Portsmouth street waxes and wanes down the centuries

For those who can't place it, Half Moon Street is now considered part of Queen Street, Portsea, but at one time it was a street in its own right.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Nov 2016, 06:00 GMT
Updated 6th Dec 2016, 16:14 GMT
19TH CENTURY Half Moon Street between The Navy Tavern and the Common Hard.19TH CENTURY Half Moon Street between The Navy Tavern and the Common Hard.
19TH CENTURY Half Moon Street between The Navy Tavern and the Common Hard.

In the lithograph from the early 19th century it appears as a street of some length, nestling between The Navy Tavern and Common Hard.

It looks as though Havant Street, in the distance, is some hundreds of yards away.

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Fast forward to the early 1920s and Half Moon Street seems a busy place.

Half Moon Street in the 1920s with The Navy Tavern to the left.Half Moon Street in the 1920s with The Navy Tavern to the left.
Half Moon Street in the 1920s with The Navy Tavern to the left.

Perhaps it was decorated for the visit of an American warship.

Move forward again to the late 1950s and early 1960s and the war has done its worst and all the buildings on the left have disappeared. A taxi has made use of the parking space.

Today, Half Moon Street is a no-entry cul-de-sac with bollards stopping any potential taxis from waiting.

If you didn’t know of it and did not look up at the wall to see that this short piece of land is still called Half Moon Street you would not know of it.

Related topics:PortsmouthAmerican