Portsmouth

Portsmouth
Cityand unitary authority
Clockwise from top: the city viewed from Portsdown Hill; HMSVictory; Portsmouth Guildhall; Portsmouth Cathedral; the Spinnaker Toweralongside Portsmouth Harbour; Gunwharf Quays; Portchester Castle; and Old Portsmouth
Flag Coat of Arms
Nickname: Pompey
Motto: Heaven's Light Our Guide
Shown within Hampshire
Portsmouth Location within the United Kingdom
Coordinates:50°48′21″N01°05′14″W / 50.80583°N 1.08722°W /50.80583; -1.08722
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	England
Region	South East England
Ceremonial county	Hampshire
Government
• Type	Unitary authority,city
• Governing body	Portsmouth City Council
•Leadership	Leader & Cabinet
•Council control	No overall controlsince 2018 (LDminority administration)
•Members of parliament	Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) [2]
Area
•Cityandunitary authority	40.25 km2(15.54 sq mi)
Population (2011, 2021)
•Cityandunitary authority	208,100[1][a]
•Urban	238,137[4][c]
•Metro	855,679 (South Hampshire)[3][b]
Ethnicity(2021) [5]
•Ethnic groups	List 85.2%White 6.9%Asian 3.4%Black 2.6%Mixed 1.8%other
Religion(2021) [5]
•Religion	List 47.1%no religion 39.4%Christianity 6.4% not stated 4.9%Islam 0.8%Hinduism 0.6%other 0.5%Buddhism 0.2%Sikhism 0.1%Judaism
Time zone	UTC+0(GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1(Wednesday 8:30 am)
Postal code	PO
Area code	023
Vehicle registration area codes	HK, HL, HM, HN, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HY
Police	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Ambulance	South Central
Fire	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Website	portsmouth.gov.uk

Portsmouth(/ˈpɔːrtsməθ/^ⓘPORTS-məth) is aportcityandunitary authorityinHampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located onPortsea Island, off the south coast of England in theSolent. This means Portsmouth is the only English city not located primarily on themainland. Located 74 miles (119 km) south-west ofLondon, 50 miles (80 km) west ofBrighton and Hove, and 22 miles (35 km) south-east ofSouthampton; Portsmouth is part of theSouth Hampshire conurbation. It is the most densely populated city in theUnited Kingdom, with a population last recorded at 208,100.^[6]

Portsmouth's history can be traced toRoman timesand has been a significant Royal Navy dockyard and base for centuries. Portsmouth was foundedc. 1180by Anglo-Norman merchantJean de Gisorsin the south-west area of Portsea Island, a location now known asOld Portsmouth.^[7]Around this time, de Gisors ordered the construction of a chapel dedicated toSt Thomas Becket.^[7]This became a parish church by the 14th century. Portsmouth was established as a town with a royal charter on 2 May 1194.^[8][9]The city is home to the first drydock ever built. It was constructed byHenry VIIin 1496.^[10]

Portsmouth has the world's oldestdry dock,"The Great Stone Dock"; originally built in 1698, rebuilt in 1769 and presently known as "No.5 Dock".^[11]The world's first massproduction linewas established at the naval base'sBlock Millswhich produced pulley blocks for theRoyal Navyfleet. By the early-19th century, Portsmouth was the most heavilyfortifiedcity in the world, and was considered "the world's greatest naval port" at the height of theBritish EmpirethroughoutPax Britannica. By 1859, a ring of defensive land and sea forts, known as thePalmerston Forts, had been built around Portsmouth in anticipation of an invasion from continental Europe.

In the 20th century, Portsmouth achievedcity statuson 21 April 1926.^[12]During theSecond World War, the city was a pivotal embarkation point for theD-Day landingsand was bombed extensively in thePortsmouth Blitz, which resulted in the deaths of 930 people. In 1982, a large Royal Navy task force departed from Portsmouth for theFalklands War.Her Majesty's YachtBritanniawas formerly based in Portsmouth and oversaw thetransfer of Hong Kongin 1997, after whichBritanniawas retired from royal service, decommissioned and relocated toLeithas a museum ship.

HMNB Portsmouthis an operational Royal Navy base and is home to two-thirds of the UK's surface fleet. The base has long been nicknamedPompey, a nickname it shares with the wider city of Portsmouth andPortsmouth Football Club. The naval base also contains theNational Museum of the Royal NavyandPortsmouth Historic Dockyard; which has a collection of historic warships, including theMary Rose,Lord Nelson's flagship,HMSVictory(the world's oldest naval ship still in commission), andHMSWarrior, the Royal Navy's firstironclad warship.

