A well-old picture, just trawled up from the www. Boats all over
the trots.
There’s More……..
At the left of the of the picture (between/above S/Ms 28 & 29) can be seen the old chain ferry/floating bridge: More pictures and history of Gosport Ferries at:
http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PortsmouthHFC.html#anchor35379
(incidentally, some of these ancient ferry photos also show the old raised railway running across Portsmouth Hard from the present station to South ‘Railway’ Jetty)
The chain ferry floating bridge service, between Gosport & Old Portsmouth Point, operated between 1840 & 1959, and local legend has it that the old chains snagged HMS VANGUARD whilst she was being towed away to Faslane shipbreakers for scrap in 1960.
Whatever the cause, she swung fully round and across the harbour, with her bows almost ashore at the Still & West pub in Old Portsmouth, and she blocked the whole harbour entrance off until the tugs finally took charge again…..There has got to be a good set of photos somewhere?
Straying a bit off-topic, but HMS VANGUARD was an ‘Old Ships’ of mine; even if it was only for a week’s SCC course before I entered the Andrew in 1960. So, although a SOF/OAP, I am entitled to spin a true dit about ‘my battleship time’ when the grandbrats become old enough to become interested in/bored by our last British Battleship!)