Gone: Another landmark Portsmouth pub converted into homes '“Â Nostalgia

THEN: When Twyford Avenue, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, had two-way traffic. With a trolleybus heading for Clarence Pier and the Beresford pub, this was Stamshaw in 1954. Picture: Barry Cox Collection.

In the V between the two roads isÂ The Beresford which started life as the Dairyman's Arms in late Victorian times continuing to trade until the 21st century. Thanks to Portsmouth Lost Pubs website.

Once part of Portsmouth United Breweries' estate it was little altered downÂ the decades. In October 2010 city planners gave permission for the pub to be converted to four homesÂ with another to be built to the rear. It now has cladding hiding the original decorative tiles beneath.

Today Twyford Avenue is one-way heading north with Stamshaw Road one-way heading south.

NOW: The same location in 2016. The trolleybuses left us in 1963 and the pub closed about 2010. Picture: Bob Hind

As with all these then-and-now photographsÂ theÂ '˜now' scene is full of what I callÂ '˜street furniture', traffic lights, signposts and street markings all over the place which I thinkÂ spoil the shot. It was so much neater before all these features were added.

Â A cyclist with a hi-viz vest can be seen on the left, something unheard of when the former photograph was taken.

The third picture is another from the Barry Cox Collection, a marvellous pre-war photograph, circa 1937, at The Hard, Portsea. At this point there were once three separate lines for trams but in this photoÂ trolley and petrol buses have taken their place.

We know roughly the date because in 1938 trolleybuses were renumbered placing a 2 in front of the number, so number 78 became 278.

When you could catch a bus to anywhere within and outside Portsmouth from outside the dockyard's main gate on The Hard.

These open-ended bus were always handy for hopping off as it slowed to round a corner nearer the passenger's requirement.

They could also be caught as they departed if you were running late. At out muster from the dockyard, hundreds of workers would be seen running to get a seat on their homeward-bound bus.Â

On the left is a shelter with decorative scrollwork roof support above it is a decorative lamp.

In the foreground is part of Portsmouth history which has all but disappeared,Â old ships' cannon used as bollards. They used to be seen everywhere inÂ the Portsea area and they were lovely to touch.

When I was a kid I used to wonder which battle they might have seen actionÂ in.Â