Gosport from Old Photographs

This fascinating book brings together over 300 photographs of Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent that date from the late Victorian period to more recent times. They tell a story of an area that has changed beyond recognition. The images range from commercially produced postcards to informal, amateur snaps and include a diversity of often unexpected subjects, from Edwardian soldiers with their barrack-room pin-ups, Victorian workers at Priddy's Hard, the upper deck of the floating bridge in the 1940s and boys training to be seamen, furling and stowing the head sails aboard HMS St Vincent. Views of bustling streets, long-lost pubs, shops that are open all hours, historic events and notable people offer a wealth of social history and will inspire memories not only in local residents but in anyone who has ever known the town. Those who thought that perhaps the last word has been said about Gosport are sure to find much here that will engage and surprise.