Man, these photos are pretty damn epic. Both show the HMS Vangaurd that went aground just feet away from alongside the Still & West and Spice Island in 1960.
“On 4 August 1960, when she was to be towed from Portsmouth to the breakers yard at Faslane, Scotland, the whole of the Southsea sea front was packed with people to see her off. As she was being towed towards the harbour entrance, she slewed across the harbour to the Still & West public house and went aground. She was eventually pulled off by tugs and finally made her exit from Portsmouth. Five days later she arrived at Faslane and by the spring of 1962 Vanguard ceased to exist, never having fired her guns in anger.” (from Wikipedia)
It’s also great to see that area of Old Portsmouth in detail from 50 years ago. There is no sea wall in place, some kind of out building on the corner of Spice Island, what looks like early dry dock developments and I love the way Broad Street goes straight in to the drink. See what you can see. Click the images for a much closer look.
Via : Jainbow
Paul
3 February
I have a book with a photo shot directly above the ship, the scale of it compared to the Point and the people watching, hard to believe. I’ll upload it in a bit.
Pudding Snack!
3 February
“Pulled off by tugs”……snigger……
Voodoo Roy
3 February
The outhouse you can see was the office for the floating bridge to Gosport, which had stopped operating the previous year. It pulled up onto the slipway at the end of Broad St.
In those days, the “Spice Island” was still 2 separate pubs, the Union Tavern (it was later renamed the Lone Yachtsman in honour of Alec Rose) and the Coal Exchange. Knocking the 2 pubs into one destroyed the character of both, but of course in summer you’ll be sat outside, not inside.
The new aircraft carriers will be even bigger than Vanguard – I can’t wait to see those babies sailing into the harbour in ten years time.
Ben Mills
10 May
Still amazes me the size of the ship and also how it managed to crash into the point!
A Strong Island post that I always remember
Lynne Leadbitter
21 October
Please could you tell me where I could get a large print of the hms vanguard, the same picture as above. My partner has been trying for years with no luck. Hope you can help.
Paul Windsor
23 October
There is a picture taken from the Gosport side available from The Portsmouth News website if that helps.
Paul Gonella
24 October
Hi Lynne, I don’t know of anywhere you can buy a print but it sounds like the News might be a good start. There is another aerial photo of the ship I have seen that is a close up of the bow right up against The Point that I have seen in books, keep an eye out for Portsmouth From The Sky which I think has that image.
John
10 April
Mu uncle was on-board on that last trip! There’s a great video here…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db6bgu0gs-g
Kind regards
John
Andy
8 May
Great video John thanks for sharing