Dickens and Highland Road

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and kept connections with the town for most of his life. Highland Road cemetery has a plethora of connections being the last resting place of:
o Maria Winter (nee Beadnall), his first sweetheart
o Ellen Robinson (nee Ternan), his mistress
o Georgina Margaret Haymen, believed to be the model for Little Dorritt
o Alfred Arthur Seale, first curator of the Charles Dickens Museum in Portsmouth.

2012 will be the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth and to celebrate Portsmouth City Council will be arranging a series of celebrations including a large community archive project.
http://www.dickens2012.org/dickens-community-archive-project

VCs in Highland Road

The Victoria Cross was introduced in 1856 as a decoration to recognise outstanding military bravery. Highland Road cemetery in Portsmouth has the graves of eight holders of the award, the most of anywhere in the world, including that of Henry James Raby, the first person to whom it was ever given. To find out more visit the website of the Friends of Highland Road Cemetery: http://www.friendsofhighlandroadcemetery.org.uk/vc/index.htm