The founding of a cathedral

‘Be it known to all men… that I, John de Gisors, have given and granted and by the present charter confirmed to God and the church of St Mary Sudwica (Southwick) and to the canons regular there serving God for ever in free alms for the salvation of my soul and those of my father and mother, my ancestors and heirs, a certain place for building here on a chapel in honour of the glorious martyr Thomas of Canterbury, one-time Archbishop, on my land… on the island of Portesia (Portsea).' Extracted from the a charter of Southwick Priory held at Hampshire Record Office, 4.M.55, probably dated 1180.

Two racecourses

In 1891 Portsmouth opened its first racecourse, called 'Portsmouth Park', at Farlington just to the north of Portsea Island. This was a very fine and successful course but was taken over by the War Office during WWI and used as an ammunition dump. After the end of hostilities, the authorities were tardy in returning it to its owners so it was not until 1922 that the disposal of the ammunition began. Amazingly it was cleared at a rate of 3,000 tonnes per week through detonation. Still ,the site was not finally released until 1929 when Portsmouth City Council purchased it for housing development. A local businessman, George Cooper, spotted a gap in the market and opened another course three miles away at Wymering on 10 August 1928. It was luxurious having parking for 2,000 vehicles, accommodation for 8,000 spectators, numerous bars, modern toilets, a restaurant and a smart member’s clubhouse. 40,000 square yards of turf were removed from Portsdown Hill and the course was consider second to none. Pony races were run regularly while there was also the new sport of motor cycle racing to attract spectators. Even new railway halt was opened adjacent to the track to provide easy access. The next world war intervened and shortly after the land was sold to Portsmouth City Council for industrial use and housing. To find out more: http://www.stauntoninfo.co.uk/7862.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val* http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/paulsgrove/estate/paulsgrove_p1.html

30 years to establish a library

As early as 1853 the Council resolved to establish a free public library and museum in Portsmouth. However, little happened. Even in 1860, when the library and museum of the defunct Portsmouth and Portsea Literary and Philosophical Society were offered to the Council on condition that the Public Libraries Act was adopted, they ‘declined to accept the burden’. It was proposed that the Act was adopted locally in both 1869 and 1875 but public meetings of rate payers rejected the idea as too expensive. It was not until 1882 that a council committee was established for libraries. The first public free service was opened in 1883 in a house on the site now occupied by the Guildhall. Branch libraries followed in Southsea and Kingston in 1893 and 1897 respectively, both housed above the local police stations. There are currently 9 council run libraries in Portsmouth. http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/learning/29.html

A Circus Disaster

On 11 August 1900 John Sanger’s circus was on Southsea common with accommodation for 2,000 people. A strong wind was blowing so the proprietors decided to finish the afternoon show early. This proved a good move as soon after 5p.m. a sudden squall descended ripping the big top from its moorings. It rose in the air before falling back on some people standing nearby. Several people were injured and a 14 year old boy died.

Relief for the Unemployed

Following the end of World War I, there was great distress in Portsmouth due to unemployment caused by men returning to civilian life. An Unemployment Committee was established which had the main aim of providing work paid for by the council. These projects included the extension of the Esplanade beyond the Marine Barracks, the development of Great Salterns, and construction of three new roads running off Portsea Island. In addition, the Town Council voted £25,000 for the relief of the poor for the winter of 1919. Things did slowly improve however with the Unemployment Committee disbanding in 1926.

