Amy Johnson

The famous lady flying marvel, Amy Johnson, landed in Alexandra Park in September 1930. She was only 27 but had already been given a CBE and flown from Britain to Australia. More than 10,000 crowded in to Guildhall Square to watch her arrive for a civic reception and afterwards she travelled to Fratton Park where she spoke to crowds attending an interschool football tournament.

Sixteenth century Portsmouth

Portsmouth in the 1500s was a small settlement centred around the harbour mouth and the Camber, the area now known as Old Portsmouth. It was surrounded by strong fortifications and had only ‘one fair street’, the High Street, which was the only one even partially cobbled. Other familiar streets today, such as Penny Street and St Thomas’s Street were in existence but only as small, muddy and rutted lanes. Although the population would have fluctuated enormously, the number of permanent residents was probably no more than 1,000. They would have made their living by farming, fishing and trades such a tallow and glove makers, tailors, coopers, brewers and carpenters. There were many open spaces within the walls often used to keep livestock.

HMS Pinafore

This popular comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, which opened in 1878, is set in Portsmouth Harbour.

Birth of Sherlock Holmes

Tomorrow a major new film adaption of the Sherlock Holmes stories is released in UK. This fictional character was invented by a young doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle, who had moved to Portsmouth in 1882. His practice was initially slow so inbetween patients Doyle indulged his talent for writing. The first story introducing Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, was published in 1887 in the Beeton's Christmas Annual and was an immediate hit. Although detective fiction was not by any means the only writing Conan Doyle undertook, Sherlock made his fortune. In 1890 he left Portsmouth a wealthy, established author.

Earthquakes

Portsmouth inhabitants have felt earthquake tremors on at least four occasions in 1692, 1734, 1750 and 1834.

Marital Strife

Marital strife was commonplace in Portsmouth past and surprisingly people could not always hide behind social rank. George Huish, a gentleman and member of a prominent local family, was doubtless horrified when his wife told a magistrate in 1774 ‘that several times in the past week, her husband has kicked her and threatened to stick a knife into her’. In a town with a transient population cases of bigamy were not unknown although, in a time before divorce was generally possible, they appear to have been treated leniently by the courts. Portsmouth Record Office has a superb collection of early court records which have been indexed and transcribed: www.portsmouthrecordsoffice.co.uk

Portsmouth Airport

Portsmouth Airport opened with great pageantry in 1932 on land at the north east of Portsea Island. During the 1930s the airport was prominent within the aviation industry and many exciting feats and races was seen. Although WWII saw flying virtually cease, in 1955 the airport’s fortunes were revived with the arrival of Channel Airways who offered regular scheduled services. This profitable service thrived until 15 August 1967 when, in heavy rain, two flights crash landed in quick succession, with one coming to rest across the Eastern Road. Although no one was hurt, services were cut, gradually the airport became loss making and it finally closed in 1973.

Excommunication

One of the most disgraceful episodes in Portsmouth’s history occurred in 1450 when Bishop Moleyns of Chichester was sent here to defuse the anger of soldiers and sailors who had not been paid. The mob was made furious by the partial payment he offered and murdered him outside the Domus Dei, an ancient hospital which stood on what is now Governors Green. As a result the Catholic Church inflicted its most severe penalty, Greater Excommunication, which withdrew all ecclesiastical privileges from the Town. This was not lifted until the citizens of Portsmouth built a new chapel as reparation in 1509. No remnants of this building survive today but early maps show it was located near Grand Parade. Although impossible to prove, it has been suggested that Penny Street was named after this and further the penances the townspeople undertook at this time.

The Round Tower

Few leaving Portsmouth Harbour cannot notice the Round Tower which was the first permanent fortification at the entrance. For a long period it was called Master Ridley's Tower after John Ridley, Page of the King's Long Bows, who was apppointed to be Keeper of the Tower in 1536. Construction of the Tower began in 1418 and it appears building continued until 1426.

