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This panoramic view from 1896 shows Fort Gilkicker in the east and the Kickergill sea mark in the west with the houses of The Crescent and the pier in between.
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Out at Spithead are the three forts: Spitbank, Horse Sand and No Man’s Land.
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Across The Solent looking west are Norris Castle and Old Castle Point round to Lepe, the ships masts being off Cowes.
An unusual view of Stokes Bay: HMS Belleisle sailing along the Solent. The Crescent houses can be seen off the bow with a glimpsde of the pier off the stern. Possibly St Mark’s Church pulled down in 1911. Belleisle started life as ‘Peik I Sheref’ built in 1874 for the Turkish Navy but never delivered. It was bought for the Royal Navy and served in Ireland finishing her life at Portsmouth as a trials ship then a target and sold for scrap in 1904. Thanks to the Polish website ‘Historia Wojen’ for the photo.