looking somewhat forlorn.

copyright © J.Middleton
This photograph was taken on 22 July 2014 and shows the exterior of the Cliftonville Inn in all its flowering glory consisting of nine hanging baskets and two wall-attached baskets.

Number 102. In 1914 P.H. Simmonds ran a ham and beef shop on the premises. In 1974 it was home to Domestic Electrical Rentals Ltd and rented out television sets.

In July 1990 Claire Rayner, agony aunt and novelist, opened the new Gold Arts shop. Jeweller Douglas Newman opened the first Gold Arts shop in 1979 at Brighton Square. In 2013 Gold Arts continue to occupy the shop and also run a pawn-broking business.

copyright © J.Middleton
George Street is a popular venue for buskers. These two performers were photographed on a chilly day on 10 December 2003.

1861 Census – Professions of Occupants

General shopkeeper / Dressmaker
Brewer’s labourer / Brick-maker
Gardener / Brick-maker’s labourer / Laundress / Laundress’ maids (two)
Shoemaker / Milliner
Carter / Baker
Gasworks labourer / Charwoman /Servants (two)
Carpenters (two)
Greengrocer / Brick-maker
Cabinet maker / Upholsterer / Servant / Dressmaker
Coachman / Baker’s boy / Tailor
Brick-maker’s labourers (three) / Plasterer’s labourer / Agricultural labourer / Gardener
Laundress / Beach labourer
Engineer / Ironer
Laundress / Iron moulder / Gas Work’s labourer
Bricklayer and plasterer / Bricklayer’s labourer / Laundry worker / Gardener
Coachman / Servants (three) / Blacksmith
Bricklayer’s labourer / Laundress / Plasterer’s boy / Watch & clock maker / Servant / Gardener
Chimney sweep / Washerwoman / Servant / Brick-maker’s labourers (two)
Agricultural labourer / Scavenger’s carter
Hairdresser / Dressmaker
Brick-maker’s labourer / Railway labourer / Bricklayer’s labourers (two)
Greengrocer’s carter / Needlewoman / Cart boy / Brick-makers (two) / Carter / Ironer
Painter and general dealer / Dressmaker / Trouser maker / Coach painter / Former lodging house keeper
Tinman / Bricklayer’s labourer / Master carter
Mariner / Laundress / Brick-maker
Police Constables (two) / Carpenter / Plumber
Dressmaker / Retired coal merchant / Milliner
Laundress / Labourer (keeps pigs) / Assistant Laundress
Washerwoman / Grocer’s labourer / Brewer’s labourer / Laundress
Brick-makers (three) / Washerwoman / Servant
Carpenters (two) / Machinist
Carpenter / Painter / Ironer
Bricklayer’s labourers (two) / Coal merchant’s labourers (two) / Washerwoman / Blacksmiths (two)
Carpenter / Grocer’s boy / Bricklayer’s labourer / Dressmaker
Road Labourer / Laundress / Bricklayer’s labourer / Servant / Laundress
Agricultural labourer / Washerwoman / Laundress
Brick-maker’s labourers (two) / Charwoman
Painter and paper-hanger
Bricklayer / Brick-maker
Laundress / Dressmaker / Brick-maker’s labourer
Chairman (he pushed/pulled Bath chairs) / Coach-maker’s apprentice / Laundress / House servant
Laundress
Agricultural labourer / Brick-maker / Laundress
Chelsea pensioner / Chairman / Washerwoman / Brick-maker’s labourer
General carter / Servant / General labourer / Carpenter
Charwoman / Errand boy
Carpenter / Agricultural Labourer
Carpenter / Charwoman / Gardener
Weaver / Servant / Laundresses (two)
Charwoman / Bricklayer
Bricklayer’s labourer / Lamplighter / Servant / Mariner
Gas stoker / Dressmaker / Servant / Tailor
Servant / Stonemason
Gas Work’s labourer / Porter / Agricultural labourer
Police Constable / Bricklayer / Charwoman / Bricklayer’s labourer
Master Mason employing two men
Book maker / Book binder / Mariner / Ironer
Cork cutter / Laundresses (two) / Dressmaker
Gardener / Agricultural labourers (two) / Laundress / Coal merchant’s labourer
Ironmonger / Laundress
Agricultural labourer / Charwoman / Stonemason
Grocer / Grocer’s assistant / Servant / Shop assistant / Beach labourer
Brick-maker / Bricklayer
Agricultural labourer / Chelsea pensioner / Farm labourer / Needlewoman / Errand boy
Laundress / Cellar-man / Char-man
Agricultural labourers (two)
Laundresses (two) / Brick-makers (three) / Charwoman
Gas meter maker / Shoemaker / Laundress / Servant
Bricklayer / Servant
Gas labourer / Agricultural labourer / Washerwoman
Staircase builder / Laundress / Former laundress aged 92
Cordwainer / Shoemaker
Bricklayer’s labourer / Brick-makers (two)
Cook / Grocer and coal merchant /Ironer /Mason
Not mentioned
Wheelwright / Apprentice / Journeyman / Dressmaker
(The previous dwelling and this dwelling were classed together)
Gas fitter / Coachman
Carpenter, joiner / Domestic servant
Greengrocers (man and wife) / brick-maker
Grocer / Lady’s maid
Bricklayer’s labourer / Laundress / House servant
Labourer / Carpenter
Agricultural labourer / Mangler
Bricklayer’s labourer / Brick-maker
Baker / Gas work’s labourer
Agricultural carter / Agricultural labourer / Coal labourer / Charwomen (two) / Jobbing boy
Seaman / Laundress / Beach labourers (two)
Paper hanger / Bakers (two)
Brewer’s labourer / Agricultural labourer
Printer employing six men / Dressmaker
Gardener / Laundresses (two)
Victualler / Agricultural labourer
Dairymen (two) / Housekeeper
Carpenter / Laundress

(Total of 169 households)

Traders as recorded in the 1960 Directory – East side (south to north)

1-2. Stuart Norris

3. Radio Rentals

4. Rita, Art Needlework Depot (Thomas F, Merritt)

5. L. Cohen, Confectioner

6. Walter Gillett Ltd. Stationer and printer

7. George, Cleaners

7. James Gleave

8. Wickham, Kimber & Oakley, Music Dealers

9. George Pharmacy (Hove) Ltd. Chemist

10. Leonard Thompson, Optician

10. John Ridge

11. George W. Street & Sons, Watchmaker

12. A. Banks, Milliner

13. Lesters, Toy Dealers

14. Brown’s Domestic Stores, Hardware and Paints

15. Carlin Carpets Ltd.

16. World’s Stores

17. Barnsley & Co. Newsagents

18. Mrs A.J. Gunn, Fruiterer

19. De Marco Brothers, Ice Cream Parlour

20. Mrs E. Wickes, China and Glass Dealer

21. Pearkes Dairies Ltd. Grocer

22. Brighter Homes Stores Ltd. Wallpaper merchants

23. Channel Laundry Services Ltd. Receiving Office

24. Mrs K. Bennett, Grocer

25. A. Hayes, Fishmonger

26. Geall Sound Distribution Ltd. Public Address Engineers

26. Geall Ltd. Electrical Engineers

27. Chaspers of Hove, Pet Store

28. A. Pomfrey, chimney sweep

29. Victor Value & Co. Ltd. Grocer

30. Excel Drapery Company

31. Heath & Heather, Herbalist

32. Dunn’s Footwear

33. S.E. Harris, Fancy Goods

34. E.J. Thompson & Sons Ltd, Ironmonger

35. Importers Retail Salesrooms Ltd. Tea Merchants

35. Miss Bravery

36. G.I. & A.J. Scotts, Fruiterer

37. Rosslyn, Hosier (A. Bloom)

38. P.K. Buttimore Ltd. Confectioner

39. Dee’s, Grocer

39. Cecil A. Woolven

40/41 Coe Brothers Ltd. Fishmonger

42. Archie Mayler, Tailor

44. Greenlees & Son (Easiephit Footwear Ltd.) Boot Maker

45. James Blackman, Fishmonger

46. Zena Peters, Baby Linen Dealer

47. Eastman Ltd. Butcher

48. Harry Richard Sale, Chemist

49. Allens (Hove) Ltd. Butcher

50. William Cornford & Sons, Funeral Director

51. Ogdens (Brighton) Ltd. Baker

52. Lesters, Home Furnisher

53. Brighton Tele-Radio Services Ltd. Radio Engineer

54. Maypole Dairy Ltd.

55. Boots, Chemist

56. S. Hilton & Son Ltd. Boot Maker

56A. Clark’s Bread Company Ltd. Baker

1960 Directory – West side (north to south)

57A. Mrs. M. Fryer, tobacconist

57. Ballerina Snack Bar

58A. Handicraft Supplies (Butcher & Butcher Ltd)

