William Penn

William Penn, father of William Penn the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania, was made a Burgess of Portsmouth in 1654. He was ‘One of the Admirals and Generals of ye ffleete of this Commonwealth'.

Celebrated Fortifications

 

‘The celebrated fortifications surround the town on the land side, and command the whole island. The ramparts, entered by several handsome gateways, form a semicircular terrace upwards of a mile in length, which is planted with trees, and affords a delightful promenade with varied and extensive views. They are fortified by strong bastions and batteries of heavy ordnance, and still further defended by broad deep ditches. Here are several guard houses in different parts of the town and three regiments of foot constitute the usual garrison.’

 Description of Portsmouth in the Post Office Hampshire Trades’ Directory 1847

Portsmouth children in World War II

Portsmouth suffered very heavy bombardment at the beginning of World War II. The local children spent much of their free time playing on bombsites and many built collections of shrapnel, parachute cord and other debris. Some learnt to swim in bomb craters left in the harbour.

There was a mandatory evacuation of children. They were sent generally to the country side, although some inexplicably went to nearby towns such as Winchester and Bournemouth. They were billeted with strangers. As could be expected, for some it was a wonderful experience, for others completely miserable. The education they received was hit and miss with often small country schools having to accommodate double the number of pupils they were used to.

The vacated buildings in Portsmouth were taken over for the war effort. There was considerable controversy in the City when these buildings weren’t given back immediately. Following agitation by parents, the children were allowed to come home officially in 1946, although many had made their way back before then.

Relief from Cholera

The day of 26 September 1849 was designated in Portsmouth a day of humilation and prayer for relief from the scourge of cholera. The Dockyard and other local businesses were closed for the day while special prayers were said in all the local chapels.

Raging through the summer, at the height of the epidemic mass burials for the victims were being held before 8am in the churchyard of St Thomas's Church, now the cathedral.

The epidemic had run its course by November and on the 15th general celebratory and thanksgiving services were held across the town.

Early Street cleaning

‘That the common gutter and other gutters in the strets of the towne shuld be kept cleane and scowrid evry wyk the Friday nyght begynyng at the uppend fist and so downeward, this order is also not kept, but s’tayne swepe it downe before there neybors dores and so let it ly, and some carie away nothing at all.’
Presentment made in the local Portsmouth court, 1562