Here is the infographic about the history of this street...
Pottinger Street (Chinese: 砵典乍街; formerly 砵甸乍街), which can be dated back to the 1850s, is one of the oldest streets in Central. It was named after Hong Kong's first Governor, Sir Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger in 1853. The older, steeper part of Pottinger Street is laid out as a series of granite steps, designed for pedestrians and pole-carried vehicles only. Therefore, local Chinese named it as ‘Stone Slab Street’ (石板街) as well.
In 1890, the street was first surrounded by a myriad of residential flats. Stores were located on the ground floor of the buildings, so there were quite a lot of residents living there. In the 1940s, the WWII began, bringing Hong Kong into the era of war. Air Raid Precaution Tunnels were built on the street. The tunnels had only one entrance, making it extra claustrophobic. The single, sloping entrance to the tunnel was on the section of Pottinger Street about midway between Stanley and Wellington Streets. From there the tunnel ran for appx 75m, straight back into the hill. After the WWII, the tunnels were no longer used. The first secondary school was established in 1945. From then onwards, a plenty of locals set up stalls along the street. Bundles of braid and bunches of zips filled the stalls.
Most of the tiny and antique stalls are still operating now, remarking the long history of the Pottinger street. The stalls sell a variety of goods, ranging from accessories and special costumes to arts products. Such unique and historic lane that records the story of Hong Kong is no doubt appealing to both tourists and locals.
In 1890, the street was first surrounded by a myriad of residential flats. Stores were located on the ground floor of the buildings, so there were quite a lot of residents living there. In the 1940s, the WWII began, bringing Hong Kong into the era of war. Air Raid Precaution Tunnels were built on the street. The tunnels had only one entrance, making it extra claustrophobic. The single, sloping entrance to the tunnel was on the section of Pottinger Street about midway between Stanley and Wellington Streets. From there the tunnel ran for appx 75m, straight back into the hill. After the WWII, the tunnels were no longer used. The first secondary school was established in 1945. From then onwards, a plenty of locals set up stalls along the street. Bundles of braid and bunches of zips filled the stalls.
Most of the tiny and antique stalls are still operating now, remarking the long history of the Pottinger street. The stalls sell a variety of goods, ranging from accessories and special costumes to arts products. Such unique and historic lane that records the story of Hong Kong is no doubt appealing to both tourists and locals.
Pictures from:
1853: http://images.takungpao.com/20120706/d4bed9b8d87311609c2725.jpg
1890: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Pottinger_Street_in_1890.jpg
1940: http://gwulo.com/sites/gwulo.com/files/images/batgung-hedda-morrison-1940s-pottinger-street.jpg
1945: http://www.hkmemory.hk
1950: http://gwulo.com/atom/12461
Reference from:
http://www.thepottinger.com/en/about-us/history.php
http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hkplaces/AllItems/images/201107/t20110723_43415.html?f=search&t=search_datas.jsp&path=channelid=230719|searchword=PLACESIDS%3D%272634%27|keyword=PLACESIDS%3D%272634%27|extend_expr=Place%3DHong+Kong+Island%2FCentral+and+Western+District%2FCentral+District%2FPottinger+Street
http://www.limkimkeong.com/index.php/2015/12/05/pottinger-street-hong-kong/
1853: http://images.takungpao.com/20120706/d4bed9b8d87311609c2725.jpg
1890: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Pottinger_Street_in_1890.jpg
1940: http://gwulo.com/sites/gwulo.com/files/images/batgung-hedda-morrison-1940s-pottinger-street.jpg
1945: http://www.hkmemory.hk
1950: http://gwulo.com/atom/12461
Reference from:
http://www.thepottinger.com/en/about-us/history.php
http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hkplaces/AllItems/images/201107/t20110723_43415.html?f=search&t=search_datas.jsp&path=channelid=230719|searchword=PLACESIDS%3D%272634%27|keyword=PLACESIDS%3D%272634%27|extend_expr=Place%3DHong+Kong+Island%2FCentral+and+Western+District%2FCentral+District%2FPottinger+Street
http://www.limkimkeong.com/index.php/2015/12/05/pottinger-street-hong-kong/