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Portsmouth pubs history index
Portsmouth 1898 street directory - random streets
Portsea Slaters 1852 traders & Portsmouth Slaters 1852 traders
Traders in Portsmouth by surname in 1855 A - C, D - J, K - R, S - Y & Gentry; Traders in Portsea A - D, E - K, L - Q, R - W & Gentry
Portsmouth 1865 Harrods Traders directory A - C , D - G , H - M , N - S , T - W ; Portsea 1865 Harrods Traders A - B , C - E , F - H , J - M , N - R , S - T , U - Z ; Landport 1865 Harrods Traders A -B , C - D , E - G , H - J , K - M , N - Q , R - S , T - Y ; Southsea 1865 Harrods Traders A - B , C - E , F - H , I - L , M - P , Q - S , T - Y
Portsmouth 1875 Post Office Traders Directory A - C , D - G , H - M , N - S , T - W ; Portsea 1875 Post Office Traders Directory A - B , C - E ; F - H , J - M , N - R , S - T , U - Z ; Landport 1875 Post Office Traders Directory A - B , C - D , E - G , H - J, K - M , N - Q , R - S , T - Y ; Southsea 1875 Post Office Traders Directory A - B , C - E , F - H , I - L , M - P , Q - S , T - Y ;
Hampshire 1911 Beer Retailers & 1927 Public Houses indexes
Portsmouth 1920 Beer Retailers & Public Houses by Address (A - D) ; (E - L) ; (M - W)
The towns of Portsmouth, Portsea, Southsea, Landport,
and the suburbs, situate at the south-west point of the Hand of Portsea, 94
miles from London, form, with Portsmouth Harbour, and Gosport on the opposite
shore, the celebrated seaport called Portsmouth. The borough of Portsmouth
includes the towns of Portsmouth, Portsea, Southsea, Landport, and Kingston. The
borough of Portsmouth is divided into two parishes�Portsmouth being in the
parish of Portsmouth; and Portsea, Southsea, and Landport, in the parish of
Portsea. This great arsenal, the largest royal naval establishment and strongest
fortress in England, is a seaport, borough, market, railway, and union and post
town, in South Hampshire, Portsea Union, and Winchester bishopric, situated on a
fine bay in the English Channel, opposite to the Isle of Wight, 06 miles in a
direct line south-west of St. Paul's, London, 94 by railway, 26 south-east of
Southampton, 16 west of Chichester, and 27 south-east from Winchester. The
population of the united towns of Portsmouth and Gosport was, in 1841, 66,568;
and, in 1851, 70,510, exclusive of the suburbs in Alverstoke, and being a total
of about 85,000, independent of the war population.
The town of Portsmouth, In a parish of the same name, is in the form of a
quadrangle, has an area of 110 acres, end is rather more than a mile in
circumference; the streets are mostly narrow, but it Is well paved and lighted,
and there are some substantial houses in the High street and on the Grand
parade. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Winchester, value �655, in
the patronage of Winchester College ; the Rev, John Poulett McGhie, M.A., is the
incumbent, and the Rev. William Frederick Hobson, M.A , is the curate. The
church, dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, is an ancient cruciform structure,
founded by Richard Toclive, Bishop of Winchester; only a portion of the original
structure now remains; the additions are of various later periods: it has a
nave, chancel, aisles, and transepts, a tower at the western extremity,
surmounted by a cupola, containing a musical peal of 8 bells. Portsmouth
originated in the retreat of the sea from Porchester, a naval station
established by the Romans, on the northern shore of Portsmouth harbour.
Portsmouth was of importance in the time of Henry I.; it was a naval station in
the reign of King John ; was fortified by Edward IV., Richard III., and Henry
VII.; and it became the principal, if not the only, station for the Royal Navy
in the reign of Henry VIII. In the time of the civil war the town was garrisoned
for the Parliament. The fortifications of the towns of Portsmouth and Portsea
are said to require a garrison of 14,000 men in case of a siege ; all the works
are surrounded by moats, which are very wide and deep, and can be speedily
filled with water from the sea.
The Island of Portsea, at the south-western extremity of which are the fortified
towns of Portsmouth and Portsea, has also very strong defences; on the south is
Southsea Castle, built by Henry VIII. to command the approach to Portsmouth
Harbour; on the east is Cumberland Fort, to defend the entrance to Langston
Harbour; on the north the entrance to the island is defended by lines along the
channel, which divide the island from the main-land. The island is 3 miles long
and 2 1/2 wide, and has 5,568 acres, or 9 square miles, and a population of
72,126. There are five barracks within the town of Portsmouth�the Cambridge, the
Colewort, and the Clarence, for troops of the line; the barracks in Broad
street, for the Royal Artillery; and for the Royal Marine Artillery, the
barracks near the Custom House. Portsmouth Harbour is one of the most secure and
capacious, sufficient to contain the whole navy of England; its entrance is
narrower than the Thames at London Bridge, yet having sufficient depth of water
for a man-of-war to enter at any time of tide. The defences are of almost an
impregnable character, the coast on both sides being crowned with forts and
batteries, armed with artillery of the heaviest calibre. The interior of the
harbour expands into a spacious lake, 4 miles long and 2 miles wide, having good
anchorage and sufficient depth of water, even at the lowest ebb, to float the
largest ship in the British navy. A sand-bank, called the Spit, projects
south-east from the western side of the harbour's mouth, about 3 miles; beyond
it, indicated by buoys, and under shelter of the Isle of Wight, lies the
well-known and safe roadstead of SPITHEAD. The port extends its jurisdiction
from the town of Emsworth on the east to the entrance of the Southampton water
on the west, and the roadstead of Spithead and the Bay of St. Helen's, between
Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. There is steam communication with Plymouth and
Havre, with Southampton several times during the day, and every hour to Ryde,
Isle of Wight. Portsmouth was incorporated and erected Into a borough by Henry
I., whose charter is in the Visitation-Book of Hampshire. The Reform Act
enlarged the boundaries of the ancient borough, and the whole of the parishes of
Portsmouth and Portsea are now included within the borough of Portsmouth. The
enlarged borough is divided into six wards�St. Thomas, St. George, St. John, All
Saints, St. Paul's, and St. Mary's; is governed by a mayor, 14 aldermen, and 42
councillors; it has a court of quarter sessions, recorder, and coroner; petty
sessions are held every day within the town of Portsmouth, which is the seat of
local government. Portsmouth returns two members to Parliament; the Right Hon.
Sir Francis Thornhill Baring, Bart., and Lord Viscount Monk, are the
representatives. Portsmouth is connected with the metropolis by the London,
Brighton and South Coast, and the London and South Western Railways ; the two
companies have a joint terminus at Landport.
PORTSEA, a fortified town in the parish of Portsea, and within the borough of
Portsmouth, sprang entirely out of the rapid augmentation of the Government
establishments during the American war. This place was formerly called
Portsmouth Common, but in 1792, by an Act of Parliament, it assumed the
appellation of the Town of Portsea. The Gun wharf, lying between Portsmouth and
Portsea, is the grand depot for ordnance of every calibre, with their
appropriate shot, which are piled in immense pyramids in the spacious square of
14 acres. The small armoury contains 25,000 stand of arms. The creek, which
separates the two towns, is connected with the works by large deep dykes ; It is
called the Millpond, in consequence of its waters being confined by a sluice,
for the purpose of working the King's mill, situate at its mouth, on the Portsea
side. The Dockyard, located in Portsea, is entered by a lofty gateway, having a
small postern to the right, and great circumspection is exercised in the
admission of strangers. Here are storehouses of every description requisite for
the equipment of ships, a rope house, a copper foundry, and every other
necessary establishment; 3,000 men are employed here, although the various
operations are conducted by steam-engines, and every improved facility is
machinery adopted. The stupendous works at the anchor-forge seem to realize the
complicated honours of the Cyclopean cave. The Royal Naval College is within the
Dockyard�a handsome building, consisting of a centre and wings. In one wing is
deposited a very curious model of the "Victory," of 110 guns, built in this
yard, and lost off the Race of Alderney, with 1,000 men on board. With it is
incorporated a school for the study of naval architecture, and it contains an
electric telegraph, communicating with the Admiralty in London. The great dock
covers an area of 33,000 square yards, and contains a depth of water sufficient
for the largest flrst-rates to lie close to the shore; it communicates with four
dry docks. Convenient offices are appropriated both to the Ordnance and Engineer
service. The Royal Dockyard has been much extended, and an immense steam basin
has been added to the establishment ; it is 3,000 feet in length, and is the
largest in the world. The Anglesea Barracks, a large, commodious, and handsome
erection, for infantry, is situate close to the Lion Gate; considerable
additions and alterations have been made in the fortifications. A new pier,
called the Albert Pier, has been built; it Is situate on the Hard, and extending
into Portsmouth Harbour; it is 1,200 feet long, a handsome structure, and of
great convenience to the inhabitants. A new convict prison is near the Dockyard,
to supersede the hulks. The parish church is in the hamlet of KINGSTON ; it has
been rebuilt; in the churchyard is a monument in memory of Admiral Kempenfelt
and his crew, who perished in the Royal George. The living is a vicarage, in the
gift of Winchester College, of the annual value of �696, and enjoying the
patronage of four chapels of ease�All Saints' �160, St. George's �45, St. Paul's
�310, and Trinity �150. There is also the proprietary chapel of St. John, worth
�141 a year, the interior of which is particularly elegant, and the new church
of St. Jade, at Southsea. The populations of the ecclesiastical districts are�Portsea,
23,215; All Saints, 15,662; Milton, 1,320; St. John's, 6,607; St. Paul's, 15,227
; and Trinity, 8,638. The Baptist chapel in Kent street, on the site of the old
chapel, known as Meeting House Alley Chapel, founded in 1704, is a spacious and
handsome building, in the Gothic style of architecture.