An Early Car Race

One of the first ever car races was organised in 1900 by the Automobile Club between Whitehall and Portsmouth. Over 140 vehicles took part, including a driver called Charles Rolls, the motoring and aviation pioneer. Crowds thronged to see them arrive and the Mayor gave a huge celebratory banquet at the Esplanade Hotel, Southsea.

A Portsmouth Palace

Richard I returning to Portsmouth after the Crusades realised the strategic potential of the harbour mouth, seized the burgeoning new borough and built a new palace here. The exact location of this building, called Kings Hall, is lost in the midst of time but possible sites include the main building of Portsmouth Grammar School or Governor’s Green. In 1201 King John and Queen Isabella celebrated Whitsuntide in this new building.

Whale Island

So named because its original shape resembled a whale, this island in Portsmouth Harbour was inundated during every spring tide until 1845. At this time, and over the coming decades, convict labour was used to deposit large amounts of mud excavated from the building of a nearby steam basin which increased the island’s size by 125% The Portsmouth Corporation sold the island to the Admiralty in 1861 for £1,000. Winchester College, who then owned a considerable portion of Portsea Island, protested that it was actually in their ownership, and eventually the proceeds were split. The Admiralty developed the area as its chief gunnery school. Today it houses HMS Excellent, the oldest shore training establishment in the Royal Navy and the Headquarters of Commander in Chief, Fleet.

Pesthouse Field

In 1693, prompted by the plague visiting Portsmouth, an isolation hospital was built in one of the communal fields outside the town walls. Henceforth known as Pesthouse Field, in this field the bodies of the many victims were hastily interred. According to William Gates, the graves were so shallow that, ‘they are commonly covered with crows and ravens except when the grave-digger is at work’. This field was situated between Unicorn Road, Commercial Road and the Dockyard wall, an area much in use today.

Spinnaker Tower

Originally named the Millenium Tower, this popular addition to the skyline in Portsmouth has become an instantly recognisable symbol for the whole region. It was built to a design by local architects, from a concept chosen by Portsmouth residents, and was opened in 2005 after several years of delays and funding concerns.

Strangers not welcome

National events often impacted on the local crime scene in Portsmouth. For example, a number of cases in the court papers for1655-6 concern the plague that was spreading across the country. The Town’s reaction to the threat of disease was to close its gates to prevent potentially infected strangers from visiting. A surviving example of a court record shows that a William White was bound over for entertaining a Londoner without the appropriate permission who subsequently died at White’s house. Sadly such tactics were not successful and the outbreak claimed many local lives. Indeed a rather ominous marginal note states that William did not appear to answer before the court.

An Enduring Affection

‘With its imperial associations it is a glorious place, and even now if I had to live in a town outside London it is surely to Southsea, the residential quarter of Portsmouth, that I would return’. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writing in1924, several decades after he left Portsmouth. Portsmouth is home to the internationally acclaimed Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, Lancelyn Green Bequest. An exhibition entitled, A Study in Sherlock, which is currently running at the City Museum recently won, for the second time, the Best Exhibition category in a regional award ceremony.

Two Matcham Theatres

Portsmouth is very fortunate in having two theatres designed by Frank Matcham, the extraordinary cultural architect. The Theatre Royal was rebuilt by him in 1900 while the King's Theatre opened to a Matcham design in 1907. The Frank Matcham Society estimate that a mere two dozen of his theatres survive still operating for their orginal use. Portsmouth is distinguished by having two of these.

Godforsaken Portsmouth?

Recently a national newspaper called Portsmouth a godforsaken city. This could not be further from the truth as it one of the handful of regional areas to have not only an Anglican cathedral, St Thomas, but also the Catholic one, St John. In addition there has been a long established presence from the Baptist, Congregational, Jehovah’s Witness, Methodist, Wesleyan, Bible Christian, Primitive Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventists and Spiritualist religions. A very old Jewish community has long played an important part in city life, while newer additions include a Sikh temple and a Mosque.

A Middle Ages Principal Port

As early as 1212 the name ‘Portsmue’ was noted as one of the principal ports of the Kingdom.

