Complete Details About Portsmouth: Everyone Needs to Know

Portsmouth: A Special City in England

Portsmouth is a city in Hampshire, England. It is a port city, which means it is near the sea and has places where ships come and go. Most of Portsmouth is on an island called Portsea Island. This makes it the only city in England that is not mostly on the mainland.

Where is Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is located in the south of England. It is 22 miles (35 km) away from Southampton, 50 miles (80 km) from Brighton, and 74 miles (119 km) from London.

How Many People Live in Portsmouth?

The city has about 208,100 people living there. This makes it the most crowded city in the United Kingdom.

Part of a Bigger Area

Portsmouth is part of the South Hampshire urban area. This includes nearby places like Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Eastleigh, and Southampton.

Portsmouth: A City with a Rich History

The History of Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a long history that goes back to Roman times. It has been an important base for the Royal Navy for hundreds of years.

Who Founded Portsmouth?

Portsmouth was founded around the year 1180 by an Anglo-Norman merchant named Jean de Gisors. He chose the south-west part of Portsea Island, which is now called Old Portsmouth.

The Chapel of St. Thomas Becket

Jean de Gisors built a chapel dedicated to St. Thomas Becket. By the 14th century, this chapel became a parish church.

When Did Portsmouth Become a Town?

Portsmouth became an official town on 2 May 1194 when it was given a royal charter.

The First Drydock

Portsmouth is also known for having the first drydock ever built. It was created by King Henry VII in 1496. This was a big achievement in shipbuilding at that time.

Portsmouth: Home to Historic Achievements

The Oldest Dry Dock in the World

Portsmouth has the world’s oldest dry dock, called “The Great Stone Dock.” It was first built in 1698, rebuilt in 1769, and is now known as “No.5 Dock.” A dry dock is a special area where ships are repaired or built.

The First Mass Production Line

The world’s first mass production line was created in Portsmouth’s naval base. It was at a place called the Block Mills, where pulley blocks were made for the Royal Navy ships. This was a major invention that made shipbuilding faster and easier.

The Most Fortified City

In the early 19th century, Portsmouth was the most protected city in the world. It was considered the “world’s greatest naval port” during the height of the British Empire.

The Palmerston Forts

By 1859, Portsmouth was surrounded by a ring of forts called the Palmerston Forts. These forts were built to protect the city from an invasion that was expected from Europe.

Portsmouth in the 20th Century

Becoming a City

Portsmouth officially became a city on 21 April 1926.

Role in World War II

During the Second World War, Portsmouth played an important role as a key departure point for the D-Day landings. However, the city was heavily bombed in the Portsmouth Blitz, which caused the deaths of 930 people.

The Falklands War

In 1982, a large Royal Navy task force left Portsmouth to take part in the Falklands War.

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia was once based in Portsmouth. It played a significant role in the transfer of Hong Kong in 1997. After that, the yacht was retired and moved to Leith, where it is now a museum ship.

HMNB Portsmouth: The Heart of the Royal Navy

The Naval Base

HMNB Portsmouth is an active Royal Navy base and is home to two-thirds of the UK’s surface fleet. It has been an important naval location for many years and is often called “Pompey,” a nickname shared by both the city of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Football Club.

Museums and Historic Ships

The naval base is also home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. These places have collections of historic warships, including:

The Mary Rose
HMS Victory (the world’s oldest naval ship still in service)
HMS Warrior (the Royal Navy’s first ironclad warship)

Key Features of Portsmouth

Gunwharf Quays

The former HMS Vernon naval base has been redeveloped into a popular shopping area called Gunwharf Quays. It opened in 2001 and is now a large retail destination.

Two Cathedrals

Portsmouth is one of the few British cities with two cathedrals:

The Anglican Cathedral of St Thomas
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Evangelist

The Spinnaker Tower

The Spinnaker Tower is a famous landmark in Portsmouth. It stands at 560 feet (170 meters) tall and is one of the tallest structures in the United Kingdom. It can be seen from both the waterfront and Portsmouth Harbour.

Southsea: Portsmouth’s Seaside Resort

Southsea is a popular seaside area in Portsmouth, named after the Southsea Castle. It has two piers:

Clarence Pier, which has an amusement park.
South Parade Pier, a lovely spot for a stroll.

A special feature of Southsea is the world’s only regular hovercraft service, which goes from Southsea Hoverport to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The area also has Southsea Common, a large public space where many events are held throughout the year.

Transportation in Portsmouth

Portsmouth has several mainline railway stations that connect the city to places like London Victoria and London Waterloo, as well as other southern England destinations. The city is also home to Portsmouth International Port, a busy port for cruises and ferries, handling around three million passengers annually. It is the second busiest port in the UK, after Dover.

In the past, Portsmouth had its own Portsmouth Airport, but it closed in 1973. Today, the city is known for the University of Portsmouth, which has 23,000 students.