In old pictures - the Guildhall and its square | Nostalgia

The Guildhall, Portsmouth – the city’s best-known and most distinguished building for generations – was reduced to rubble on the night of January 10, 1941, by the Luftwaffe.
By Deborah Croker
Published 5th Sep 2020, 06:00 GMT
Portsmouth Guildhall 'gutted' after being bombed in January 1941. The News PP5077Portsmouth Guildhall 'gutted' after being bombed in January 1941. The News PP5077
Portsmouth Guildhall 'gutted' after being bombed in January 1941. The News PP5077

It was reopened by the Queen in 1959, 18 years later.

But it was to be another 18 or so before Guildhall Square was finally redeveloped and controversially pedestrianised – a move still rued by many.

• Want more nostalgia? Try clicking here and here.

An undated picture of the Guildhall rubble after the Second World War bombing. The News PP3944An undated picture of the Guildhall rubble after the Second World War bombing. The News PP3944
An undated picture of the Guildhall rubble after the Second World War bombing. The News PP3944

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