Remember Portsdown Hill's prefabs?

I know it’s a long time ago but does anyone remember living in these prefabricated homes on the eastern side of London Road as it goes up Portsdown Hill?

At the war’s end and with thousands of men returning from abroad, there were many homeless people within the city’s boundaries. While many moved to Bedhampton to old naval establishments, there was a dire shortage of suitable accommodation in the city

Prefabricated homes on the slopes of Portsdown Hill. The first opened in July 1945. Picture: Tony Triggs collection | Other 3rd Party

placeholder image — Prefabricated homes on the slopes of Portsdown Hill. The first opened in July 1945. Picture: Tony Triggs collection | Other 3rd Party

The answer was prefabricated homes and hundreds were put up on the slopes of Portsdown Hill.

Those in the picture were on the east side of the A3 and a bus is straining to the summit in the background. I always thought the only prefabs were on the western side of the road.

Young sub-lieutenants at HM Gunnery School, Whale Island, Portsmouth, being lectured on the workings of a 15in gun. | Other 3rd Party

These buildings could be put up incredibly quickly and they came with relatively cheap rents to give occupiers a new start after peace was declared. The first were opened in July 1945 and remained for some decades.

Behind the three white ones are wooden huts used as troop accommodation in the First World War.

I can remember, as a Saturday milk boy in the late ’50s, delivering milk to several prefabs built on bomb sites in the Fratton area. Please correct me if my memory is playing tricks, it was some time ago. The photograph comes from Tony Triggs’s book Portsdown Panorama.

• Last Thursday I published a photo of the 16in guns of HMS Nelson so I thought you’d like to see the breech of these massive guns.

Long before the days of social distancing... a busy summer day at Langstone crossing. | Other 3rd Party

The photo shows an instructor at HM Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, Whale Island, in the 1940s showing sub-lieutenants the mechanism of the breech of a 15in gun. The biggest guns – 13.5in to 16in – could be mounted in power-operated gun turrets. HMS King George V had 10, 14in guns mounted in two four-gun turrets plus another two-gun turret.

I’m told when HMS Nelson fired a full broadside of her nine, 16in guns, rivets popped throughout the ship. So intermittent firing took place ie one turret of three then another. No wonder Royal Navy gunners were considered the service’s elite. It is a pity this training breech was not saved in a museum somewhere.

• A long gone scene on a summer day at Langstone railway crossing. Where the photographer was, I do not know, perhaps up a tree.

Before the hand operated gates could be fully opened the cyclists are pushing their way through heading for a pint in Langstone village perhaps or further on to Hayling Island seafront.

This part of the road is now a cul-de-sac and the modern road is farther to the left. This scene changed completely in November 1963 when the branch line closed.