Edwardian splendour of sun-drenched Southsea | Nostalgia

Today we turn the clock back nearly 120 years to reflect on the seafront and common of Southsea in all its Edwardian elegance.

These were days when, with not a hint of naked flesh on display, men and women turned out in their Sunday best to sit on the beach,​​​ go boating or stroll across Ladies’ Mile.

Young lads offering rides in their goat carts on Southsea seafront in the 1890s.placeholder image
Young lads offering rides in their goat carts on Southsea seafront in the 1890s.

• To see more pictures of the Clarence Pier area, try clicking here.

• A message from the editor, Mark Waldron

A busker playing his violin on the beach near Clarence Pier, Southsea, about 1895.placeholder image
A busker playing his violin on the beach near Clarence Pier, Southsea, about 1895.

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.

News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice