Charles Dickens

"He can touch every chord of human sympathy with an intensity of power which would be almost painful if it were long sustained."

The Hampshire Telegraph describing the last visit of Charles Dickens to his birthplace of Portsmouth in 1866 when he gave a reading.

The Nest of Bishops

St Mary's Church in Portsea became known by this nickname due to its links with several notable clerics. Edgar Jacob, who joined the church at a low ebb but oversaw its rebuilding and a marked growth in congregation, later bacame Bishop of Newcastle; his successor Cosmo Lang went on to be the Archbishop of Canterbury and his successor, Cyril Garbett became Archbishop of York.

A Recovered Guildhall

"When my father and mother visited Portsmouth in 1941, your Guildhall, which my great-grandfather had opened, had been in ruins for less than a month. I am glad today to continue that deep interest which my family have always taken in your affairs by coming here to see this fine building that has risen from those ashes."

An extract from the speech the Queen gave when she opened the newly restored Guildhall on 8 June 1959. The Guildhall had been devastated by German bombing in 1941.

Lots of maps

Due to defensive importance through the centuries, Portsmouth is the most historically mapped town outside London in England. This is an enormous bonus to the historian. The History Centre in the central library has an excellent selection which is free to view daily.

Pacific Glory

Tragedy struck in 1970 when a supertanker carrying crude oil, the Pacific Glory, collided with another, the Allegro, and blew up in the Solent killing thirteen of its crew and injuring many more. The tanker went aground near Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The Portsmouth City Fire Brigade responded with exceptional efficiency in an operation that involved approximately 200 firemen and that took over 40 hours. Due to the promptness of the response pollution from the spill was limited and the resulting slicks dispersed before reaching the local tourist beaches. Three local firemen were awarded the British Empire Medal as a result of their work in this operation.

The Duchess of Portsmouth

Charles II married Catherine of Braganza in Portsmouth as well as making one of his mistresses, Louise de Kerouaille, the Duchess of Portsmouth. Louise was also granted the titles of Countess Petersfield and Baroness Fareham, both nearby towns. She granted the Corporation of Portsmouth two huge silver flagons, bearing the odd motto Loyalty Everywhere, in 1683. These remain in the possession of the City Council today.

Winston becomes a Freeman

"This is an honour which I profoundly value and which I shall always cherish."

Part of Winston Churchill's acceptance speech when on 11 December 1950 he received the Freedom of Portsmouth. He had been a regular visitor to the City throughout his life.

A Year of Development

1968 was a year of exciting and controversial development that changed the landscape in Portsmouth. The redevelopment of Guildhall Square and the building of the civic offices was started (and completed eight years later), the massive but ill fated Portsdown Park development was initiated and the government gave the go-ahead for the A27 Farlington bypass to be built.

Steel Street

'A narrow, ill-ventilated street, composed of small, ill built tenements'

A description of Steel Street, Southsea in 1848