General Wolfe's opinion

"The necessity of living in the midst of the diabolical citizens of Portsmouth is a real and unavoidable calamity. It is a doubt to me if there is such another collection of demons upon the whole earth." General Wolfe writing to his mother in 1758.

Henry Ayers

Henry Ayers was born in Portsea in 1821, the son of a dockyard worker. After an education at the Beneficial School, in 1840, he departed with his new wife looking for a better life in Australia. He worked in a solicitor’s office in Adelaide for several years, until an investment in a copper mine brought him great wealth. This mine, the Burra Burra, was nicknamed the ‘Monster Mine’ and is credited with founding the wealth of South Australia. Henry was in control for 50 years. He is most remembered however for his involvement in local politics. He sat in the legislative council in Adelaide for a total of 36 years and was president of South Australia on several occasions. In 1883 an explorer dedicated Ayers Rock in his honour although it has subsequently been renamed, Uluru. Henry did not forget his roots in Portsea. In later life he provided a donation to the Beneficial School as well as becoming one of its honorary life members. Formore information: http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030065b.htm

The Battle of Crecy

In 1346 Edward III gathered a huge army of 30,000 men on the open ground surrounding Portsmouth. They left from here to fight the Battle of Crecy, one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years’ War. Despite being heavily outnumbered by French forces, this army was victorious due to their superior weaponry and tactics. The town of Portsmouth itself contributed 5 ships and 96 sailors.

Contagious Diseases Acts

The scandalous Contagious Diseases Acts of the 1860s, which empowered the police to question and forcibly examine suspected prostitutes in garrison towns, were imposed in Portsmouth. These unfortunate ladies, many of whom were not guilty, were put in a locked ward of the Royal Hospital and, if they resisted, were sentenced to hard labour. Not surprisingly there was a national outcry with a large rally of protestors that included the tireless social reformer, Josephine Butler, being held in Portsmouth in 1870. These acts were finally repealed in 1886.

Settling a whole continent

For centuries ships have been leaving Portsmouth for all parts of the world. However one of the most notable departures must be that of the First Fleet to Australia on 13 May 1787. Looking for a solution to rising crime, the British Government fitted out 6 convict ships, 3 store ships and 2 naval vessels to carry 756 convicts (both male and female), their Marine guards (some with families) and a few civil officers to the ‘land beyond the seas’. The ships had arrived in Portsmouth on 16 March 1787 where convicts and marines embarked and awaited orders to depart. The Fleet sailed under the command of Captain Arthur Philip and made stops at Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town to take on supplies. It arrived in Botany Bay, the first people to visit since Captain Cook had discovered it in 1770, in January 1788. After a difficult start, the new colony began to expand and flourish providing the foundation stone for a new country. A colourful series of events were held in Portsmouth to celebrate the bicentenary of this event in 1987. Perhaps the most memorable was in Guildhall Square where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh joined a huge crowd to watch, among other things, a display of aboriginal dancing.

Chubb locks

The mighty Chubb lock company was started in Portsmouth in 1818 when the first locking mechanism that could not be picked or forced, the detector lock, was invented and patented from a tiny house in Daniel Street. The inventor was a locksmith, Jeremiah Chubb, and the businessman who built the company up was his brother Charles. By 1840 Chubb was already a household name and although huge purpose built factories were subsequently built in London and Wolverhampton, the Chubb family kept their connections with Portsmouth for many years.

The old Town Hall

The original town hall was built in the middle of the High St, Portsmouth close to St Thomas Church, in c1738. This was rather damningly described in 1748: ‘It is supported by Stone Arches; The superstructure Brick; containing one (it ought to be spacious) Room, and a Council-Chamber; but both ill contrived and excessively small. The Outside … is indeed noble and uniform; one end being ornamented by a handsome Portico, and the other a Venetian Window. Indeed the whole Building may be well compared to the Members of the Borough, in their scarlet and Furs; a pompous External, but very small dirty and irregular within.’ This building became an obstruction to traffic and was replaced by a new Town Hall, again in the High Street, built in the Doric style during the late 1830s.