58. Miss Vera Colwell, Draper

59. J. Sainsbury, Provision Merchant

60. T. Walton (London) Ltd. Fruiterer

61. H. Kranat, Confectioner

62/63. Freeman, Hardy & Willis Ltd. Boot Maker

64. Tredgetts, Florist

64. Raymond Sherman

65. Lynwool, Needlework and Wool Stores (Miss T. Latten & Miss G.E. Corfe)

66. Albert Morley Ltd. Tailor

67. V. & H. Cooke, Tobacconist

68. Popular Laundry Services

68. Frederick Alfred Hutchings, Chimney Cleaner

69. George Mence Smith Ltd. Domestic Store

70. Brighton & Hove Goldsmiths Company, Jewellers

71. P.K. Buttimore, Carpet Dealer

72. Bari Boutique, Ladies Outfitters

74. M.G. Cooke, Fruiterer

75. Home Decorators (Hove) Ltd.

76. Tesco Stores, Grocer

77. Dresswell Gowns (Mrs L.M. Jacobs)

77. David J. Jacobs

78. A.E. Kent & Co. Biscuit Distributors

79. Smith & Brown (Brighton) Ltd. Outfitters

81. Frederick A. Reynolds, Hairdresser

82. Greville Harcourt, House Furnisher

83. Curry Ltd. Cycle Agents

84. A. Young Ltd. Butcher

85. Midge Motors, Motor Agents

86. Hove Surplus Stores, Outfitters

87. Lesters, Baby Carriage Dealer

89. Harrington & Son Ltd. Baker

89A. Miss Weaver

90. Dennis Hugh Shippam, Fried Fish

91. Ernest Ward (Fruit) Ltd. Greengrocer

92. Butcher’s, Butcher

93. Royal George Public House (Mrs D.E.J. Attwater)

95/95A Wickham, Kimber & Oakley. Wireless Dealer

Primary School (Church of England) Mixed Junior & Infants

98/101. Bellmans, Food Market

103. Dudley Worcer, Picture Framer, Artist’s Materials

Traders as recorded on 21 June 1999 – East side (south to north)

Barclays Bank (numbered in Church Road)

1. One Better

2. Abbey National Building Society

3. Roseby’s (bed linen, curtains etc)

4/5. Wine Cellar

6. Ladbroke’s (bookmaker’s)

7. Barnado’s (charity shop)

8. Scope (charity shop)

9. Le Lion d’Or

10. S.C. Babyaid (charity shop)

11. Hove Jewellers

12. Empty shop

13/14. Lesters (furniture)

15/17. W.H. Smith (booksellers, stationery, cards)

18/19. Portman Building Society

20. Empty shop

21. Truffles (bread, rolls and cakes)

22. Body Shop

23. Rene Florist

24. Deli Bistro

25. Boot’s Opticians

26. Hove YMCA (charity shop)

27. Imperial Cancer Relief (charity shop)

28. End of the Line

29. Friday-Ad

30. Contessa (ladies’ underwear)

31. Hove Accessory Centre

32. Fine Records

33. Harris’s Leather Goods

34. Tari’s Coffee Lounge

35. L’Espirito del Caffe

36. Streets a’ Head (hair salon, formerly Happy Bride)

37. Stead & Simpson (shoes)

38. Barnard

39. Card Centre

40/41. Superdrug

42. Going Places

43. Lunn Poly Holiday Shop

44. Philip James (jewellers)

45. Impulse Party Shop

46. Connaught Leisure

47. Thornton’s (chocolates)

48. Anglian Window Centre

49. Gibson & Coe, fishmonger and butcher

50. Floriana (café)

51/52. Sussex Stationers

53/54. Royal Bank of Scotland

55. Empty shop

56. Brown’s Traditional Baker

21 June 1999 -West side (north to south)

57A. Dean & Perry Jenkins (greengrocer)

