Memories of Southsea (Including Elm Grove, Kent Road & Area)

Memories of Southsea (Including Elm Grove, Kent Road & Area)

Memories of Southsea (Including Elm Grove, Kent Road & Area)

Published by the WEA Portsmouth Local History Group in 2014, 40 pages. A5 size booklet (N6067)

This booklet provides a fascinating insight into the history of part of Portsmouth, and includes lots of memories and recollections of what life was like in years gone by. The booklet covers parts of the area now known as Southsea, and is a must read for anyone who lived or grew up in the area, and will delight anyone with an interest in the history and development of Portsmouth

From the first inside page: The latest in our series of booklets covers part of the area known as Southsea, covering the area south of Elm Grove to Kent Road; and from Victoria Road South to, but not including, Castle Road.

Much of the land to the south of Portsea Island, which later became Southsea, was for a great many years un-suitable for building. A number of springs fed into streams that led south into marshy areas known as morasses. The Little Morass was at the Clarence Pier end of Southsea Common fed by a stream, the Hambrook, which ran from Kingston down through Somers Road, Green Road, Castle Road to the common. The stream was culverted and so is no longer visible until the culvert fails or some house or road builder manages to find it. The land was split between two owners, the Leeks and the Whites. They leased it out, most of it was used as small farms and as time went by was sold off as building land. Victoria Road, North and South, was one of the old lanes running from Fratton Bridge down to Southsea. Elm Grove and Kings Road were earlier Wish Lane running east-west from Portsmouth to Fratton and Southsea. The last elm was taken down in 1929. Many of the roads in this booklet are within the area developed by Thomas Ellis Owen who built many of the grand detached villas and terraces...

The condition of the booklet is excellent. The cover is clean and tidy, the staple spine is intact, and all pages are clean, intact, unblemished and tightly bound

Condition New