John Pounds

John Pounds, who was born in Portsmouth in 1766, suffered a crippling industrial accident at the age of 15 whilst working in the Dockyard. He subsequently became a cobbler opening a tiny shop in a house in Highbury Street. Despite the lack of any training or materials, this remarkable man started teaching poor and often homeless children from this shop, sometimes up to 40 at a time. He gave lessons in basic reading, writing and arithmetic in addition to life skills such as cookery, carpentry and shoe making. John provided warm food and clothing and actively sought out the lowest and most underprivileged members of society. Many prominent Portsmouthians gradually provided support but John was unique in his time by offering free education. He died in 1839 at the age of 73 having practically helped the poor of Portsmouth for many decades. His little house in Highbury Street survived until the 1930s as a memorial. John Pounds is credited as being the inspiration behind the Ragged School movement begun in 1844 by Lord Shaftesbury. He was voted Portsmouth’s Man of the Millennium in 2000. If you would like to know more, there is a new book about his life: http://www.johnpounds.org.uk/heritage/