In 1992, CPPTD obtained a lease on Portsmouth City Museum’s store at Broad Street, Old Portsmouth for the
storage of their veteran and vintage buses, and also those belonging to the City Museums Department itself.
CPPTD volunteers carried out a tremendous amount of restoration and renovation work over the next 11 years to
return 13 vehicles to roadworthy condition.
A working bus museum was run from the Broad Street premises from where many thousands of visitors were able
to view restoration work in progress and enjoy free rides on the restored vehicles. CPPTD was awarded Registered
Museum status (No.1666) as a result of the quality of their work.
The last few years of our occupancy witnessed a tremendous struggle to extend the lease on the Broad Street
buildings. Our landlord ultimately decided that the buildings were to be demolished and the area redeveloped –
Sunday 9 March 2003 seeing the last open day at Broad Street.
Unfortunately the collection was split up as a result. CPPTD vehicles moved into storage in the Meon Valley,
City Museums’ vehicles were placed on loan to the Milestones Museum in Basingstoke, one bus returned to its bus
company owner and others sold to new owners for continued preservation elsewhere.
The CPPTD management team has worked hard over the past three years to find new accommodation in the Portsmouth
area. Negotiations with Portsmouth City Council drew to a close when it became apparent a suitable site could not
be found within the city boundaries.
However, we are pleased to have found suitable premises at Wicor Farm, Portchester into which our
collection has recently been moved. The building has been taken on an initial two year lease with a view to purchase
in the longer term.
During 2007 we attend some local rallies and other events with some of our vehicles – further details will be
included in Dates for Your Diary for 2008. We intend to hold further special fund raising events during 2008 –
please watch the enthusiast press and this website for details.