The formerHMSVernonshore establishment has been redeveloped into a large retailoutletdestination known asGunwharf Quayswhich opened in 2001.^[13]Portsmouth is among the few British cities with two cathedrals: theAnglican Cathedral of St Thomasand theRoman CatholicCathedral of St John the Evangelist. The waterfront andPortsmouth Harbourare dominated by theSpinnaker Tower, one of theUnited Kingdom's tallest structuresat 560 feet (170 m).

Southseais Portsmouth'sseaside resort, which was named after Southsea Castle. Southsea has two piers;Clarence Pieramusement park andSouth Parade Pier. The world's only regular hovercraft service operates fromSouthsea HoverporttoRydeon theIsle of Wight.Southsea Commonis a large open-air public recreation space which serves as a venue for a wide variety of annual events.

The city has several mainline railway stations that connect toLondon VictoriaandLondon Waterlooamongst other lines in southern England.Portsmouth International Portis a commercial cruise ship and ferry port for international destinations. The port is the second busiest in the United Kingdom afterDover, handling around three million passengers a year. The city formerly had its own airport,Portsmouth Airport, until its closure in 1973. TheUniversity of Portsmouthenrolls 23,000 students.

Portsmouth is the birthplace of notable people such as authorCharles Dickens, engineerIsambard Kingdom Brunel, former Prime MinisterJames Callaghan, actorPeter Sellersand author-journalistChristopher Hitchens.

TheRomansbuiltPortus Adurni(now calledPortchester Castle), afort, at nearbyPortchesterin the late third century.^[14]The city'sOld EnglishAnglo-Saxon name, "Portesmuða", is derived fromport(a haven) andmuða(the mouth of a large river or estuary).^[15]In theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, a warrior named Port and his two sons killed a noble Briton in Portsmouth in 501.^[16]Winston Churchill, inA History of the English-Speaking Peoples, wrote that Port was a pirate who founded Portsmouth in 501.^[17][18]

England's southern coast was vulnerable toDanish Vikinginvasions during the eighth and ninth centuries, and was conquered by Danish pirates in 787.^[19]In 838, during the reign ofÆthelwulf, King of Wessex, a Danish fleet landed between Portsmouth and Southampton and plundered the region.^[20]Æthelwulf sent Wulfherd and the governor ofDorsetshireto confront the Danes at Portsmouth, where most of their ships were docked. Although the Danes were driven off, Wulfherd was killed.^[20]The Danes returned in 1001 and pillaged Portsmouth and the surrounding area, threatening the English with extinction.^[21][22]They were massacred by the English survivors the following year; rebuilding began, although the town experienced further attacks until1066.^[23]

Although Portsmouth was not mentioned in the 1086Domesday Book,Bocheland(Buckland),Copenore(Copnor), andFrodentone(Fratton) were.^[8]According to some sources, it was founded in 1180 by the Anglo-Norman merchantJean de Gisors.^[24]

KingHenry IIdied in 1189; his son,Richard I(who had spent most of his life in France), arrived in Portsmouth en route to his coronation in London.^[25]When Richard returned from captivity inAustriain May 1194, he summoned an army and a fleet of 100 ships to the port.^[26]Richard gave Portsmouth market-town status with a royal charter on 2 May, authorising an annual fifteen-day free-market fair, weekly markets and a local court to deal with minor matters, and exempted its inhabitants from an £18 annual tax.^[8][9]The 1194 royal charter's 800th anniversary was celebrated in 1994 with ceremonies at the city museum.^[27]

King Johnreaffirmed RichardI's rights and privileges, and established a permanent naval base. The first docks were begun byWilliam of Wrothamin 1212,^[8][26]and John summoned his earls, barons, and military advisers to plan an invasion ofNormandy.^[28]In 1229, declaring war against France,HenryIIIassembled a force described by historian Lake Allen as "one of the finest armies that had ever been raised in England".^[29]The invasion stalled, and returned from France in October 1231.^[30]HenryIII summoned troops to invadeGuiennein 1242, andEdwardIsent supplies for his army in France in 1295.^[31]Commercial interests had grown by the following century, and its exports included wool, corn, grain, and livestock.^[32]

