The Dockyard Wall

The original Dockyard Wall was built between 1704 - 1711 from red brick. A large part of it still guards the Dockyard today and can be seen at the lower end of Queen Street. Other sections were engulfed by later extensions but can still be seen within the Yard.

The Foundation of Oceanography

The Challenger expedition, the scientific exercise credited with laying the foundation of oceanography, left from Portsmouth Harbour on 21 December 1872. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger. She returned to Spithead on 24 May 1876 having spent 713 days at sea. One of its many acheivements was the discovery of 4,700 new species of marine life.

To find out more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_Expedition

Four House Green

It was here that Henry VII's great brewing houses for the burgeoning navy were situated. Henry built three with Elizabeth I adding another. They were located adjacent to St Nicholas Street where the adjoining meadow sourced springs of remarkably fresh water. Four House Green vanished when the Town's moat was constructed. However the water used as a fresh supply by older residents until the early 1900s and there remained breweries in St Nicholas Street until living memory.

Somerstown

Somerstown was developed during the 1820s, on land owned by Mr Somers, and was heavily bombed during World War II. After the war, the majority of what remained of the area was demolished to make way for social housing.

It is infamous for having one of the highest violent crime rates outside of London.

Zeppelin attack

In 1916 Portsmouth experienced its first aerial bombardment which came from a Zeppelin airship during the First World War.

A Cold War Mystery

In 1956, Lionel (Buster) Crabb, a World War II hero due to his work as an underwater clearance diver, was recruited by MI6 to investigate the Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze which was in Portsmouth on a diplomatic mission. In particular he was sent to investigate the Ordzhonikidze's propeller — a new design that Naval Intelligence wanted to find out more about. On 19 April Crabb dived into Portsmouth Harbour and was never seen again. MI6 tried to cover up the true nature of him mission. Crabb's companion in the Sally Port Hotel took all his belongings and even the page of the hotel register where they had written their names. Official documents at the National Archive have had the usual closure period of 30 years extended so they will not be available until 2057.

The next year, on 9 June 1957, a body in a frogman suit was found floating off Pilsey Island in the Harbour. It was missing its head and both hands, which made it impossible to identify (using then-available technology). Was this Buster?

There are many theories surrounding Buster’s disappearance and the incident has inspired films and stories including Ian Fleming for the James Bond adventure Thunderball.

For a fuller account:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Crabb

University of Portsmouth

This began as the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and the Arts in 1869 predominately to train the engineers and skilled workmen needed to work at both the city docks and the Naval dockyard. Following World War II, the college diversified its syllabus to attract new students and, in the 1960s, was given the power to award its own degrees being renamed Portsmouth Polytechnic.

In 1992, following a government higher education initiative, it was granted University status and has since been known as the University of Portsmouth. It retains however its original business focus having faculties of Business, Creative and Cultural Industries, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Technology.

Paulsgrove

Paulsgrove is believed to be named for St. Paul who, according to apocryphal legend, landed at the site at the start of his visit to Britain when it was part of the Roman empire. However a more likely explanation is revealed by certain old maps which show the area as PALS GRAVE, and is probably a reference to the last resting place of a (perhaps Saxon) local chief.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulsgrove