'˜Mystery mannequin' spotted on roof of Portsmouth building

The bizarre figure perched on top of Charter House. Credit: Julie Potten

Keen photographer Julie Potten has captured images of a mannequin drooping from the facade of Charter House.

Driving past the building in Lord Montgomery Way, Julie caught a brief glimpse of the figure – but returned with her camera on Friday for a closer look.

Zooming in on one of the structure’s dormers, which faces Waltham Street, she discovered a mannequin perched on its roof.

Ms Potten said: ‘I happened to look up at the roof level in Waltham Street and noticed some kind of figure protruding out from it.

‘Well, I couldn’t leave that un-investigated, so I returned last Friday with my new super-duper zoom lens for a closer inspection.

‘What I managed to capture has now become a mystery to myself, family and local Facebook group members.

‘What is it? Who put it there? When and why? Someone suggested that maybe it was a student prank, which is feasible, but how did they get it up there?

Charter House, with the mannequin drooping over a dormer on the building's left-hand side. Credit: Julie Potten

‘It looks like it could be some kind of mannequin, made of rubber or felt, or something that’s not masonry - very strange.’

The figure is also visible in images captured by Google Street View in July, 2017.

A listed structure, Charter House houses businesses such as Greggs and Subway on the ground floor.

Its upper levels contain apartments rented by private tenants, including students.

Businesses operating from the ground level of Charter House have been made aware of Julie’s discovery.