I walked this route 40 years ago. The curve is equally 'visible' in many other streets not covered in the video. As the line was originally laid across open fields, the later housing developments followed the curve. .
Fascinating. I’ve lived in Portsmouth all my life, my grandparent also and they have lived in Fernhurst Road for 70 years and I’ve never heard about this old railway line. Great work!
Excellent video. I’m from Portsmouth originally and it’s great to see how our ancestors would have known and seen Portsmouth. Fantastic piece of social history.
I worked on a house near here a few years back that the customers elderly parents had owned she remembered her dad digging up thengarden and finding railway sleepers
Absolutely fascinating to learn that there was once a Southsea/East Southsea station, but at least Beeching can't be blamed for it's demise. I lived in the Portsmouth area in the late 1960s and early 1970s and attended school in Commecial Road, hence my interest.
Love seeing a new perspective to Southsea. I've just recently moved down here from the northwest and I love it. So much character and history. Thanks for sharing
@Dr Hollingsworths Testicular fortitude no it was in buckland that the old barnet turned to barbed wire but the problem solved itself b4 southsea owing to the absence of hair
Been looking for a detailed video on this line for a while now, I'm from Portsmouth and I love finding out about its history in time. Great video mate respect 👍
I've recently discovered your wonderful channel. I find your matching of photos absolutely outstanding! And a wonderful way of putting things into perspective. I'm 56 now. Our childhood holidays were spent in camper van. We travelled all around the UK. I used to read the maps on our journeys, and remember wondering why I could see so many dismantled railway lines. My parents explained the Beeching Cuts to me, and it became a bit of an obsession with me as I was born in '65. It was never about the steam trains for me, it was the civil engineering that fascinated me....and still does. If you ever get the chance to visit Glasgow, I think you'll find the old lines very interesting. Thank you again for your wonderful videos.
Thanks Alison. It's one of my things I do in most videos as you will see. Sounds like you had a similar childhood to me, reading maps in the car was my thing.
Thanks for this! There's so little information out there about this line, and even fewer photos. A few points: there is a bit of a hump in Jessie Road, opposite the Co-Op, where the bridge started, and much more obviously, at the other end of the bridge, there's a grassy reservation in the middle of Devonshire Avenue. This is what's left of the southern side of the bridge. On the northern side, the houses there, from east to west, have progressively higher steps in their front yards, dating back to when their gates opened up onto the bridge itself. It's possible to work out just how shallow that bridge was, with the line itself being in a cutting. I believe the Albert Road Halt site is now occupied by a Chinese takeaway, just to the right of a short access road leading to the back of the laundrette and the large Co-Op (formerly a cinema) built partially on the trackbed.
I’ve lived here my entire 37 years of life & had NO IDEA this existed! I can’t believe there was a massive bridge outside the Festing! Thank you for this
Last time I was in Fratton, had to walk to Hilsea to get to my hotel since they cancelled the last train! Brilliant Video really enjoyed looking at where the Southsea Railway was.
I lived in Eastney from 1956 to 1976 and also walked this route sometime in the mid 1960s, having done some research. I recall finding the original Southsea Station, much altered, as it was a garage by that time and had been for many years. It must have been impressive originally. The line was actually extended 50-60 yards or so to roughly Granada Road and the new tiny primitive station renamed East Southsea. The line was never taken over by a large railway company like the LSWR, which sealed its fate, for, shortly after the first World War started, the government issued an edict that any unprofitable railways, or even stations, should close immediately. This sealed the fate of the line and it never reopened.
Extremely interesting to me as I worked as part of my electrical apprenticeship in what was the old Southsea station. It was vehicle sales and repair facility called Stringers, later to become Wadam Stringers. I recall in the area where the vehicle repairs were carried out which would have been the station's platform area there were cast iron pillers with ornate casting around the tops of pillers very much like you would have found in vogue in the Victorian period. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
I went to the Albert Road School as a child (Craneswater) and we learned all about the Southsea railway during our Victorians topic! I also heard that when it closed Southsea station, they had to change the name of the one in town so that the rich people would get off there. They did not want to alight at Portsmouth station. There is still a snobbery in the city about being from Southsea (or below the tracks) as opposed to Portsmouth (above the tracks!)