Halfway Houses

This was the original name given to the area of Portsmouth now known as Landport. The name arose, in about 1720, when this area started to be developed, as it stood half way between the new and growing town of Portsea and the parish church, St Mary's, at Kingston.

Mightie Chaine of Yron

Always concerned with the threat of invasion from the sea, over time, Portsmouth saw a series of deterrents put in place to ward off hostile fleets. The deep water channel meant that ships needed to come within fire from Southsea Castle, before the guns from the town walls had to be faced and finally, from 1522, an enormous chain that stretched across the Harbour entrance from the Round Tower to a wooden tower in Gosport. Two links of the chain, which cost £40, have survived in the care of the City’s museum service. The remains of a capstan, used to tension the chain, can still be seen in Capstan Square next to the Round Tower.

The House of Desolation

This was the description given, many years later, to Lorne Lodge in Southsea by Rudyard Kipling. It was here that Kipling was to spend six years of his childhood, 1871-1877, in the care of paid guardians, Captain and Mrs Holloway. Lorne Lodge was situated in Campbell Road and the young Rudyard attended a small private school, Hope House. He had spent his previous childhood in India where he had revelled in the ‘strong light and darkness’ whilst being cared for by doting parents. In contrast, he remembered his time in Portsmouth, during which he suffered both cruelty and neglect, with great bitterness in later life.

Mile End Cemetery

‘It has long been a matter of serious regret that for so large a population as these towns and their environs contain, no suitable and convenient place of sepulture commensurate with the necessities of 50 or 60,000 inhabitants, has been provided, where the funeral obsequies may be performed without noise or intrusion, and where the remains of departed friends may be deposited, without the agonising apprehension of their being purloined from their silent abode for sordid gain of exposure to the dissecting knife of medical practitioner’ Statement issued by the Portsea Island General Cemetery at Mile End when it opened on 23 November 1831. This private cemetery was located on the site of the modern ferry port. The towns referred to are Portsmouth and Portsea, at this time two distinct walled entities.

Merchant Trade

Portsmouth enjoyed a flourishing merchant trade of both national and international repute, based around the Camber, during the 1700 and 1800s. Ships from other British ports mixed with those from France, the New World, the Baltic, Portugal, the Middle East and India. The cargoes they brought included livestock, cloth, coal, cheese, timber, fish, soap, brandy, tobacco, bullion and a vast array of spices. The local community consequently became one of the most cosmopolitan in the British Isles with the townspeople daily rubbing shoulders with sailors from all over the known world.

A Retailing Revolution

A new way of shopping was pioneered in Portsmouth. In 1948 the innovative Portsea Island Mutual Co-operative Society (PIMCO) opened the first completely self service store in the country in Albert Road, Southsea. The venture proved so successful, with trade increasing by 80% over a mere two months, that four more stores operating in the same format were opened during the next year. Self service in food shopping is now so universal it is difficult now to imagine a time when this was a novelty. Portsmouth City Records Office have an extensive collection of PIMCO records which can be freely viewed every week day: www.portsmouthrecordsoffice.co.uk

First Imports

Portsmouth has always had strong links with new worlds. Ralph Lane in 1586 is famously credited with bringing tobacco and potatoes back from Virginia, in the reign of Edward III oranges first arrived from Spain, and it is believed that bananas were also first introduced through Portsmouth. If so, a fitting tribute would be that Fyffes, one of the largest importers of bananas, has its base in the City today.

Preparations for the Spanish Armada

The Earl of Sussex, the Governor of Portsmouth in 1588, was very concerned about the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada. He had good cause. A pilot’s survey used by the Spanish gave detailed information about the depth of the water at the harbour entrance and stated, ‘Between the two ports (Portsmouth and Southampton) there is a very fine bay where one can cast anchor at all winds apart from the South West.’ This referred to Stokes Bay. Fire beacons were lit on Southsea Castle, St Thomas’s tower and the Isle of Wight. Thousands of part time local militia men mustered to ward off any invasion. These men, although loyal and courageous, would have been ill equipped and poorly trained to against the professional Spanish army. Probably fortunately, they were never tested as the magnificent Armada sailed on by heading for Flanders, and the danger passed.

