Where is this ?

A reader of my website recently sent me the picture below of a Short 184 at an uncertain location. (The guy in the front seat is his grandfather).

For reason that he has not told nme , he believes the location may be Lee-on-Solent - but I am doubtul as the hangars look wrong to me - but I am not a hangar expert.
So - any ideas or comments welcome - sorry it is a rather poor image - but that is what I received.
MTIA

Dave

MTIA????

Are they Bessaneaou hangars?

MTIA = Many thanks in advance.....!

Bessonneau - yes that's what I thought - I have got no very early images of the slipway area at Lee - but going on such pictures as I have it doesn't look right.

However -bearing in mind that the original establishment was supposed to be temporary - anything is possible.

I'll forward the photo to a chap I am in touch with at the Gosport Aviation Society, he maybe able to help.

Reply from Ron Jones of the Gosport Aviation Society

The photo seems to have been taken when Lee was the RN Seaplane Station and the aircraft is in front of the Bessoneaux Hangars, situated where the Ward Room is now. If you have a copy of Chris Ashworth Action Stations #9, on page 175 you can see 8 Bessoneaux hangars, and on page 176 the crane is visible on the cliff top.

Thanks - I'll pass that info on to the photo owner.

Thanks to everyone for their help - I have passed the info back to the photo's owner who was very pleased to have the location confirmed.

He says the pilot ( in the front seat) is his grandfather Charles Alexander Beattie. The second person was his Observer...the dog is at present unidentified.