Edward IIordered all ports on the south coast to assemble their largest vessels at Portsmouth to carry soldiers and horses to theDuchy of Aquitainein 1324 to strengthen defences.^[33]A French fleet commanded byDavid II of Scotlandattacked in theEnglish Channel, ransacked theIsle of Wightand threatened the town.EdwardIIIinstructed all maritime towns to build vessels and raise troops to rendezvous at Portsmouth.^[33]Two years later, a French fleet led byNicholas Béhuchetraided Portsmouthand destroyed most of the town; only the stone-built church and hospital survived.^{[34][35][page needed]}After the raid, EdwardIII exempted the town from national taxes to aid its reconstruction.^[36]In 1377, shortly after Edward died, the French landed in Portsmouth. Although the town was plundered and burnt, its inhabitants drove the French off to raid towns in theWest Country.^[37]

Henry Vgathered his forces in Portsmouth for an invasion of France in 1415, it was while staying at Portchester Castle that the Southampton plot was uncovered. This campaign would culminate with victory at the battle of Agincourt.^[38]He also built Portsmouth's first permanentfortifications. In 1416, a number of French ships blockaded the town (which housed ships which were set to invade Normandy); Henry gathered a fleet at Southampton, and invaded the Norman coast in August that year.^[39]Recognising the town's growing importance, he ordered a woodenRound Towerto be built at the mouth of the harbour; it was completed in 1426.^[40]Henry VIIrebuilt the fortifications with stone, assisted Robert Brygandine and SirReginald Brayin the construction of the world's firstdry dock,^[41]and raised theSquare Towerin 1494.^[40]He made Portsmouth a Royal Dockyard, England's only dockyard considered "national".^[42]AlthoughKing Alfredmay have used Portsmouth to build ships as early as the ninth century, the first warship recorded as constructed in the town was theSweepstake(built in 1497).^[43]

Henry VIIIbuilt Southsea Castle, financed by theDissolution of the Monasteries, in 1539 in anticipation of a French invasion.^[44][45]He also invested heavily in the town's dockyard, expanding it to 8 acres (3.2 ha).^[46]Around this time, a Tudordefensive boomstretched from the Round Tower to Fort Blockhouse in Gosport to protect Portsmouth Harbour.^[47]

From Southsea Castle, Henry witnessed his flagshipMary Rosesink in action against the French fleet in the 1545Battle of the Solentwith the loss of about 500 lives.^[48]Some historians believe that theMary Roseturned too quickly and submerged her open gun ports; according to others, it sank due to poor design.^[49]Portsmouth's fortifications were improved by successive monarchs. The town experienced an outbreak ofplaguein 1563, which killed about 300 of its 2,000 inhabitants.^[24]

In 1623,Charles I(then Prince of Wales) returned to Portsmouth from France and Spain.^[50]His unpopular military adviser,George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, was stabbed to death in anOld Portsmouthpub by war veteranJohn Feltonfive years later.^[8][51]Felton never attempted to escape, and was caught walking the streets when soldiers confronted him; he said, "I know that he is dead, for I had the force of forty men when I struck the blow".^[52]Felton was hanged, and his body chained to agibbeton Southsea Common as a warning to others.^[24][52]The murder took place in the Greyhound public house on High Street, which is now Buckingham House and has a commemorative plaque.^[53]

Most residents (including the mayor) supported theparliamentariansduring theEnglish Civil War, although military governorColonel Goringsupported theroyalists.^[24]The town, a base of the parliamentarian navy, was blockaded from the sea. Parliamentarian troops were sent tobesiege it, and the guns of Southsea Castle were fired at the town's royalist garrison. Parliamentarians inGosportjoined the assault, damagingSt Thomas's Church.^[24][54]On 5 September 1642, the remaining royalists in the garrison at the Square Tower were forced to surrender after Goring threatened to blow it up; he and his garrison were allowed safe passage out of the city.^[54][55]

Under theCommonwealth of England,Robert Blakeused the harbour as his base during theFirst Anglo-Dutch Warin 1652 and theAnglo-Spanish War. He died within sight of the town, returning fromCádiz.^[55]After the end of theCivil War, Portsmouth was among the first towns to declareCharlesIIking and began to prosper.^[56]The first ship built in over 100 years,HMSPortsmouth, was launched in 1650; twelve ships were built between 1650 and 1660. Afterthe Restoration, CharlesII marriedCatherine of Braganzaat theRoyal Garrison Churchon 14 May 1662.^[57][58]Catherine was reputed to have introduced the cultural practice oftea drinkingto England at this event.^[59]

During the late 17th century, Portsmouth continued to grow; a new wharf was constructed in 1663 for military use, and amastpond was dug in 1665. In 1684, a list of ships docked in Portsmouth was evidence of its increasing national importance.^[60]Between 1667 and 1685, the town's fortifications were rebuilt; new walls were constructed withbastionsand two moats were dug, making Portsmouth one of the world's most heavily fortified places.^[24]

