Southsea, The Promenade 1892

Photo ref: 30021

More about this scene

In 1895, the borough boundaries were extended to include the Great Salterns, and in 1904, the whole island was incorporated into the borough. In the meantime, development, in the main of a residential nature, continued to spread north and east across Portsea Island. Clement Scott, who was holidaying on Hayling Island in 1897, summed up Portsmouth at the end of the 19th century: 'Municipally considered, I don't suppose that there are two smarter sea-coast places in the south than Southsea and Portsmouth. Everything for the public service, such as cabs and lighting and good roads and order, is admirably managed at both places; but I very much doubt if 'old salts' would recognise the Portsmouth of Charles Dickens and Captain Marryat…in the new, smart, red-bricked Portsmouth, with its magnificent barracks, park, and recreation grounds, its imposing town hall - one of the finest in the kingdom - in the Portsmouth up-to-date, which only requires a new railway station to make it perfect.' The 'admirably managed' 'sea-coast place' is seen in the views on these pages.