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

A Flying Circus

Sir Alan Cobham brought his Flying Circus to Portsmouth in 1932, the same year that Portsmouth Airport opened. He took the members of the Corporation on joy rides over the city. On the occasion he said, ‘It is about the best aerodrome I have landed in’.

Ragged Schools

At least four ragged schools were founded in Portsmouth – the home town of John Pounds, the disabled cobbler said to have inspired the Ragged School movement for the education of homeless and orphan children. St George’s School, Richmond Place was originally an example of an early Ragged School. In 1858 a Shoe Black Brigade was formed at the school. The children each had a station and the pence they earned went to buy boots and clothes for them. Portsmouth Records Office I162

Clarence Esplanade

In 1848, Southsea seafront changed forever with the building of Clarence Esplanade. It was partly financed from public subscription, with the War Office donating the land free of charge, and the Treasury contributing £300. The driving force behind the initiative were the Lt Governor, Lord Frederick FitzClarence, and Alderman Emanuel. They employed convict labour and took advantage of thousands of tons of mud and shingle being excavated from the Dockyard Steam Basin being built at the same time. The section from the King’s Rooms (now Clarence Pier) to the Castle was opened in August 1848 during the Royal Portsmouth Regatta. It was attended by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and other members of the royal family.

An early blizzard

On 18 October 1893 a great blizzard swept through the Portsmouth area. Two soldiers were frozen to death on Portsdown Hill.

Marketing Southsea

In the early 1900s there was a real vision for the tourism industry in Southsea which differentiated the area as an ‘upmarket’ resort.

‘Southsea is essentially a place for those who prefer their seaside stay to be spent amid surroundings that are peaceful, quiet and refined, without being dull; for children whose helplessness and venturesomeness demand absolute safety as far as natural conditions go; for all anxious to recruit the fagged body and mind; and, above all, for the lovers of all the glorious sea and its never ending charms, and for those who like to lounge on the beautiful greensward adjoining Southsea Castle.’ Portsmouth and Southsea Official Guide, 1907

Two MPs

Portsmouth returning two members of Parliament from the very early date of 1295 reflects the town’s early and continuing prominence.

A Time before the Social

There was concern that no unnecessary burdens should be placed upon the local taxpayers. Therefore issues of settlement, vagrancy, and bastardy, when it was feared that a pauper or unsupported minor should become chargeable to the parish, were treated as criminal acts. These latter cases were handled very indelicately by the Justices who insisted on knowing not only who the father was but often exactly where conception had taken place. Thus poor Elizabeth Carter of Kingston, who gave birth to a boy in April 1676, was forced to admit that she had had carnal relations with a Robert Rascar ‘athwart ye chayres by the fireside’ at one house, in bed with Mr Collins, Curate of Wymering, at another in Gatcombe, and with Thomas Barrowe in the fields whilst haymaking.

The Square Tower

This understated solid building has stood at the heart of Portsmouth since 1494. A brick building in a town built predominately of wood, it would have had an imposing dominance. Originally built as a residence for the Governor, in 1584 it was converted for use as a gunpowder store. It was used as a bargaining tool in the English Civil War, when Portsmouth was besieged by the Parliamentarians, and the Governor used the threat of blowing up the Tower (which would have flattened the town) to negotiate a peaceful surrender. From 1779 the Tower was used as a meat store to feed the ever growing Navy, and in 1822 a semaphore station was erected on its roof. A review of the Town’s defences in 1848 led to gun emplacements on the top (the semaphore having been removed) and it remained in defensive use until it came into the ownership of the City Council in the 1960s. There is a spectacular panoramic view from the roof which is accessible on certain dates during the summer months. For more information visit the Portsmouth Museum Service website: www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk

Inspection of a Gaol

‘Visited and inspected the Gaol this day. One prisoner was locked up in solitary confinement for refusal to work. His excuse was that he was unable from illness to work at the Treadmill. I directed that the Surgeon should make a report upon his case. The convicts who attempted to escape still exhibit the most refractory conduct, and the Governor having reported that he did not consider it safe for their irons to be removed I ordered them to be kept on. The Gaol perfectly clean, and with the exception of the two prisoners who have been already ill for a long time, perfectly healthy.’ George Gillman, 2 August 1849 Taken from the Portsmouth Visiting Justices Book 1848 – 1869. The Portsmouth gaol at this time was situated in Penny Street.

The Strongest Fortified Town in England

‘Portsmouth, the strongest fortified town in England, … Ramparts, bastions, moats, drawbridges, intersect and encircle the whole in a manner peculiarly perplexing to the professional eye. May they prove as difficult of comprehension to an enemy, if England’s first line of defence should ever fail her! Let us now return to the town, but not wander through its streets for any length of time. With the exception of the High Street they are mostly narrow, miry, and squalid; crowded with small beer-shops and public houses; and always thronged by soldiers, seamen and marines. The streets and open places, the buildings and visible objects generally, are not such as to induce one to linger amongst them.’ Taken from Black’s Guide to Hampshire 1885

Public houses and street names

Public houses have always played an important part in the history of Portsmouth. This is even reflected in local street names: White Horse Lane (earliest reference 1676), running between the High Street and St Thomas’s Street, was named after the White Horse Golden Lion Lane (earliest reference 1716) was named after the Golden Lion White Hart Row, now road, (earliest reference 1811), named after the White Hart Fighting Cocks Lane (now Pembroke Road) was called after the Fighting Cocks which stood on the corner of this road and the High Street. In 1952, eighteen Fulham ware mugs were excavated from this site.