Bull baiting in Broad Street

In the mid 1700s, a small row of tenements named Fisherman’s Row stood in the middle of Broad Street, Portsmouth. At one end there was a strong post tied to which was an iron ring where each Shrove Tuesday a bull was baited. Fisherman’s Row became an obstruction with the coming of the stagecoach and was demolished in 1771.

Women playing cricket

The open spaces in Portsmouth have always been used for recreation and informal sporting events. In what was probably an unusual event, an unnamed diarist records that on 17 May 1813 a cricket match took place in Milton between 22 women. There was a prize fund of £5 and many thousands turned out to watch. The two teams wore white with orange and blue ribbons respectively. As the diarist notes, ‘the Orange beat’.

A thousand years in Portsmouth

Over a thousand years of chequered history, Portsmouth has been a bastion of England, a strongpoint against the invader, a sally port from which have gone for the King’s men and ships to the uttermost parts of the Seven Seas. In all these centuries it has passed through many ordeals, has been burnt and ravaged, has waxed and waned as the Fleet grew or declined. All down the ages, also, we have given our sons to the national service. We have ‘straw’d our best to the weed’s unrest’ in a long record of silent suffering, bravely borne in peace as well as in war, by the widowed and fatherless in our midst, who know so well the tragic price of admiralty. William G Easthope, 1945

Chaderton Castle

It is hard to imagine Portsmouth as it was in 1544 when Henry VIII, having fallen out with the Pope, decided to hastily build a castle to protect from the threat of invasion. Keat’s Point, where the deep water channel turns directly towards the shore, bringing any challenging vessels within firing range, was an obvious location choice. At this point in time the site was on isolated wasteland, one mile from the walled town of Portsmouth. At first widely known as Chaderton Castle, it was also called South Castle and Portsea Castle before the term Southsea Castle came into general use. This name was then naturally applied to the residential area and sea side resort that, centuries later, grew up around it. Southsea Castle is in the care of the Portsmouth Museums Service: http://www.southseacastle.co.uk/

William the Conqueror

William of Normandy was familiar with Portsmouth. In approximately 1070 he granted the Manor of Froddington (Fratton) to William de Warrene, and in 1086 William himself left Portsmouth Harbour for Normandy with his fleet. William was renown for his administrative prowess and at his instigation a survey of this new kingdom, commonly now known as the Domesday book, was completed. This identified Portchester Castle, already providing a safe haven in the harbour, and settlements in Buckland, Copnor and Fratton. The total population of Britain at this time was a mere two million, with around 50,000 living in what is now Hampshire.

Support from Royalty

‘You are a wonderful people; we are very proud of Portsmouth’. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting the City during the Blitz. They made an extensive tour of the bombed areas, stopping to talk to those affected and offering words of comfort. They were given a heartfelt reception.

‘The grandest scenes perhaps ever witnessed’

This is how the local paper summed up the visit of the Allied Sovereigns to Portsmouth in 1814. After 20 years of war with France, national celebrations for the recent safe despatch of Napoleon to Elba took place not in London, but the country’s premier naval port, Portsmouth. For the duration of the visit on 22 – 25 June, Portsmouth became host to not only the Prince Regent, the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia and the Duke of Wellington but also a of number more minor princelings and militarists. The eyes of the known world were upon Portsmouth. The festivities were impressive. A flotilla of over 1000 boats reviewed the Fleet, state dinners occurred at Government House during which ‘every delicacy in and out of season was served’, a grand ball held at the Crown Inn, the ancient keys of the town were presented to His Royal Highness and the Governors House, then in the High Street, had an innovative display of variegated lights spelling the word, Peace. All of this was met with an enthusiastic response from the townspeople who formed cheering crowds at every turn. A local newspaper thankfully reported that ‘not a life was lost during the bustle’ and ‘the military and the populace behaved extremely orderly and well’. Despite their success, these revels proved premature. Napoleon escaped resulting ultimately in the Battle of Waterloo which was fought the following year.