57A. Sensational Sausages

57. New Look (women’s clothes)

58. Wizard (novelties for £1)

59/61. Boots Chemist

62/63. Shoe Fayre

65. Cooper’s (jeweller)

66. Barnard, baker

67. Clark’s (shoes)

68. Holland & Barrett (health food store)

69. KJC (mobile phones)

70. Ophthalmic Opticians

71. Potter’s Men’s Wear

72. Pet’s Corner

73. Granada (TVs)

74. Carnival (shoes)

75. Dixon’s

76. Carter’s (electric & gas appliances)

77. County Bookshop

78/79. Dorothy Perkins (women’s clothes)

81. Blossoms (restaurant)

82. This ‘n That

83. Sussex Beacon (charity shop)

84. Specsavers

85. Georgie’s Bistro

86/87. Halifax Building Society

88. PDSA (charity shop)

89. Empty shop (used to be Pedlar’s)

90/91. Clinton’s (greeting cards)

92. British Heart Foundation (charity shop)

93/94. QS (women’s clothes)

95. Radio Rentals

96. Fads (home decorating)

97. MVC (music and video)

98. Cliftonville Inn

102. Gold Arts

103. Bradford & Bingley Building Society

Broadley’s (men’s clothes, numbered in Church Road)

There were eighty-six businesses including eight charity shops. According to the Electoral Roll 1999 only five people lived in George Street).

Traders as recorded 29 October 2013 – East side (south to north)

* Denotes the same trader as recorded in 1999

Barclays Bank* (numbered in Church Road)

1. Savers

2. Santander

3. Sports Dreams (charity sports kit)

4/5. Slug and Lettuce

6. Ladbroke’s*(bookmakers)

7. Barnado’s *(charity shop)

8. Scope *(charity shop)

9. Paddy Power (bookmakers)

10. Jabba Yard (clothes)

11. Feet First (chiropodist)

12. Xpress Beauty

13/14. Costa (coffee shop)

15/17. W.H. Smiths*

18/19. Nationwide Building Society* (Formerly Portman)

20. Apollo Tanning & Beauty

21. Truffles*

22. Body Shop*

23. Doggy Fashion

24. Caffè Bar Italia

25. Boot’s Opticians*

26. YMCA* (charity shop)

27. Age UK (charity shop)

28. Clark’s* (Kid’s shoes)

29. Flight Centre

30. Into Hair

31. Greggs (bakery)

32. Fine Records*

33. Bert’s Homestore

34. Marina’s House Restaurant

35. Revival Coffee Company

36/37. Prestige Cycles Ltd.

36. Phones 4U

38. Glow Hair Salon

39. Baby Star

40/41. Superdrug*

42. Chestnut Tree House (charity shop)

43. Card Factory

44. Diamond Nails Studio

45. Impulse Party Shop*

46. Connaught Leisure*

47. Heavenly Deli

48. Christobel

49. 02 Phones

50. Café Quench

51/52. Sussex Stationers*

53/54. Royal Bank of Scotland*

55. Mind (charity shop)

56A. Grasmere Farm Shop (moved from Church Road in 2013)

56A. Gossip (café)

Johnson’s (cleaners. Numbered at 96 Blatchington Road)

Traders as recorded on 29 October 2013 – West side (north to south)

Wine Me Up (94 Blatchington Road)

57A. Dean & Perry Jenkins* (greengrocer)

57A. Rainbow Flowers

57. Empty shop (was New Look)

59/61. Boots*

62/63. British Heart Foundation (charity shop)

64. Celly’s Hairstyle, everything £9

65. Cooper’s (jeweller)

66. Timpson’s (shoe menders, keys cut etc)

67. Clark’s (adult shoes)

68. Holland & Barrett*

69. Empty shop

70. Samaritans (charity shop)

71. Carphone Warehouse

72. Pet’s Corner*

73. Once Upon a Time (bridal wear)

74. Cheque Centre / Western Union

75. Caffé Nero

76. Vodafone

77. EE Orange Mobile

78/79. Dorothy Perkins*(women’s clothes)

80. Willow (women’s clothes)

81. Cala’s Restaurant

82. Empty shop (formerly Julian Graves health food shop)

83. Empty shop (formerly Perfume Warehouse)

84. Specsavers*

85. Georgie’s*

86/87. Halifax Building Society

88. Headcase Barbershop

89. Claire’s Accessories

90/91. Clinton’s Cards*

92. Empty shop (formerly British Heart Foundation)

93. M & Co. (women’s clothes)

95. William Hill (bookmakers)

96. Robert Dyas (hardware store)

97. Bon Marché (women’s clothes)

98. Cliftonville Inn* (Wetherspoons)

102. Gold Arts* / GA Pawnbrokers

103. Coral (bookmakers)

Coffee Republic (numbered at 157 Church Road)

There were eighty-three businesses including nine charity shops; they were five empty shops.

