Cramptons shipbuilders organised fun day out for workers at Petersfield | Nostalgia

Halcyon days indeed when local factories used to organise a day out for its employees.In an undated photograph we see sturdy open Dennis charabancs in the summer days when lightweight clothing was all that was required.
By Bob Hind
Published 6th Nov 2020, 00:00 GMT
Parked up in Petersfield Square are employees of Crampton’s shipbuilders in Portsmouth. Picture: The News archiveParked up in Petersfield Square are employees of Crampton’s shipbuilders in Portsmouth. Picture: The News archive
Parked up in Petersfield Square are employees of Crampton’s shipbuilders in Portsmouth. Picture: The News archive

The people are employees of shipbuilding company Cramptons.

The scene is the square in Petersfield and St Peters Church to the rear along with the statue of King William III in the centre.

In those far off days the town was geared up for tourist and after a two hour trip from Portsmouth the cyclist cafe next to Mr Monday’s shop in the top right made hot baths available for dust covered travellers. Both premises are long gone.

A very early photograph of a dry dock in Portsmouth dockyard possibly taken in 1865. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collectionA very early photograph of a dry dock in Portsmouth dockyard possibly taken in 1865. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collection
A very early photograph of a dry dock in Portsmouth dockyard possibly taken in 1865. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collection
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:: Possibly one of the earliest photographs taken in the dockyard we see what I believe is a paddle-wheeled tug in dry dock within Portsmouth dockyard. At that time it was a Royal Dockyard as to todays inane naval base.

On the right is believed to be a covered dry dock or slipway long before today’s shipways were constructed. On the left can be seen a sailing vessel with Jacob’s ladder ratelines pronounced ‘rattlins’.

Related topics:Portsmouth