Victoria Park

Victoria Park was opened on 25 May 1878 on land newly released by the demolition of Portsea’s ramparts, moats and glacis (the gentle slope to the fortifications). It was known as the People’s Park with several rallies having been held in its grounds. The most striking feature however is the many monuments remembering various conflicts in which Portsmouth residents have played their part.

It was designated as a conservation area in 1973 and is registered as a historic park by English Heritage.

Several historic photos are available on the following link:
http://nowportsmouth.co.uk/galleries-and-articles-01/victoria-park-1.html

A Description of the Hard

‘Thirty years ago (it) was a place which seemed to belong to the previous century. There were no great houses and handsome shops, but in their place, a picturesque row of irregular cottages, no two of which were exactly alike… They were two storied houses; the upper story was very low, the ground floor was below the level of the street…A wooden bench was placed along the iron railing near the beach, on which sat every day, and all day long, old sailors, in a row.’ Extracted from By Celia’s Arbor by Walter Besant, 1878. To find out more about Besant and his connections with Portsmouth, consult Portsmouth Paper no 74, Portsmouth Novelists by David Francis.

Gaols

Those who found themselves in gaol in Portsmouth did not have a comfortable existence. The first recorded gaol was the ‘Whitehouse’, a converted private residence located on the High Street next to the Crown Inn. No bedding or straw was provided, only the most basic of rations (debtors received nothing) were given and there was no segregation of the sexes. A purpose built gaol was not erected until 1808. It was situated in Penny Street where it remained until 1878 when the current prison in Kingston was built.