The island contains the villages of MILTON, 2 miles east, with an
ecclesiastical district of 1,320 inhabitants, FRATTON, BUCKLAND, COPNOR, and
KINGSTON. Fratton and Kingston form a long street, 1 1/2 miles long, leading
towards the mainland. Fratton was anciently called Froddington, and there was a
priory there.
SALTERNS HORSEA, three-quarters of a mile long, and half a mile wide, lies to
the north-west, and is a marsh island, with a few houses.
WHALEY, north of Portsea town, is a small island, quarter of a mile long,
uninhabited until 1845. PEWIT ISLAND lies near Porchester. The soil is rich and
highly cultivated, chiefly arable. The eastern shore abounds in water-fowl and a
great variety of shells. Near HILSEA are the pleasant seats of GATCOMBE and
STUBBINGTON LODGE. Bavins is 2 miles north-east; Tangier, 3 miles north-east;
Staunshaw, 2 miles north; Eastnev, 2 1/2 miles east; Lumpe, 1 1/2 miles
south-east; Croxton Town adjoins Portsmouth. The whole island constitutes a
Union, for the purposes of the Poor Law Amendment Act, called the Portsea Island
Union. A new Union-house of great size has been built.
In EASTNEY is the new cemetery of St. Michael, for Portsmouth; and in Copnore,
the new cemetery for Portsea; these are in lieu of the ancient parochial
graveyards, which are within the inhabited districts.
SOUTIISEA, another town or district in the parish of Portsea, and in the borough
of Portsmouth, is of recent origin, and takes its name from Southsea Castle,
built in the reign of Henry VIII. It is a beautiful watering-place. The beach is
considered to be one of the best in England. Within the last few years it has
been much improved by the erection of very many splendid houses and terraces
suited to the wants of a superior class of visitors. Adjoining the beach is
Southsea common, which is the property of the Government, and on which the
troops of Portsmouth garrison are being constantly drilled and exercised. Close
to the water's edge are the King's Rooms, used for soirees, promenades,
assemblies, &c. Adjoining the rooms are warm, shower, vapour, and other baths.
Ranging along the shore are a number of bathing-machines. A beautiful esplanade,
near a mile in length, now skirts the margin of the shore, extending from
Southsea Castle to the King's Rooms, near the entrance to which are two statues
of Wellington and Nelson, the gift of Major General Lord Frederick Fitzclarence,
G.C.H., Lieutenant Governor of Portsmouth. A handsome church has been erected,
and was consecrated in 1851; it is in the Gothic style of the 14th century, with
lofty tower and spire, and dedicated to St. Jude; the living is derived from pew
rents, value about �360, in the patronage of Thomas E. Owen, and incumbency of
the Rev. Thomas Richard Brownrigg, M.A.
LANDPORT is a place of modern date, and built in consequence of the great
increase of population within the walls of the town of Portsea. The artizans of
the Royal Dockyard mostly reside here ; the houses are for the most part small
in size, but from the vast number of houses in course of erection, this place
will soon become of importance. It was formerly called Halfway-Houses, but has
now assumed the name of Landport. It is within the parish of Portsea and the
borough of Portsmouth. The joint terminus of the London, Brighton and South
Coast, and London and South Western railways, is situated here. The Royal
Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport Hospital is at Mile End ; it is a handsome
building. The foundation stone was laid by H.R.H. Prince Albert, Sept. 28, 1849.
The land was given by the Board of Ordnance, and the building was raised by
voluntary subscriptions. The Portsea and Alverstoke Unions, with a population
of 89,034, were, in 1851.