Part Four



Paulsgrove and Wymering

For Part four I decided to show off my own neighbourhood before I move to Southsea. I give you, Paulsgrove and Wymering, a large council area of Mainland Portsmouth nestled between Portsmouth Harbour and the South Downs.We start in the business area of Paulsgrove, mainly low rise offices and light industry. This new build is a new Research and Development centre for Raymarine.Before the postwar expansion and land reclaimation of the area, the small village of Wymering stood for hundreds of years surrounded by fields until the land was redeveloped with Social housing. The church still stands today.Just up from the church, Southampton road acts as the main thoroughfare through the neighbourhood. 3 story blocks of council flats line it on both sides.Currently undergoing a huge expansion to become Portsmouths primary hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital looms over Wymering with it's bulky 8 story blocks and multi story car-parks.Wymering it'self is quite well planned with large open green spaces to break up the streetscape and give the kids somewhere to play.Heading into the east end of Paulsgrove, the housing stock changes to these prefabricated designs....... and the locally Iconic, 'Tin Top' housing.In the centre of Paulsgrove, there is a small area of parkland and a row of shops. The area has improved dramatically over the last decade or so and the area around the shops provide a strong example of what a little investment can do to an estate.Overlooking the park we have Paulsgrove Church......where the people were kind enough to allow me to take a photograph inside. Pleased that someone was trying to portray Paulsgrove in a more positive light than its negative reputation does.At the highest point in Paulsgrove, there are more blocks of flats. Unfortunately a family sat outside their flats didn't take to kindly to me being there and I had to get away before they gave me some serious trouble. It is exactly these sort of people that give Paulsgrove it's bad reputation and spoil for the rest of us.I was however, able to quickly snap this Skyline shot and get away before I got my head kicked in.Safely away from the Chavscum, I treated myself to a visit here. This is the cul-de-sac where I lived from birth till I was 13. One of the quieter streets of Paulsgrove thanks to it's location right on the edge. A lot more cars than I remember, though not much else has changed in 8 years.Thats it for Part Four, Paulsgrove and Wymering. I am happy to say the area has improved in the last decade, there has been a lot of investment here which it oh so desperately needed before and it has made a real difference. Unfortunately the same small minority of people still spoil the area for common decent people. There attitude and disrespect is what brings areas like this down, but with strong community spirit and a positive outlook. Places like Paulsgrove and Wymering can be great places to live, work and start a family.