Castle Road Southsea

Castle Road

Located between Elm Grove and Kent Road in the heart of Southsea is Castle Road The northern section of Castle Road is mainly residential but the southern end is home to a wonderful collection of independent shops, restaurants and other businesses.

At the junction of Castle Road and Great Southsea Street, stands the Ernest Smith clock tower. This mock Tudor tower was built in 1903 designed by WJ Walmsley and constructed by builders J.Crockerell. The building was originally an antiques shop leased to Ernest Smith. The numerals on the clock face were replaced with letters spelling out Ernest Smith which seems odd as he was the tenant rather than owner?

After Ernest Smith's death in 1922, the building was used as a car showroom and dealership by the Ford Motor Company, in approximately 1941 the building was taken over by local antiques business A Fleming Southsea Ltd. The current owners Tony Wood Hair took over in 2005. The building was classified as a Grade II listed building on the 18th March 1999.

Castle Road Shopping in Southsea

Comic actor Peter Sellers was born at 96 Castle Road, in a flat above what is now the Mayfair Chinese restaurant, there is a blue plaque on the wall of the building.

Castle Road Castle Road Southsea