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Portsea kids step back in time to celebrate centenary of council housing in the city

Last updated: 18 October 2012 12:00

Portsea children celebrate 100 years of council housing

Regulars at Portsea Venture Playground have recreated a photo taken during the 1920s to help celebrate 100 years of council housing in Portsmouth.

The children imitated a picture taken during the 1920s at the old boys’ Beneficial School (now the Groundlings Theatre), which clearly shows the city’s first council houses on Curzon Howe Road, Portsea, in the background.

Today’s picture was taken in exactly the same spot at the Groundlings Theatre to recreate the moment the old snap captured all those years ago.

The picture was taken as part of celebrations to mark the one hundredth anniversary – 24 October 2012 – of the first finished council homes in Portsmouth being unveiled.

Other celebrations on the day itself include a special plaque being installed next to the original commemorative stone on Curzon Howe Road, fireworks, and special presentations at the Groundlings Theatre, including ‘100 years in 100 minutes’ – a colourful look at the past ten decades.

Cllr Steven Wylie, Cabinet Member for Housing in Portsmouth said: "I think the picture is fantastic, and is a nice way of showing Portsea then, and Portsea now, through the decades.

"I’m very much looking forward to celebrating the past one hundred years of council housing in Portsmouth, because as in 1912, we’re still providing homes to city families who need them; building and providing our own new homes.

"We'll also be gathering memories and items from residents who live in our properties over the next year for a living memory project - please do get in touch with our resident participation team if this is something you would like to do."

Richard Stride, director of the Groundlings Theatre, said: "The theatre and Curzon Howe Road's history is so linked, it made perfect sense to recreate the picture here and for us to join in the 100 years celebrations.

"I'm pleased we're celebrating the theatre's long, varied and facinating past, and its place in Portsmouth history."

The timetable of events on 24 October 2012 is as follows:

• A special plaque will be unveiled on Curzon Howe Road at 3.30pm, by Cllr Steven Wylie to an invited crowd, followed by stalls, things to do and light refreshments for guests
• Fireworks at 7pm for anybody that wants to watch

Groundlings Theatre:

• Theatre and Old Benny school tours at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm (£3 or free for Portsea residents)
• Old Benny school reunion, 5-7pm
• Through the Decades: 100 years of history in 100 minutes, 7.30pm (£5 adults; £4 concessions)

Anybody who is interested in coming along should call Bill Moody on (023) 9283 4479 or for tickets, the Groundlings Theatre box office on (023) 9273 7370.