In the selection you will see a day at the races at Wymering Racecourse in the 1930s, a barrage balloon over what we believe is Wymering, a garden party at the beautiful Wymering Manor back in the day and the beginning of council houses on Portsdown Hill.
About 32 balloons were deployed in the Portsmouth area by 932 Squadron RAF Balloon Command. Barrage balloons were floated over certain areas to prevent enemy aircraft from flying close enough to attack the area. Balloons were raised on heavy cables which would destroy low flying aircraft. Enemies would have to fly above the balloons and be forced up into the range of the Anti-Aircraft Defences.
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![Wymering Racecourse
Wymering races were packed full in the 1930's. The News PP4215](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIyNDBlZDAzLTk2ZGEtNDgwMC1hNzk2LTYwOWE3NmUwODc4NDphYmU0ZjJmYy1hMTZjLTQ4ZjMtODkzZC1hZmIyNDliNzJkY2U=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Memories from Wymering
Wymering Racecourse Wymering races were packed full in the 1930's. The News PP4215Photo: The News archive
![Southampton Road, Wymering 1950's. The Harbour Lights pub sign on the left. Picture: Colin Hull collection.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU0N2Y0OTY2LWJmNTQtNDMzOC05NjBlLTU2NGVmMTZlNWY1ZTpjMGY2ZWQxNC1lMTkzLTQ1NTEtYWMzOC01NTg5OGU3YTE3MWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Memories from Wymering
Southampton Road, Wymering 1950's. The Harbour Lights pub sign on the left. Picture: Colin Hull collection.Photo: The News archive
![Class 1c Portsdown Modern Girls School, Wymering in 1949. They were attending a music festival at Eastney College.
Sent in by Valerie Long of Havant some of those pictured are Dorothy Haward, Diane Watts, Valerie Kelly and Sylvia Williams.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI3MDVkMTJhLTQ3OGYtNDdmZi04Mjk1LTMzYzVhYTdiYjlkMzo0NGIzYmE1Yi1lNWVlLTQwMTAtYjc1MS05ZGY1MjgwOWI3ZDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Memories from Wymering
Class 1c Portsdown Modern Girls School, Wymering in 1949. They were attending a music festival at Eastney College. Sent in by Valerie Long of Havant some of those pictured are Dorothy Haward, Diane Watts, Valerie Kelly and Sylvia Williams.Photo: The News archive
![German bombs dropped on all parts of the City and suburbs. In this picture a crater made on the Wymering estate.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdlMzZmZDA5LWMzNTgtNDgzZC1iZTMzLTdlMDYwOTdkYmZjYTo1M2JjMzk0Ni01YWRkLTQ2MzgtOGZiMS03NjEyYmNlZmI1MGM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Memories from Wymering
German bombs dropped on all parts of the City and suburbs. In this picture a crater made on the Wymering estate.Photo: The News archive