Who knows the history of these hilltop tearooms in Portsmouth?
Trams travelled in the centre of the road coming down the hill.
Just to the left, out of the frame, the track moved to the west side of London Road. It then descended to Cosham passing over Southwick Hill Road. The remains of the concrete setts where the bridge was can still be seen if you know where to look. I once tried to see if any track remained and, yes, it does under the turf to the left of the photograph.
The dip in Portsdown Hill is not natural but man-made.
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Hide AdBefore The George was built Portsdown Hill Road ran at the same height as The George’s roof.
In 1813 there was concern about horses dragging coaches over the summit so prisoners of war were used to dig a cutting to reduce the climb.
In 1968 the house to the east of The George was demolished and the new road opened.
ALL GONE Every building in this 1939 photograph of Portsmouth has now been demolished and replaced by the Rudmore roundabout and the M275.
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Hide AdIn case you don’t recognise it, we’re at the junction of Twyford Avenue and Kingston Crescent
According to The Evening News, the junction had just been made safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
I wonder what the reporter would make of the traffic that shoots past this point today?