Southsea Common

Southsea Common was originally known as Froddington Heath. The earliest records show this area under the control of the Domus Dei, a religious institution on the site of today's Garrison Church. After the Dissolution, it was granted to the Leeke family, Lords of the Manor, who were paid £5,000 by the Government when when they took it over for military use in 1785. When no longer strategically important, in 1922, the local council brought it, also paying £5,000 to Mr Leeke for outstanding manorial rights. It briefly reverted to the army during World War II and the Common remains an extraordinary freely accessible recreational facility for people of Portsmouth today.

The Mint

'... in Gold Steet new sovereigns would be tarnished; in Silver Street, silver would rapidly assume the colour of pewter or lead; in Steel Street, steel would be rusted by the noxious vapours arising from accumulations of all kinds of filth and deleterious gases.'

Quoted by J R Martin, 1845

Farlington Marshes

This marshland area on the outskirts of Portsmouth was saved from develoment in 1970 when Portsmouth City Council compulsorily purchased the area for £43,500. It was feared that it may have been sold for development land. Shortly afterwards a lease was given tothe local Wildlife Trust and Farlington has remained one of the most treasured refuges for birds in the country ever since.

The Return of a Warrior

In May 1987 crowds lined the harbour entrance to watch the return of HMS Warrior. She had been based in Portsmouth for most of her life. Being the Royal Navy's first ironclad, she was built in 1860 with revolutionary defensive armour plating. She is reputed to have kept the peace on the seas throughout the Empire without ever firing a shot in anger. In later life she became a torpedo training hulk in Portsmouth Harbour. She was rescued in 1979, and restored at a cost of £7,000,000 before becoming the picturesque toursit attraction she is today.