A colourful planter in the George Street is a welcome sight in the street scene, but it would have been good if the
St Andrew’s cross had been its usual blue

Traders as recorded on 3 August 2022 (East side, south to north)

one * records the same trader was there in 2013

two ** records the same trader was there in 2013 and 1999

1. Empty premises, used to be Savers
2. Santander
3. C. K. Bistro
4/5. George Street Tap
6. Ladbroke’s **
7. Barnado’s **
8. Scope **
9. Paddy Power *
10. Jabba Yard, clothes
11. Venus, Nails and Beauty
12. Little Jasmine, Therapist and Spa
13/14. Costa *
15/17. W. H. Smith **
18/19. Nationwide **
20. Apollo, Toning and Beauty
21. Truffles Bakery **
22. Body Shop **
24. Italia, cafe bar and trattoria
25. Boots, optician **
26. YMCA **
27. Empty premises (formerly Age UK)
28. QSS Vape
29. Aroma
30. Into Hair *
31. Rieker, fashion, anti-stress
32. Fine Records **
33. Bert’s Homestore
34. Marina’s Italian Cafe
35. Mamma, bar, trattoria
36. Top Boy Tattoo
37. Cake Box (egg-free)
38. Princess39. The Therapy Shop
40/41. Superdrug **
42. Chestnut Tree House **
43. Card Factory *
44. Diamond Nails Studio
45. Impulse, party shop **
46. Connaught Leisure **
47. East European Market
48. Fone World
49. O2/ Speedcom Telecommunications Ltd
50. Empty premises
51/52 & 53/54. Sussex Stationers were at 51/52, while the Royal Bank of Scotland was located at 53/54. Both premises became vacant and were developed as one enterprise of mixed use comprising four apartments. There today are the following:
Focus
Dominic Richards, landscaping & design
Scooter shop
55. Mind, charity shop *
56a. Papaya, Thai cafe
56. B Diner

Traders as recorded on 22 June 2022 (west side, north to south)

57a. Tattoo and piercing
57. Grape Tree
59/61. Boots **
62/63. British Heart Foundation *
64. Celly’s, hairdresser *
65. Triple Two

A colourful new addition to George Street promising real food, awesome coffee

66. Timpson *
67. Clark’s **
68. Holland & Barrett **
69. Empty premises
70. K-Nails & Studio
71. Cesci
72. Pet’s Corner **
73. Hay’s Travel
74. Big Green, charity shop
75. Caffe Nero *
76. Vodafone *
77. EE BT
78/81. The Works
82. Resolve Tech
83. Rust
84. SpecSavers **
85. Georgie’s **
86/87. Empty premises, was Halifax, now sold
88. Studio
89. Claire’s Accessories *
90/91. Waterstone’s

At last there is a dedicated bookshop in George Street. It is to be hoped Waterstone’s does a roaring trade

92. Lovely Look
93. M & Co * (Closed in March 2023)
95. Empty premises, under offer
96. Robert Dyas *
97. Savers
98. Cliftonville Inn ** (Closed in March 2023)
102. Gold Arts **

Sources

Argus

Censuses

Directories

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Thanks to Robert Jeeves of Step Back in Time, Queen’s Road, Brighton for allowing the use of the photo of the George Street Trolley Bus Experiment.

page layout by D.Sharp

29 July 2024

George Street, Hove

copyright © J.MiddletonA view looking south of an almost deserted George Street recorded by Mr Miles on 5 April 1911 after a fall of snow

copyright © D. Sharp

copyright © J.MiddletonThis photograph was taken on 15 September 2020 outside Cafe Bellini at number 56 – a sunny respite between lock-downs

copyright © J.Middleton
A view looking south of an almost deserted George Street recorded by Mr Miles on 5 April 1911 after a fall of snow

copyright © J.Middleton
**This photograph was taken on 15 September 2020 outside Cafe Bellini at number 56 – a sunny respite between lock-downs**