An unusual marketing tool

'Come to Sunny Southsea where the death rate is only nine per 1000’ Portsmouth and Southsea Official Guide Book 1908

Charters

That Portsmouth has prospered over the centuries is a credit to generations of aspirational, committed and capable civic leaders. A series of 24 royal charters have been granted, after strong lobbying and usually payment, which gradually granted the town control of its own finances, rights to trade, the ability to hold its own court and its market. These were given under the great seal of eighteen differing sovereigns. The first charter was given by Richard I in 1194, actually signed in the town showing special favour, and the last is dated 1974 confirming the privileges of the Lord Mayor following the 1972 Local Government Act. Of the 24, an extraordinary 13 survive in the City’s archives with 12 of those being kept in permanent civic ownership; the thirteenth was rescued from a sale at Sotheby’s in 1904. These enduring and tangible testaments to past civic pride are on permanent display, including one for 1313, in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall.

Cholera in Portsmouth

160 years ago in the summer of 1849, Portsmouth was in the grip of an epidemic. Hundreds perhaps thousands of the population, particularly children, were first feeling giddy, then a prickling sensation in their limbs before their nails became blackened and more serious symptoms followed. Often an unpleasant death was not far behind and subsequent burials of at least 700 inhabitants took place in the churchyard of St Mary’s alone. This was the third outbreak the town had suffered and there was little understanding of the cause (infected water). However, this instance enabled the more enlightened members of society to recognise the strong correlation between the disease and the dreadful sanitary circumstances endured by many of the population. Nevertheless conditions barely improved until 1863 when the relatively new Council took some responsibility for public health.

Hapless Harold

Did you know that Portsmouth was due to play an important part in the great invasion of 1066? King Harold kitted out an extraordinary 700 ships to cruise the Solent and ward off a threat of attack by William of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror. Sadly for Harold, false intelligence prompted him to disband this fleet shortly before William invaded at Hastings thus altering the course of British history entirely.

Dr Una Mulvany

One of the most inspiring women in Portsmouth’s history was honoured last year by the unveiling of a plaque. Dr Una Mulvany was born in Portsmouth and after training joined her father as a doctor in Fratton. It was, however, during the Blitz that she showed immense bravery by risking her life during every bombing raid to tend to the civilian injured. She came on duty immediately the bombs began to fall without waiting to be called, often putting herself in great danger, and her cheerfulness and kindness gave welcome comfort to many. Dr Mulvany was awarded an M.B.E. by George VI. A plaque in commemoration is situated in Cumberland Street, Southsea. The City's record office has details of this and many other war time awards.

What a view...

‘From the top of Portsmouth-hill, where we soon arrived we had a view grander in its kind than perhaps any part of the globe can exhibit. Beneath our feet lay a large extent of marshy ground, which covered with water where the tides flow high, and ordered with innumerable islands and peninsulas. About a mile from the eye, this marsh is joined by the island of Portsea, distinguished by its peculiar fertility and the luxuriance of its woods among which the Town of Portsmouth appears to rise at the distance of five miles.’ Rev William Gilpin, 1774

Esteemed visitors

Portsmouth is often overshadowed by the reputation of more elegant past watering holes. During the Victorian period however it was the scene of distinguished social activity. Visitors were well served by the large, some ancient, hotels situated in the High Street. For example one week in 1839, The George, hosted Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lord Adlophus Fitzclarence, the Earl of Dundonald, Viscount Exmouth, Viscount Ingestrie, Lord Henry Clinton, Lord and Lady Francis Edgerton and many other influential guests. In addition, a few weeks later a party of European princes arrived directly from Buckingham Palace to stay at the same hostelry.

Different Times

Imagine an era when the church clocks didn’t match those at the station or time in Portsmouth was different to that in London. The coming of the railway to Portsmouth had some far reaching and surprising effects. In 1848, the Portsmouth town council debated the need for locals clocks to match London time ‘so as to be correspondent with the time kept at the railway station’. It was agreed and the times have matched ever since.

Shopping for a Queen

In the Victorian era, the High Street in Portsmouth was a shopping district of enviable reputation. No less than five retailers had in 1842 been granted royal patronage: Emanuel Emanuel was goldsmith to Queen Victoria Mr Davis sold music to the royal family Mr Sayers sold wine to her majesty Mr Hay was both the Queen’s and her mothers operative chemist while Mr Chamney was the royal fancy bread and biscuit maker.

Franz Liszt

On 17 August 1840, the inhabitants of Portsmouth could pay six shillings to see a concert by the world famous pianist Franz Liszt at the Theatre Royal. He was accompanied by a varied programme of singers and composers. The Theatre Royal stood at the top of the High Street on the site now occupied by the Grammar School.

Turner promenading the walls

The enormous walls of Portsmouth were not merely used as protection. The artist, J M W Turner, in 1849 commented that the fortifications were used ‘as an agreeable lounge and promenade, and afford every varying views of the shipping and surrounding scenery’. Other contemporary accounts mention the walks lined with fine elms and military bands playing every night. The majority of the fortifications were removed in the 1860s.

Birth of a literary giant, Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens, one of England’s literary giants, was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812. He was the son of John Dickens, a pay clerk in the Dockyard and his wife Elizabeth. John and Elizabeth occupied a comfortable home at 387 Mile End Terrace, now 393 Old Commercial Road. Their house somehow survived the subsequent devastation of Portsmouth and is preserved in the care of Portsmouth City Museums and Records Service. To find out more, or take a virtual tour, visit their website: http://www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk/

Formidable Fortifications

It is hard to imagine now that Portsmouth was for centuries surrounded by huge bastions and moats. It was in fact arguably the most fortified settlement in Europe. Portsmouth has through every historical era been of paramount strategic importance leading to the necessity for such strong protection. The earliest surviving fortifications are the Round and Square Towers which were built in 1417 and 1495 respectively and which still guard the harbour mouth today. The fortifications were extensively renovated and extended during the reign of Elizabeth 1 at a cost of £200,000. This enormous sum was partly funded by the first national lottery.

Support for Shop Workers

Concern for working conditions runs deep in Portsmouth. No, not the dockyard workers or the terrible conditions of the stay workers, in the 1840s it was the plight of the shop workers which was troubling the ruling classes. Commonly expected to work from early morning until late in the evening, standing for hours on end, snatching meals in short breaks and living in cramped conditions under their employer’s roof, their lives were hard. The Hampshire Telegraph was moved to comment: ‘Is it just that a class of respectable and deserving young men should be deprived of the time so necessary for air and exercise to say nothing of improvement that is enjoyed by mechanics of every good grade, because these who wish to purchase goods procrastinate the time for doing so to an unreasonably late hour in the evening.’ A Dr Meadows, in a speech to concerned inhabitants at the Beneficial Hall, went further by stating that they were at risk of a premature grave and that not one of them would qualify by insurance. In order to remedy this situation the snappily named ‘Borough of Portsmouth Association for Shortening the Hours of Business’ was formed. This was followed by the ‘Portsea Island Assistant Tradesmen’s Early Closing Association’ under the august patronage of the Bishop of Winchester in 1846. Although several resolutions were put forward, the struggle for better working conditions continued throughout the rest of the century with limited success.

The Mint

It was not until 1809 that building began in earnest in Southsea. Until this date development had been hindered by the huge earthworks that surrounded both Portsmouth and Portsea. Landport Terrace in Southsea was quickly followed by Stone, Gold, Silver and Steel Streets, locally known for obvious reasons as The Mint. Very little is know about the entrepreneurial builder, Thomas Croxton, who was not a native of the town and left shortly after the development was completed. However the maps of the early 1800s call this early development Croxton Town. These maps can be viewed at the City Museum and Record Office or the Central library.

Introduction and a huge welcome

Hello I have had a burning passion for the history of Portsmouth since I was a small child. I have tried hard to find an outlet to share this with little success. This blog includes random facts and interesting snippets that I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy sharing.