Very well done! I am often walking and cycling around the rail route you so brilliantly showed, especially with the historical photos overlaid on the streets of today. Now I understand how the branch line got down so near to the seafront. Thank you.
Very interesting. Love how you do then and now pictures. We know progress is inevitable but it is still sad at the loss of the stations and trains. Love the mural. Brilliant vlog . Thank you again Darren. Never cease to entertain us
Wadham Stringers garage. My dad travelled on this line with my grandparents as a baby. He was born in Shearer Road. Even I can remember the trolleybuses in the fifties.
The old station building actually housed the bodyshop and part of an old machine shop after wadham stringers merged their staff from Castle road in southsea into the one site. They were told because of the historical value of the building, no alterations or removal of some of the wrought iron pillars could be carried out. When they finally sold the site the developer obviously didnt listen or care and it all got knocked down for the houses you see there now.
Thank you, Darren for another trip into the past. You have an uncanny way of taking your audiences back in time. I always look forward to your videos. See you on the next one. Cheers mate! 🏴😊👍🇺🇸
Awesome video of this short, but cool branch line. I love how you find the exact viewpoint of old photos to show what is different. There are too many channels that just do "here's a pic of the station, and here's the spot", so thank you for that.
Extremely interesting video. Having worked in Southsea for many years and driven along all the routes here I was fascinated to learn about this long gone branch line.
I’ve lived in Portsmouth since I was born and have only just found this randomly! Loved hearing about the history of the line. I used to ride my bike on most of those roads!
Used to live in Fareham and work in Portsmouth and took a very good look at this old line too, some good remains around, I'm glad you did this video, amazing as always
I did the centurion way walk in Chichester along the old Chichester to Midhurst line if you love railway history this is awesome. I need to revisit as I forgot Singleton station. I did find an old water tower and goods yard but they are now private land. It's a great 6mile walk from Chichester to West Dean. Thanks for this video did the walk as well.
Very good, but I'm surprised that you didn't include the area just north of Albert Road through the archway by Mum's Cafe. Part of the route is still visible there, where the lock-up garages are.
Not so, the line came out a few yards away from the café. A small gap between a cleaners (next to the Coop) and a Chinese Restaurant. He was standing in the correct place opposite the school.
Thanks for this video Darren,I lived for eight years in Waverly Rd, opposite Stringers Motor Parts, where I used to get all my Car bits. Always found it interesting that it was once part of the old East Southsea Railway. It really is a most fascinating Video.
How odd your video popped up just as I was walking past fratton station, lived in Portsmouth for over 15 year and never really new about the old railway, Great video 👍
Thank you for that. I'm currently reading a Philippa Gregory novel in which the East Southsea Station is mentioned. As a man born and raised in Portsmouth, I became curious about the line - I'd heard a bit about it before, but not much. Great video. Many thanks!
My late mother, born 1921, lived as a toddler at the top end of Bath Road backing onto the railway. She spoke of the line at the back of the house but whilst it may have still had track on it I guess it would have been after it’s last use even as a siding from Fratton? Thank you for adding to the family archive of background information.
Just discovered your video I have lived in Southsea for many years and often wonders the roots of the Railway thanks for a brilliant and informative video subscribed
Ha, not too far from me - I'm from Gosport, just across the water from Portsmouth. I had no idea there was an abandoned railway line in Southsea! Very interesting.
Thank you for this! I really enjoyed what was for me, a trip down memory lane. I was brought up in Widley, and went to school in Old Portsmouth, having friends in Southsea (much changed now, looking at your film!). I moved away in the mid 80’s and now live in Oxfordshire, another lovely place.
The tracks were lifted about 10 years after the line closed so it's not surprising so few people know about it. When I lived in Southsea in the 1990s you could walk most of the route. It was mostly lock up garages then and what was left of the station buildings was car dealer iirc.
It was the old wadham stringer garage behind the old granada pub there....I remember reguarly walking round there in the 60's and my Dad saying that the old platform of southsea station was still part of the garage building.
brilliant video, as a pompey boy, and interested in steam, i found out about this railway line a couple of years ago, thanks for posting the video and sucsess with future projects in portsmouth, note not many bungalows in pompey but on your video at 5.35 there is about half a dozen.
