Underneath the ar(t)ches paintings go up for sale

The long-awaited conversion of the arches in Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, into 13 art and craft studios and a deli-style cafe, is now complete and has opened as the Hotwalls Studios and The Canteen.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2016, 06:00 BST
A postcard from the 1970s showing four of the historic arches being used to sell local artists workA postcard from the 1970s showing four of the historic arches being used to sell local artists work
A postcard from the 1970s showing four of the historic arches being used to sell local artists work

Three postcard images here show the scheduled monument as it was before the conversion. They were sent to me by Old Portsmouth resident Jackie Baynes.

The Dixon card from the early 1970s shows four of the arches in use by local painters to display and sell their works on summer Sundays.

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The other Dixon card, dated 1975, shows the Round Tower with, on the left, a brick arch which is now the kitchen window of the cafe. The tower was built between 1415 and 1422 to beef-up the fortifications.

The Round Tower postcard posted in 1947 complete with seaplane. Can you identify it?The Round Tower postcard posted in 1947 complete with seaplane. Can you identify it?
The Round Tower postcard posted in 1947 complete with seaplane. Can you identify it?

The M&L sepia card, posted in 1947, shows the seaward side of the Round Tower with, on the right, the building that The Canteen now occupies. Anyone recognise the aircraft?

The low flat-roofed building with the window was the searchlight room in the Second World War and now forms the way out on to the al fresco eating deck, which was once the searchlight platform.

Beware seaspray if you are sitting there when the tide is high.

Related topics:Old Portsmouth