Who knows the history of these hilltop tearooms in Portsmouth?

Edward Amey dropped me a line about this 1931 photograph of The George on top of Portsdown Hill with the tearooms on the adjacent corner long gone. He asks if anyone knows anything about the cafe.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th May 2016, 06:00 BST
Tram cars of the Horndean Light Railway make their way north to Horndean. What do we know about the tea gardens on the left?Tram cars of the Horndean Light Railway make their way north to Horndean. What do we know about the tea gardens on the left?
Tram cars of the Horndean Light Railway make their way north to Horndean. What do we know about the tea gardens on the left?

Trams travelled in the centre of the road coming down the hill.

Just to the left, out of the frame, the track moved to the west side of London Road. It then descended to Cosham passing over Southwick Hill Road. The remains of the concrete setts where the bridge was can still be seen if you know where to look. I once tried to see if any track remained and, yes, it does under the turf to the left of the photograph.

The dip in Portsdown Hill is not natural but man-made.

The same scene today albeit it a little lower as the chalk earthworks have been removed.The same scene today albeit it a little lower as the chalk earthworks have been removed.
The same scene today albeit it a little lower as the chalk earthworks have been removed.
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Before The George was built Portsdown Hill Road ran at the same height as The George’s roof.

In 1813 there was concern about horses dragging coaches over the summit so prisoners of war were used to dig a cutting to reduce the climb.

In 1968 the house to the east of The George was demolished and the new road opened.

ALL GONE Every building in this 1939 photograph of Portsmouth has now been demolished and replaced by the Rudmore roundabout and the M275.

The junction of Twyford Avenue and Kingston Crescent after work made the junction safer in 1939.The junction of Twyford Avenue and Kingston Crescent after work made the junction safer in 1939.
The junction of Twyford Avenue and Kingston Crescent after work made the junction safer in 1939.
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In case you don’t recognise it, we’re at the junction of Twyford Avenue and Kingston Crescent

According to The Evening News, the junction had just been made safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

I wonder what the reporter would make of the traffic that shoots past this point today?

Related topics:PortsmouthPortsdown HillLondon Road