There are some great old images in this selection including collier Pompey Powerarriving at her unloading dock opposite the power station and ‘Pompey Light’ in dock, where the Isle of Wight car ferry now leaves from.
You will see what happened inside the bunker at Fraser & White Ltd the coal merchants and the horse drawn coal wagons lining up and being loaded outside in East Street.
Also featuring is a fantastic aerial of the Old Portsmouth Power Station around 1948 and a few images of the sailors that used to coal the ships at the quayside.
5. Coal in the past
Collier Pompey Power arriving at her unloading dock opposite the power station. Picture: Barry Cox collection Photo: The News archive
6. Coal in the past
Old Portsmouth Power Station circa 1948.To the bottom left is the Camber with the coal hoppers of Fraser & Whites the coal merchant. Unloading at the wharf is a large collier with three barges alongside.At the pointed end of the coal wharves can just be seen the Bridge Tavern which is dwarfed by them. Above the Bridge Tavern is the lock for the coal barges that brought in coal for the power station.The covered travelators for taking the coal up and over Gunwharf Road can be seen.Above the lock are the buildings of HMS Vernon. To the bottom right can be seen Oyster Street which at this time passed into White Hart Lane and since these times a block of flats have been built over it.St Thomas Street passes behind the cathedral with many of the buildings just bomb sites. The bank now a residential building on the corner of Highbury Street can be Cleary seen. The east end of St Thomas's Street and Warblington Street leading into St Georges Road close by Landport Gate are both bomb sites. To the top right hand corner can be seen the United Services cricket ground where, up until the Rose Bowl was built, Hampshire played first class cricket. Above the power station chimneys the railway line from the Harbour station to Portsmouth & Southsea High Level can be seen running along its tree lined route. Photo: The News archive
8. Coal in the past
John Woods, of Reginald Road, Southsea, sent in this picture. He wrote: This is a photograph of my father, second lorry from the right (RY419). It is dated 1931. If I remember rightly, it was taken at the Fratton coal yards. Photo: The News archive