Saturday 27 February 2010

Felton’s Hole and other admonishments

An unpleasant punishment meted out by the Portsmouth courts was incarceration in Felton’s Hole. Located on Grand Parade, and regularly inundated by the sea, conditions were described as ‘so badd that some of the soldiers confest they would not put a dogg in there’. Those found guilty could also be banished from the Town, held in gaol, whipped, set to hard labour and, from 1788, transported to Australia.

Wednesday 24 February 2010

The youngest Mayoress

In November 1907, the country’s youngest mayoress, Doris Foster, made civic history when she was invested at the Guildhall in Portsmouth. Doris, whose mother had recently died, was aged only 5. She presided over, and added charm to, many note-worthy local occasions. In particular she helped enormously to raise funds totaling £1000 for the endowment of two cots in the children’s ward of the Royal Hospital. This feat is commemorated in a beautiful tiled mural constructed from Doulton tiles, originally positioned in the children’s ward, but now located in the City Museum.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Death of a Temperance Advocate

In 1866 a temperance advocate, Noah Wareham, was violently kicked to death outside his house in Montagu Street, Portsmouth. There was a preponderance of beer houses and brewers in the town at this time who, together with naval and garrison elements, did not take kindly to the thought of someone preaching abstinence. There was a national outcry and a book entitled, ‘The life and martyrdom of Noah Wareham (late of Portsmouth)’ was written the following year by Frederic Beck.

Sunday 21 February 2010

King Alfred

In 897 King Alfred assembled ships in Portsmouth to fight a Danish fleet. The invaders were defeated and Alfred managed to capture 20 ships.

Saturday 20 February 2010

Visits by Henry VIII

Henry VIII took a great interest in maritime matters and visited his two great dockyards, Portsmouth and Deptford, frequently to inspect progress with the ships he had commissioned. He delighted in wearing an ‘admiral’s uniform’ which included breeches made of cloth of gold, scarlet stockings and a tunic of gold brocade. He also ‘blew near as loud as a trumpet or clarinet’ on a gold bosun’s whistle encrusted with jewels which completed the ensemble when worn around his neck. He must have cut quite a dash in the small town of Portsmouth.

Thursday 18 February 2010

The elite of Southsea

'A popular and fashionable parade ground with a constant stream of the elite of Southsea and the walk of cultivated society.' A description of Palmerston Road taken from 'Southsea and Portsmouth as seen from the Tramway Cars and on Foot'; a guidebook published in 1896.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

No running water

‘The present supply of water to the borough (Portsmouth) is very defective, and in numerous instances, as where pumping from the well lowers the fluid in the adjoining cesspool, it must be vitiated to a degree dangerous to health. Water is now obtained by the inhabitants from a company who have waterworks, - from pumps, - from local wells, - and from watercarts’. Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850.

Sunday 14 February 2010

The First Umbrella

Jonas Hanway was born in Portsmouth in 1712. A noted philanthropist, and founder of the Marine Society, he is however more widely known as the first Englishman to use the archetypal symbol, the umbrella. Hanway had travelled widely as a representative of the Russia Company and brought back a prototype umbrella from Persia where they were used for protection against the sun. In the course of his varied career, he also become a Governor of the Foundling Hospital and fought the cause of mistreated young chimney sweeps. Jonas returned to his hometown in 1779 when he was commissioned by the Admiralty to look into the costs of a change of use for the Square Tower. The first British umbrellas were made of wood and oiled canvas and known as ‘Hanways’.

Thursday 11 February 2010

Mansfield Park

The heroine of this novel by Jane Austen, Fanny Price, hails from Portsmouth and much of the later stages of the book are set in the town. The Austen family were based in Hampshire had strong links with Portsmouth.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Timothy Whites

The older generation will remember Timothy White’s shops as a mainstay of over 622 high streets through Britain. Timothy White opened his first shop selling household essentials in Portsea in 1848. Over the next decades he expanded to the Isle of Wight, Chichester and Petersfield. He was also involved in the wider life of the Town, being a supporter of the local Ragged School, a trustee of St John Portsea and a founder of the Portsmouth military volunteer movement. After Timothy’s death in 1908, the business was expanded throughout the country by his son and descendants. The chain was eventually sold to Boots in 1968.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Bad Behaviour

Local court records show that in 1669, a Henry Guppy was tried for causing a nuisance by depositing 10 cart loads of hog’s dung in Oyster Street thereby obstructing traffic. This, and hundreds of years of other local court records detailing our ancestor's daily lives, survive and are preserved for both us and future generations to enjoy and study at the Portsmouth Records Office.

Saturday 6 February 2010

Curtailing of drinking hours

Prior to the adoption of the Public House Act at a special meeting of the Portsmouth Town Council in 1866, there was no regulation of drinking hours. This, coupled with the enormous number of drinking establishments in Portsmouth, led to growing concern regarding the effects of the ‘Demon Drink’. Even so, this Act only required closure between the hours on 1 and 4 in the morning!

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Paddling in the Sea Life Centre

An enduring childhood memory for many who grew up in Portsmouth in the post war period was the fun to be had at the paddling pool situated to the west of Southsea Castle. This was built in 1928 as part of a programme of improvements to the Common. Additionally there was a much loved miniature train that circled the site. In the 1980s the site was redeveloped and became the Sea Life Centre.