An ill named place

Portsmouth has an ill-name in public estimation for the behaviour and morals of its inhabitants and most undeservedly do strangers imagine that a laxity of proper feeling predominates among its females. We who know the place have ever scouted the injustice of this charge against its population. Hampshire Telegraph, January 1846

Portsmouth Museum

The old museum was situated in the High Street occupying the site of the Old Town Hall. Many ancient local treasures were located inside. With breathtaking lack of foresight no efforts appear to have been made protect the contents on the outbreak of war leading to the entire contents, catalogues and the building to be lost in the bombing of the blitz. In retrospect this has been a devastating loss to the city and its heritage. The majority of the city’s archives however were located in a basement of the Guildhall. By a miracle, and certainly not from good planning or collection care, they survived both the bombing and resultant fire despite the Guildhall being completely burnt out. Both the City's archives and museums services are under threat from the recent budget proposals which, if implemented, will severely reduce the professional capacity of the staff and must impact on collection care

Portsea Pier

This often forgotten pier, which stood 1249 feet in length, was opened in 1847 at a cost of £1200. It was used by steamers going to the Isle of Wight but was never a commercial success. The Harbour Station viaduct and station buildings now occupy this site where the modern Isle of Wight passenger ferries still dock in Portsmouth.

Harsh Justice

The punishment handed out to Hannah Davis who was found guilty of theft by the Portsmouth session court in 1732 was: ‘You are to return to the Gaole from whence you came and there remain till Thursday next between the hours of Eleven and Twelve of the Clock in the Forenoon, att which time you are to be taken thence and stript from the middle upwards and fixt to the Public Stocks or Whipping Post near the Cage on the Common withn the Liberties of this Burrough, and at Twelve of the Clock just as the Dock Men are coming from his Majesties Dock Yard here you are to receive Fifteen Lashes with a Catt of Nine Tails from the hande of the Common Beadle on your naked Back and then return to the said Gaol and there remaine till your Fees are paid.’ Portsmouth City Records Office, S3/97

Knight and Lee

This store, now part of the John Lewis Partnership, has been based in Palmerston Road, Southsea since 1874. Originally started by a local businessman, Frederick Wink, it was later purchased by two young brothers-in-law who had been trained in London, Jesse Knight and Edward Herbert Soden Lee. They specialised in clothes before widening the stock to include housewares. It was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership in its first big expansion outside London in 1934. At this time it occupied the site where (until recently) Woolworth’s, Boots and other shops are. In January 1941 the whole of the Palmerston Road shopping area, including this store, was devastated in the Blitz. The staff were all given 2 week’s paid leave after which offices were set up in the nearby Queen’s Hotel and ten different shops were found in which to carry on the business. All the records had been destroyed, so the staff list, and their salaries were calculated from memory by Miss Kite, the Counting House Manager. The current building was completed in March 1959, on a site slightly further along Palmerston Road where J D Mourant had been.

The end of paganism

St Wilfrid, the son of a Northumberland thane, travelled to the south coast in about 687. He founded the see of Chichester and built a monastery at Selsey. He also brought Christianity to the Portsmouth and surrounding areas, one of the last strongholds of paganism. He is remembered in the many institutions named after him in the area.

Portsmouth-Gosport Floating Bridge

The floating bridge (or chain ferry) was a feature of Portsmouth Harbour for over 150years. The engineer who invented the concept first made one that crossed the River Dart at Dartmouth in 1831. Portsmouth was the fifth one he constructed, and it was opened, after an Act of Parliament had been obtained despite opposition from both the Admiralty and local wherrymen, in May 1840. It cost one penny for a passenger to travel across and between a penny and a shilling for all other traffic. The company flourished until the world wars during which their launches were requisitioned. Afterwards, aging machinery, rising fuel costs, the lack of radar meaning it could not operate in fog when more modern vessels could, and an appearance of a sandbank near the Gosport shore which lead to grounding at low tide, all meant this the company could not continue. The service was finally suspended in December 1961.

Music Halls

There is a long tradition of music halls in Portsmouth. In the early days they were associated with public houses. Some were of doubtful repute, other achieved a high standard. One of the best known was located at the Blue Bell in St Mary’s Street, Old Portsmouth. A small music hall was built by an enterprising licensee in 1856 which proved so popular that a larger one was needed. This was built over the old hall, enabling no break in performances to be necessary, and was much better equipped. It was later known as the South of England Music Hall. Another was the colourfully named Vento’s Temple of Varieties and was located on the corner of Leonard Street and Lake Road.

