Can you date this Havant picture? | Nostalgia

It is difficult to date this photograph of East Street, Havant, as there are no vehicles or pedestrians. On the right is a branch of Gieves the naval tailors.
Looking east along East Street, Havant. Picture: Mick Cooper postcard collectionLooking east along East Street, Havant. Picture: Mick Cooper postcard collection
Looking east along East Street, Havant. Picture: Mick Cooper postcard collection

On the immediate left is the now closed White Hart pub on the corner of North Street.

Past the pub is a branch of Pinks the well-known Portsmouth grocers. This branch closed in 1930.

Further along is the Bear Hotel.

The caption claims this is the old Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, but does anyone remember this view? Picture: Mick Cooper collectionThe caption claims this is the old Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, but does anyone remember this view? Picture: Mick Cooper collection
The caption claims this is the old Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, but does anyone remember this view? Picture: Mick Cooper collection
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The Belisha beacons, the poles with the black and white stripes is now a zebra crossing.

On the right is an ironmongers now closed since the invention of B&Q. In the distance a Gales’ pub called the Brown Jug has also long gone. However, the architecture is still recognisable.

Can anyone help with the date?

• The second and third photographs come from Mick Cooper’s collection and both proclaim to show the Portsmouth Royal Hospital which had its main entrance in Commercial Road opposite the Royal pub.

Another postcard thought to show the Royal Hospital, but does it? Picture: Mick Cooper collectionAnother postcard thought to show the Royal Hospital, but does it? Picture: Mick Cooper collection
Another postcard thought to show the Royal Hospital, but does it? Picture: Mick Cooper collection

I only visited the hospital twice so cannot remember it in any way apart from the main entrance. The lower photograph has a rising drive so surely cannot be the Royal, as it was always called. It looks more like the old Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham.

A different level crossing at Cosham

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In April my book The Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway Then and Now will be published and here is a photograph from it.

The photographer is in Southampton Road, Cosham, now Waite Street. The two people are standing in what is now the front of the fire station. The tram has just crossed Southampton Road level crossing.An open gate is on the left. To the right of the tram is a bus in Spur Road. Fort Widley, on Portsdown Hill, stands guard, just as it does today.

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