Gosport : Images of England

In this fascinating new collection of about two hundred old photographs compiled by Ian Edelman, curator of Gosport Museum, the recent history of the ancient town of Gosport is once again brought to life.

Once surrounded by a moated rampart and boasting a long and interesting history, Gosport has altered almost beyond recognition in recent years after many of the old buildings that survived the ravages of time and the bombings of the Second World War eventually succumbed to unsympathetic 1960s redevelopment. Street names such as Seahorse Street or Clarence Square are now only memories. The presence of the Royal Navy has contributed to the character of the town. Gosport has traditionally provided employment in boat-building, naval armaments and victualling the Navy Fleet, but old patterns of employment too have changed, along with the urban landscape.

This selection provides an intimate glimpse of the past, of the buildings, events and particularly the people of the town, and remind us of the time before many of the changes took place. It will appeal to anyone who has fond memories of the town as it used to be, while introducing newcomers and a younger generation to the Gosport of yesteryear.