Pevsner's view

Portsmouth in 1965 is, as a whole, muddled and visually squalid; it still has the chance to make itself something very different, and much better, before the end of the C20.

Taken from 'The Buildings of England' by Pevsner and Lloyd, 1967

Hovercrafts

Since its establishment in 1965, Hovertravel has carried over 26 million passengers between Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It is the world's longest running and the only remaining commercial hovercraft operator in Europe.

St James Hospital

This hospital was opened in 1879 as a lunatic asylum. Its very extensive grounds were cultivated until 1965 by patients who were thus allowed to contribute to their keep. It was one of the largest institutions of it type in the south of England and remains the only one still in use for its original purpose. The many changes in name through the decades reflect society’s view of mental illness: The Borough of Portsmouth Lunatic Asylum; Portsmouth Borough Mental Hospital; St James’ Hospital for Nervous and Mental Diseases and St James’ Psychiatric Hospital. Portsmouth City Records Office hold an extensive archival collection for this and the other hospitals in Portsmouth.