A Fire on the Boyne

On 1 May 1795, HMS Boyne, a fine 98 gun ship was destroyed by fire in Portsmouth Harbour. Moody gives the following startling description: ‘Most of the crew were saved by boats, but the heat at length became so excessive that no further assistance could be given, and on the return of the tide she drifted out of the harbour, the fires issuing through every porthole. Her lower guns were shotted, and as these went off much damage was done, and some lives lost. After burning about seven hours, her powder magazine blew up, with an explosion which was sensibly felt over all Portsmouth. Shot, and pieces of timber, were thrown to a great distance; several boats were blown to atoms and twenty of their hands perished.’ Taken from Black’s Guide to Hampshire 1885

Grand Parade

This fashionable area of Portsmouth was the hub of activity and centre for military parades. It has variously been described as: ‘A most charming resort for the gay, the elegant and the distinguished of both sexes. The public promenades, on the Platform, Parade, Ramparts and the Queen’s Battery, where the company are regaled every fine evening with the most choice airs, performed by the military bands, are also a charming source of rational and healthful entertainment to minds susceptible to such exquisite pleasures.’ Mottley 1776 ‘this guard (the main) is very well situated as it commands the gate, the High Street and is near the magazine (Square Tower), the platform and the governor’ Leake 1729 ‘the ramparts next to the sea, with that beautiful prospect of the Isle of Wight, the ocean and the shipping’ Wilkinson ‘everything looked so beautiful under the influence of such a sky, the effects of the shadows pursuing each other, on the ships at Spithead and the island beyond’ Jane Austen in Mansfield Park

A Dockyard the size of a Town

‘The Dockyard resembles a town in the number of its dwelling houses, offices, storehouse, lofts and other edifices erected fro the various purposes of the yard. It contains amazing quantities of everything necessary for the royal navy. There are never less that 2,000 men employed in it, and in times of war upwards of 2,000..’ Guide to Portsmouth 1775

Portsmouth Dockyardmen

Employment in the Dockyard in Portsmouth for skilled craftsmen in the mid 1800s was unusually secure for the period. The ‘established men’ were kept on at all times while ‘hired men’ were taken on only at busy periods and who could then be dismissed when no longer needed. There were a number of additional benefits to being an established man. A secure pension was paid after 20 years, paid holidays and sick leave provided, and workers also benefitted from free medical attention. These men and their families had little reason to fear the workhouse. The number of Dockyardmen fluctuated between 1500-5000 at this period. Considering the average mill or mine at this time employed 200-300 workers, Portsmouth Dockyard was one of the largest industrial undertakings in the country.

Judge Jeffreys and Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a surprising connection with the notorious George Jeffreys. He was made Burgess of Portsmouth on 10 September 1684. From 1685 to 1688 he was Recorder of Portsmouth but it appears that the office was performed during this period by a deputy, William Westbrook, who subsequently succeeded him as Recorder in 1689. Persons who were condemned to death and executed in the Bloody Assize, presided over by Jeffreys, which followed Monmouth’s rebellion in 1685 included John Hicks. Hicks had been minister of the non-conformist congregation at Portsmouth from about 1675 to 1681. This congregation was responsible for the later building the High Street Chapel. Additionally Alice Lady Lisle of Moyles Court near Ringwood was condemned by Jeffreys for giving shelter to Hicks and another man after the Rebellion. Jeffreys died in the Tower of London on 18 April 1689. Following the flight of James II overseas in December 1688, Jeffreys had himself tried to escape but was recognised and imprisoned.

Warblington Street

This name was adopted after the stone and brick from the ruined Warblington Castle, a few miles from Portsmouth, was used in the building of the newer houses. The name was in use from 1672 although this road was previously known as Hoggyn Markett or Hogmarkett Streete reflecting the livestock market that was held here. Both names were used interchangeably until the mid 1770s. In 1721, the local court heard the following complaint: ‘That the pavements before almost all the houses in Hogmarket als Warblinton Street are very ruinous out of Repair and that the laying of Dung, Filth and Burchers Offal there is a comon nuisance.’ Warblington Castle had been slighted in the Civil War by Parliamentarian forces.

Henry I

In 1133 the last embarkation of Henry I from Portsmouth harbour was marked by an earthquake following a total eclipse of the sun wrecking a number of vessels of the Royal fleet. In gratitude for his deliverance the King founded a church within the walls of Portchester Castle.