Meetings of the Improvement Commissioners

From 1769 until well into the 19th century the Ship and Castle on the Hard was the meeting place of the Improvement Commissioners for the town of Portsea. They were charged with road improvements and street cleaning and the ‘removal of nuisances’. A brief survey of the first volume of the minutes of Commissioner’s meetings makes if fairly clear that 18th century Portsea was a pretty squalid place. The Commissioners issue frequent orders ‘that the inhabitants do not throw ashes, cinders and rubbish into the streets’. A succession of men are appointed to impound all swine, beasts and cattle ‘which shall be found wandering about the streets, lanes, ways, alleys and public passages…’

A stolen aircraft

In 1936 two employees of a local aviation company, Airspeed Ltd, broke into a hanger at Portsmouth airport and stole a small passenger plane, a Courier. They were intending to fly to Spain and sell the aircraft to either the Government or the insurgent forces. The machine stalled in takeoff, crashed in to trees at the north end of the aerodrome and was a total write off. One man, Arthur Gargett, was killed, and the other, Joseph Smith was imprisoned for four months for theft. Portsmouth Records Office I169

The first Theatre in Portsmouth

The first reference to a theatre in Portsmouth is in the court session papers. On 26 May 1694 a wanted sailor was chased through the streets and was thought to have disappeared in to the Queen’s Head where, in a large room, a play was in progress. Portsmouth Records Office S3B/112

Pubs on the Hard

The Ordnance Survey map of 1861 shows a preponderance of alehouses on the Hard, Portsmouth including the Ship and Castle, The Queen’s Head, the King and Queen, the Ship Anson, the Victoria and Albert, the Waterman’s Arms, the Bedford-in-Chase, the Sheer Hulk, the Nag’s Head, the Keppel’s Head Pier Hotel, the White Hart Tavern, the Row Barge Tavern, and the Earl St Vincent Tavern. These would have catered for the thousands of sailors that passed trough the area and the dockyard workers who worked immediately adjacent in the Dockyard. Not surprisingly, the Hard became notorious for the riotous behaviour of men and women alike.

Mrs Victor Bruce

This lady set off from Portsmouth airport in 1933 attempting to set an endurance record of 28 days. Her aircraft was fitted out with a kitchen, bathroom and other comforts. She later crashed but not before setting the record. Portsmouth Records Office I169

The Birth of Portsea

According to tradition, when the shipwrights from Portsmouth Dockyard began to build in West Dock field early in Queen Anne’s reign, the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth, General Gibson, took fright believing that any buildings erected so close to the town would mask and interfere with fortifications. He ordered all building operations to cease and threatened to turn the guns of the Garrison upon anyone who was rash enough to ignore his instructions. However, shortly after this ultimatum was delivered the Queen was in Portsmouth accompanied by her husband, Prince George of Denmark, and while she was at the Commissioner’s house the indignant shipwrights memorialised Her Majesty on the subject. Through the kindly mediation of the Prince the Governor was sent for, the matter settled and the shipwrights met with no further interference. The names of Queen Street and Prince George Street commemorate this event. Portsmouth Records Office I152

The beginning of State education

Portsmouth was one of the first areas in Hampshire to set up a School Board following the passage of the Elementary Education Act in 1870. Board members were local people directly elected by voters each having as many votes as there were places to fill. In Portsmouth 11 new elementary schools were built in 1870 – New Road, Cottage Grove, Swan Street, Flying Bull Lane, Eastney Road, Fratton Street, Kent Street, Church Street, Conway Street, Albert Road and Portsmouth Town. This great period of exertions was followed by a slack period in the next decade, due in part to the growing dissatisfaction of rate payers over the greatly increasing expenditure on education. In fact, the Education Department threatened to stop Government Grants altogether if the Portsmouth Board did no spur itself on to greater activity. Portsmouth Records Office I162