Monday 28 February 2011

Palmerston’s Follies

In the mid 1800s the threat of invasion by the French became very real. Portsmouth, the country’s premier naval base and garrison town, was seen to be particularly important and vulnerable. Lord Palmerston, the Prime Minister, had the idea of encircling the town with giant fortifications. Fort Purbrook, Fort Widley, Fort Southwick, Fort Nelson and Fort Wallington were built along the top of Portsdown Hill to protect from attack from the north from which vantage point they are completely disguised. They cost the staggering sum of almost £100,000 each. Looking towards the west, Fort Fareham, Fort Brokenhurst, Fort Rowner and Fort Grange were added. Most spectacularly, to spoil any approach from the sea, Spit Bank Fort, No Man’s Land Fort, Horse Sand Fort and the smaller St Helen’s Fort were placed free standing in the Solent. In addition, the existing fortifications in Gosport and Portsmouth (Fort Cumberland, Eastney Batteries, Lump’s Fort, Southsea Castle, Point Battery and Hilsea Lines) received improvements. No wonder Portsmouth had the reputation for being the most fortified town in Europe. They are known as follies because the danger passed and never was a shot fired in anger. For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmerston_Forts,_Portsmouth http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/index.php

Saturday 26 February 2011

Stagecoaches

According to the 1839 Portsmouth Guide, stagecoaches departed from Portsmouth every half hour leaving for London, the principal route out of the town. Other routes served were Brighton, Chichester, Bristol, Oxford and Winchester. They picked up passengers from many hostelries including the George, the Fountain, the Globe and the Blue Posts in Broad Street.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Traces of a Canal

The Portsmouth to Arundel canal opened with great optimism in 1823. Its terminus was located by the present day Portsmouth and Southsea station. The idea was to link Portsmouth, and its thriving merchant port, with London. Its path came from Chichester round the lower shore of Thorney Island, around the top of Hayling (cutting through the ancient wadeway) before heading inwards at the present day Locksway Road. The venture was however short lived and closed in 1832. The reasons were twofold: the canal bed was not isolated and salt water began to penetrate the local water supply while the introduction of the railway provided alternative cheap methods of transport. When the railways arrived in Portsmouth, part of the canal basin was used to lay the track. There remain other traces: the naming of Locksway Road, Canal Walk, Arundel Street and in Milton where some of the lock gates still exist.

Sunday 20 February 2011

Growing Portsmouth

The boundaries of Portsmouth have changed considerably over the last two centuries. The original boundary concentrated on the western side of Portsea Island encompassed Old Portsmouth, Landport, Stamshaw and Tipnor. An extension in 1832 moved the boundary eastwards to include Copnor, Fratton, Milton, Eastney and Southsea. Great Salterns was added in 1895; Hilsea, to Port Creek, in 1904; Cosham in 1920 and finally parts of Farlington and Portchester in 1932. Leigh Park in Havant was bought by Portsmouth Borough Council following World War II to house those left homeless after the blitz. However despite becoming home to thousands of people considering themselves natives of Portsmouth, and who paid rent to Portsmouth City Council, Leigh Park was never incorporated in the City boundary.

Thursday 17 February 2011

The founding of a cathedral

‘Be it known to all men… that I, John de Gisors, have given and granted and by the present charter confirmed to God and the church of St Mary Sudwica (Southwick) and to the canons regular there serving God for ever in free alms for the salvation of my soul and those of my father and mother, my ancestors and heirs, a certain place for building here on a chapel in honour of the glorious martyr Thomas of Canterbury, one-time Archbishop, on my land… on the island of Portesia (Portsea).' Extracted from the a charter of Southwick Priory held at Hampshire Record Office, 4.M.55, probably dated 1180.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Two racecourses

