When A3 through Horndean was little more than a country lane | Nostalgia

A marvellous summer view along the A3 London Road at Horndean perhaps some time in the 1950s.
THEN: London Road, Horndean, in the 1950s.THEN: London Road, Horndean, in the 1950s.
THEN: London Road, Horndean, in the 1950s.

On the left is the Co-op store, now a house clearance shop.

The building with the bay window has long since gone. At the bottom of the hill the road took a sharp left heading onward to Petersfield or turned right for Emsworth. The trees make it a beautiful photograph.

On the right is a bus stop with one of those larch shelters that which protected passengers from the weather. I assume the bus pulled into the lay-by and passengers ran forward to board.

NOW: A view down the old London Road in 2020. Picture: Bob HindNOW: A view down the old London Road in 2020. Picture: Bob Hind
NOW: A view down the old London Road in 2020. Picture: Bob Hind
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The ‘today’ picture shows the same view taken from the original spot and what changes we see. Everything on the left has gone to be replaced by a parade of shops with flats above and a lay-by at the front.

All the trees on the right have gone and a hotel built there.

The road, still called the A3, has been widened as has the pavement which now allows cyclists to ride in safety. Behind camera is a bridge with the new A3(M) passing beneath it taking much traffic away from the village.

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