The final talk on 2nd May of the 2023/24 season was Part 2 of Andrew Negus’ entertaining illustrated history of Portsmouth.
Development took place on both sides of the harbour during this time, with the growth of Gosport boosted by the move of the gunpowder store across the water from the Square Tower to Priddy’s Hard in 1777. Various wars kept the dockyard busy building and repairing ships, and with many small bumboats ferrying supplies (and harlots!) out to ships anchored at Spithead. Transportation of prisoners to Australia began in 1787 and continued for 50 years, with old hulks moored in the harbour used to house them. As the British Empire grew more guns and ships were needed and the new Gunwharf was built.
The Press Gangs were active in the town when there was a shortage of sailors. It was noted that while life ashore was poverty-stricken and rough the Navy provided three ‘square meals’ (food served on square platters) a day, beer and rum, and the opportunity to receive a share of prize money from enemy ships captured and sailed back to Portsmouth. The increasing threat from Napoleon Bonaparte led to further expansion of the Navy and dockyard, and Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805 meant England was safe from opposition at sea. Sadly, this was not all good news for Portsmouth as once the war was over there was less work for sailors and the dockyard which caused further poverty.
Later military developments included building Royal Clarence Yard in Gosport to supply food for the fleet, and new wharves and shipbuilding areas at The Camber in 1863. In 1840 ‘The Floating Bridge’ ferry running on chains attached to the seabed provided a link to Gosport; this lasted 130 years and both the speaker and an audience member remembered seeing it. By 1850 the threat from Napoleon III led to a huge increase in construction of defences well-armed with cannons – five forts including those on Portsdown Hill, plus four in the Solent, and the Hilsea Lines were improved with a moat and ramparts. These became known as ‘Palmerston’s Follies’ as no shots were ever fired. Middle-class residential areas were also developing, Landport in 1800, and Southsea in 1850 after the Army finally allowed the railway access through the Hilsea Lines in 1847. They sold the Common to the Corporation but insisted it must be kept as an open area for defence purposes. Villas built in Southsea led to the start of the tourist industry with piers and bathing machines, and the Navy paid for the steeple on the new St Jude’s Church in Southsea which acted as a guide for ships coming into the harbour.
