Readers reveal lads’ bomb site kickabout location in Portsmouth | Nostalgia

Last Saturday’s picture of lads having a kickabout on a Portsmouth bomb site caused great interest.I must thank those who recognised the location and several others who e-mailed me who were not quite so spot-on but had other useful information.
We now know the lads were having a kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. The 'XXX' on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.We now know the lads were having a kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. The 'XXX' on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.
We now know the lads were having a kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. The 'XXX' on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.

The boys are actually on the remains of Norfolk Street with Hyde Street, off King’s Road, Southsea.

King’s Road is on the left and, where I have marked XXX, a man can be seen riding his cycle along the road.

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In the distance is the former Midland Bank, which still survives and is now a restaurant.

We now know that the lads were having their kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. XXX on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.We now know that the lads were having their kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. XXX on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.
We now know that the lads were having their kickabout on Norfolk Street, Southsea. XXX on the left is a man riding a bike along King's Road.

On the corner of the junction (now a mini roundabout) with King’s Terrace and Landport Terrace is a tall building, King’s House, that also still survives.

Southcott’s the plumbers had premises in Hyde Street and as can be seen, still stood amid the devastation of the blitz.

I went to the same location last Wednesday and trees mar the scene somewhat. However, the former Midland Bank can just be seen as can King’s House on the corner of King’s Terrace.

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The shocking picture looking up Kings Road after the blitz of January 10, 1941, is one from the book Smitten City, published by The News and is part of The News archive.

The same spot today. The former Midland Bank and King's House are in the distance behind the trees.  Picture: Bob HindThe same spot today. The former Midland Bank and King's House are in the distance behind the trees.  Picture: Bob Hind
The same spot today. The former Midland Bank and King's House are in the distance behind the trees. Picture: Bob Hind

The photograph was taken from either the roof of the Midland Bank or the roof of King’s House.

Hyde and Norfolk Streets can be seen on the left and I have marked XXX where the boys would have been playing football.

I have pencilled in Stone Street but it might well have been the Flint Street junction.

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Now completely rebuilt of course, King’s Road is twice as wide as the original and comes complete with grass verges and pavements.

XXX is where the boys had their kickabout. King's Road after the blitz of January 10, 1941.  Picture: The NewsXXX is where the boys had their kickabout. King's Road after the blitz of January 10, 1941.  Picture: The News
XXX is where the boys had their kickabout. King's Road after the blitz of January 10, 1941. Picture: The News

Today’s buildings are set well back from the road compared to pre-Second World War days when the shop windows were immediately alongside the inside edge of the pavement.

In the ‘today’ photograph there is so much street furniture, trees and other rubbish it is almost an impossibility to retake the original shot but I did my best even even though it was 5am last Wednesday.

There was also a massive Tarmac-laying machine parked exactly where I didn’t want it to be! Isn’t that always the case?

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Hyde Street would have been behind the wall where the flats have been built and Southcott’s plumbers would have been to the right of the tree on the right hand edge of the photograph.

A long shot I know, but I really hope that there might just be one of the boys still surviving who can contact me. It would be rather superb if there were.

He would be aged about 85 by now but I never give up hope...

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