In 1891 Portsmouth opened its first racecourse, called 'Portsmouth Park', at Farlington just to the north of Portsea Island. This was a very fine and successful course but was taken over by the War Office during WWI and used as an ammunition dump. After the end of hostilities, the authorities were tardy in returning it to its owners so it was not until 1922 that the disposal of the ammunition began. Amazingly it was cleared at a rate of 3,000 tonnes per week through detonation. Still ,the site was not finally released until 1929 when Portsmouth City Council purchased it for housing development. A local businessman, George Cooper, spotted a gap in the market and opened another course three miles away at Wymering on 10 August 1928. It was luxurious having parking for 2,000 vehicles, accommodation for 8,000 spectators, numerous bars, modern toilets, a restaurant and a smart member’s clubhouse. 40,000 square yards of turf were removed from Portsdown Hill and the course was consider second to none. Pony races were run regularly while there was also the new sport of motor cycle racing to attract spectators. Even new railway halt was opened adjacent to the track to provide easy access. The next world war intervened and shortly after the land was sold to Portsmouth City Council for industrial use and housing. To find out more: http://www.stauntoninfo.co.uk/7862.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val* http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/paulsgrove/estate/paulsgrove_p1.html

Sunday 13 February 2011

30 years to establish a library

As early as 1853 the Council resolved to establish a free public library and museum in Portsmouth. However, little happened. Even in 1860, when the library and museum of the defunct Portsmouth and Portsea Literary and Philosophical Society were offered to the Council on condition that the Public Libraries Act was adopted, they ‘declined to accept the burden’. It was proposed that the Act was adopted locally in both 1869 and 1875 but public meetings of rate payers rejected the idea as too expensive. It was not until 1882 that a council committee was established for libraries. The first public free service was opened in 1883 in a house on the site now occupied by the Guildhall. Branch libraries followed in Southsea and Kingston in 1893 and 1897 respectively, both housed above the local police stations. There are currently 9 council run libraries in Portsmouth. http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/learning/29.html

Thursday 10 February 2011

A Circus Disaster

On 11 August 1900 John Sanger’s circus was on Southsea common with accommodation for 2,000 people. A strong wind was blowing so the proprietors decided to finish the afternoon show early. This proved a good move as soon after 5p.m. a sudden squall descended ripping the big top from its moorings. It rose in the air before falling back on some people standing nearby. Several people were injured and a 14 year old boy died.

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Relief for the Unemployed

Following the end of World War I, there was great distress in Portsmouth due to unemployment caused by men returning to civilian life. An Unemployment Committee was established which had the main aim of providing work paid for by the council. These projects included the extension of the Esplanade beyond the Marine Barracks, the development of Great Salterns, and construction of three new roads running off Portsea Island. In addition, the Town Council voted £25,000 for the relief of the poor for the winter of 1919. Things did slowly improve however with the Unemployment Committee disbanding in 1926.

Sunday 6 February 2011

An ill named place

Portsmouth has an ill-name in public estimation for the behaviour and morals of its inhabitants and most undeservedly do strangers imagine that a laxity of proper feeling predominates among its females. We who know the place have ever scouted the injustice of this charge against its population. Hampshire Telegraph, January 1846

Thursday 3 February 2011

Portsmouth Museum

The old museum was situated in the High Street occupying the site of the Old Town Hall. Many ancient local treasures were located inside. With breathtaking lack of foresight no efforts appear to have been made protect the contents on the outbreak of war leading to the entire contents, catalogues and the building to be lost in the bombing of the blitz. In retrospect this has been a devastating loss to the city and its heritage. The majority of the city’s archives however were located in a basement of the Guildhall. By a miracle, and certainly not from good planning or collection care, they survived both the bombing and resultant fire despite the Guildhall being completely burnt out. Both the City's archives and museums services are under threat from the recent budget proposals which, if implemented, will severely reduce the professional capacity of the staff and must impact on collection care

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Portsea Pier

This often forgotten pier, which stood 1249 feet in length, was opened in 1847 at a cost of £1200. It was used by steamers going to the Isle of Wight but was never a commercial success. The Harbour Station viaduct and station buildings now occupy this site where the modern Isle of Wight passenger ferries still dock in Portsmouth.