The Birth of Portsea

According to tradition, when the shipwrights from Portsmouth Dockyard began to build in West Dock field early in Queen Anne’s reign, the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth, General Gibson, took fright believing that any buildings erected so close to the town would mask and interfere with fortifications. He ordered all building operations to cease and threatened to turn the guns of the Garrison upon anyone who was rash enough to ignore his instructions. However, shortly after this ultimatum was delivered the Queen was in Portsmouth accompanied by her husband, Prince George of Denmark, and while she was at the Commissioner’s house the indignant shipwrights memorialised Her Majesty on the subject. Through the kindly mediation of the Prince the Governor was sent for, the matter settled and the shipwrights met with no further interference. The names of Queen Street and Prince George Street commemorate this event. Portsmouth Records Office I152