Elms in Elm Grove

Late in 1902 the fine old elms that had made Elm Grove in Portsmouth a delightful thoroughfare were removed to make way for the erection of business premises. These businesses were often tacked on to the front of the large residential villas existing in the road at this time. Many of these can still be determined today behind the business facades. The nature of this road was changed completely by this act.

A Roman Fort

The oldest building in the Portsmouth area, Portchester Castle standing at the apex of the harbour, remains the only roman fort in Northern Europe whose enclosure stands virtually inviolate and has walls to their original true height. It has, of course, been repaired several times but it retains its almost perfect square shape and 14 of its original 20 bastions. It was built in the third century so has stood proud through its varied uses for the last 1700 years.

Echoes of an airport

Several road names recall the long lost Portsmouth Airport. Airport Service Road recalls its location, Norway Road remembers Neville Shute Norway, a founder of Airspeed Limited which manufactured aircraft from this site, and Dundas Road commemorates R K Dundas Ltd, agents for Airspeed in India.

Life in Milton

‘The roads in the rural district of St Mary’s ward are at all times in a very bad state of condition, and much infested with gypsies and loose cattle. There is a very obnoxious drain that runs through the village of Milton, which last year was the principal cause of the death of six inmates of one house. There are also in this village several private roads…, the ditches of which are filled from the drain of a large cow-house, and the filth of the same is frequently placed on the road, much to the annoyance of the inhabitants. Jonathan Gain, Lumps Villa, Southsea writing to the Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850.’

Early Police

Portsmouth did not have a fulltime uniformed and waged police force to combat local unruliness until March 1836. Thirty men were employed to be based in three Watch Stations around Portsea Island. Once established however, although commended for their efforts in assisting the public and even saving their lives, the force were not averse to rule breaking themselves, and drunkenness on duty seems to have been rife. Individuals were frequently reprimanded for being the ‘worse for drink’ or socialising in a public house whilst on their beat. One troublesome Portsmouth Constable, Frank Longyear, was reported for ‘being under the influence of drink whilst on special duty at Sandringham House during a ball held there’. This was not his first offence and he was called upon to resign. Minor infractions such as ‘gossiping’ and ‘being found asleep in a shed’ could also lead to admonishment. The Portsmouth Records Office holds a full range of City police archives, including service records with photographs, which can be viewed freely every week day: www.portsmouthrecordsoffice.co.uk

Cleopatra’s Coffin

Cleopatra’s coffin, along with statues and the hand of a figure ‘which is said to be eighty feet high’ was landed in Portsmouth in May 1802 as part of the treasures collected by Lord Elgin.

Gaols

Those who found themselves in gaol in Portsmouth did not have a comfortable existence. The first recorded gaol was the ‘Whitehouse’, a converted private residence located on the High Street next to the Crown Inn. No bedding or straw was provided, only the most basic of rations (debtors received nothing) were given and there was no segregation of the sexes. A purpose built gaol was not erected until 1808. It was situated in Penny Street where it remained until 1878 when the current prison in Kingston was built.

Wartime fundraising

Throughout generations Portsmouth has been paying to fortify the nation. Within living memory, during World War II, fundraising events to support the war effort were regular features of life. Examples include during May 1943, Portsmouth raised £1.2 million during Wings for Victory week which was enough to pay for 100 Spitfire fighters. Even more generously, in March 1942 Portsmouth people gave £1.3 million to pay for the cruiser HMS Sirius.

Portsmouth and Quarr Abbey

Although the medieval archives of Portsmouth have been lost, documents survive in the National Archives (E 326, E315) which list the rents payable to Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight, on various properties in Portsmouth. From these we can identify the names of the leading burgesses of Portsmouth and, as this was the period during which occupational names were becoming family names, we can gain an impression of their businesses. One of these documents in particular (E326/9366), dated 1257, lists the rents of twelve residents due to Quarr. Extracts include: 'the said monks had and recieved in the aftersaid town of Portsmouth two pounds of wax at Michaelmas, by the grant of Herbert Justice, from a dwelling which stands by the sea shoure, namely from the one standing between the dwelling which belonged to the aforesaid Osbert of Lutegaresale (i.e. Ludgershall, Wiltshire) and that of Henry the Fisherman' 'two pounds of wax at the Assumption of blessed Mary (15 August), by the grant of Stephen the Butcher, from the dwelling house standing between the one which belonged to the aforesaid Stephen and that of John Truc'. To find out more read the Portsmouth Archives Review, 1977.