It was one of Portsmouth’s most endearing street scenes – the view north along Commercial Road.
Seen here in 1906, it includes the forecourt of Portsmouth and Southsea railway station on the right and the grand old General Post Office on the left.
The post office was built in 1881 and demolished in 1978.
The Southdown bus in the 1972 view (bottom left) is just about to pass Judd’s Railway Hotel and the Lennox Arms which were both demolished in 1978 for road widening.
Relatively recent newcomers to the city would be hard-placed to recognise the view on the other picture shown here.
It was taken in 1967 looking towards Commercial Road from Russell Street where Guildhall Square is now.
The Sussex Hotel is on the corner and Smart Brothers’ furniture shop is at numbers 7-11 offering the post-war generation ‘easy to pay hire-purchase’ for three-piece suites.
Why don’t you share your memories with us? If you have your own story or pictures from days gone by that you would like featured on this page
please e-mail Chris Owen at chris.owen@thenews.co.uk or write to him at The News, The News Centre, Hilsea, Portsmouth,PO2 9SX
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