3:45 You are stood on the corner of Devonshire Avenue and Fernhurst Road. Jessie Road is about 200 yards to the west of where you are. Thanks for the heads-up on the Chewter Close mural, I didn't know about that!
Used to be a pizza delivery driver and frequently drove down these roads and saw these places, it’s so cool learn about this bit of local history! Love it! Thanks!!!
Behind, what used to be the Granada Pub, the new houses were built on the site of the old Hendy Lenox Ford garage( which was built on the site of the old station) when the Garage was there ,there were still large bits of the station platform existing.
Wow.. great bit of video. Wish I'd had known you were recording on that day, I could have shown you parts of the line that still exist to this day. At around 4.00 on your video you're standing by Fernhurst Rd about 100 yds behind you in the next road a tiny section of the bridge is part of someones forecourt wall ! I often wonder how many locals realize that. Hope you return to Pompey again one day, there's history on every street corner.
Born in Portsmouth and used to live just up the road from Fratton Station.....now live in Fife Scotland. It's changed alot since I was last there some 15 years ago.
When i was a kid in the fifties that section where it crosses devonshire avenue via a bridge that was long gone even then used to go threw a builders yard [ Privetts Builders] and then opened out to long stretch of grass land and over grown bushes that stretched all the way between the houses of Bath rd and St Augustine rd and was afantastic play area for us kids at that time their were still odd bits of structure about, when i was about ten [1958] they built the Garages followed soon by the Bungalows of pepys close and then we played in the garages i t was still off road but never the same.
Loved that video.Lived in fasting as in the 80s.Thought I could see the Festing Hotel where I was on the darts team.Stuart and Gloria Barfoot were landlords til they moved to the Phoenix pub in North End.Ive moved to the north west since where the water is softer
I meant I lived in festing rd in the 8o,s.Could it be that the railway is the reason that the entrance to festing rd is so unusually wide at the Odeon and Festing hotel and?
Wow! I was so many times in Portsmouth and I didn't notice nothing that can show up anything about old line. I'm from Milton Keynes, and ofc I already walk by old Newport Pagnell to Wolverton line, but it is much more easy to notice ! Great movie
Lovely too see the route the only problem was the very last bit the final station was on the opposite side of Granada road. When in about 2010 they built a block of flats ( next to the old coastguard tavern pub ) they found the original platform ties along a supporting wall.
Nice seeing where I live get some attention. I'd noticed the more modern houses that in-fill where the line used to be, but nice to see it get some interest.
Great vlog Darren . Only found out about this line a few years ago and pleased that you have covered it . It's amazing what lines where built in time gone by . Good that you got your Ice Cream at the end of it !
In the 1980s/1990s I rode around Southsea a lot and know every inch of land followed in this video. Back then Pepys Close was fully accessible. There is another remnant of the Southsea station - the way the roads radiate out from The Strand roundabout shows a lot of people were expected to arrive there.
East Southsea Station was taken over by The Stringer Motor Co and then into Wadham Stringer garage group. There was a plaque hidden behind the wall of the mechanics workshop that commemorated the opening of the station. Many apprentices came out of this garage and it's sad to see a housing development on it now. Portsmouth City Council have never been known for their brains.
When you was stood on the corner of Fernhurst Road, a little further down on that side is the owner of the railways House and yard., it has currently got a new built garage which is white with grey door and 2 big wooden grey gates,, recently renovated by me and others. It stands out as its the biggest house and garden along that run.
Another super video Darren, thank you. Have you ever thought about doing a historical video of Cleethorpes? As a child in the 50’s and early 60’s my parents used to take us on day trips by train to Cleethorpes. As you probably know, the Station terminates right on the seafront in the centre of town. As you came out of the station turning left the promenade used to have a massive arched sign saying ‘Wonderland’. It was just crammed with fairground rides and attractions. Right at the far end of the prom there was like a big wooden structured Big Dipper and dodgem track where all the Teddy Boys would gather back in the day. I’m sure it was a bit of a ‘hot spot’ where Mods & Rockers used to clash. Sadly, it’s a bit of a rundown area these days but, as a child it was an amazing place. There are still signs of the old Victorian buildings and also some remnants of Art Deco facades. The pier there seemed to go out for miles too. It would make a fabulous addition for your style of yesteryear type videos, it was a glorious place back in the day and still has a few clues to its heritage.
