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.
Out at Spithead are the three forts: Spitbank, Horse Sand and No Man’s Land.
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.