In 1759, GeneralJames Wolfesailed to captureQuebec; the expedition, although successful, cost him his life. His body was brought back to Portsmouth in November, and received high naval and military honours.^[61]Two years later, on 30 May 1775, CaptainJames Cookarrived onHMSEndeavourafter circumnavigating the globe.^[8][62]The 11-shipFirst Fleetleft on 13 May 1787 to establish the first European colony inAustralia, the beginning of prisoner transportation;^[63][64]CaptainWilliam BlighofHMSBountyalso sailed from the harbour that year.^[8][65]After the 28 April 1789mutiny on theBounty,HMSPandorawas dispatched from Portsmouth to bring the mutineers back for trial. Thecourt-martialopened on 12 September 1792 aboardHMSDukein Portsmouth Harbour; of the ten remaining men, three were sentenced to death.^[66][67]In 1789, a chapel was erected in Prince George's Street and was dedicated toSt Johnby the Bishop of Winchester. Around this time, abillwas passed in the House of Commons on the creation of a canal to link Portsmouth to Chichester; however, the project was abandoned.^[68]

The city's nickname, Pompey, is thought to have derived from the log entry ofPortsmouth Point(contracted "Po'm.P." –Po'rtsmouthP.oint) as ships entered the harbour; navigational charts use the contraction.^[69]According to one historian, the name may have been brought back from a group of Portsmouth-based sailors who visitedPompey's PillarinAlexandria, Egypt, around 1781.^[70]Another theory is that it is named after the harbour's guardship,Pompee, a 74-gun Frenchship of the linecaptured in 1793.^[71]

Portsmouth's coat of arms is attested in the early 19th century as "azure a crescent or, surmounted by an estoile of eight points of the last."^{[72][page needed]}Its design is apparently based on 18th-century mayoral seals.^[73]A connection of the coat of arms with the Great Seal of Richard I (which had a separate star and crescent) dates to the 20th century.^[74]

Marc Isambard Brunelestablished the world's first mass-production line atPortsmouth Block Mills, makingpulleyblocksforriggingon the navy's ships.^[75]The first machines were installed in January 1803, and the final set (for large blocks) in March 1805. In 1808, the mills produced 130,000 blocks.^[76]By the turn of the 19th century, Portsmouth was the largest industrial site in the world; it had a workforce of 8,000, and an annual budget of £570,000.^[77]

In 1805,Admiral Nelsonleft Portsmouth to command the fleet which defeated France and Spain at theBattle of Trafalgar.^[8]The Royal Navy's reliance on Portsmouth led to its becoming the most fortified city in the world.^[78]The Royal Navy'sWest Africa Squadron, tasked with halting the slave trade, began operating out of Portsmouth in 1808.^[79]A network of forts, known as thePalmerston Forts, was built around the town as part of a programme led by Prime MinisterLord Palmerstonto defend British military bases from an inland attack following an Anglo-French war scare in 1859. The forts were nicknamed "Palmerston's Follies" because their armaments were pointed inland and not out to sea.^[80]

In April 1811, the Portsea Island Company constructed the first piped-water supply^[81]to upper- and middle-class houses.^[24]It supplied water to about 4,500 of Portsmouth's 14,000 houses, generating an income of £5,000 a year.^[81]HMSVictory's active career ended in 1812, when she was moored in Portsmouth Harbour and used as adepot ship. The town of Gosport contributed £75 a year to the ship's maintenance.^[82]In 1818,John Poundsbegan teaching working-class children in the country's firstragged school.^[83][84]The Portsea Improvement Commissioners installed gas street lighting throughout Portsmouth in 1820,^[8]followed by Old Portsmouth three years later.^[24]

During the 19th century, Portsmouth expanded across Portsea Island.Bucklandwas merged into the town by the 1860s, and Fratton andStamshawwere incorporated by the next decade. Between 1865 and 1870, the council built sewers after more than 800 people died in acholeraepidemic; according to aby-law, any house within 100 feet (30 m) of a sewer had to be connected to it.^[8]By 1871 the population had risen to 100,000,^[24]and the national census listed Portsmouth's population as 113,569.^[8]A working-class suburb was constructed in the 1870s, when about 1,820 houses were built, and it becameSomerstown.^[8]Despite public-health improvements, 514 people died in an 1872smallpoxepidemic.^[8]On 21 December of that year, theChallengerexpeditionembarked on a 68,890-nautical-mile (127,580 km) circumnavigation of the globe for scientific research.^[85][86]

When theBritish Empirewas at its height of power, covering a quarter of Earth's total land area and 458 million people at the turn of the 20th century, Portsmouth was considered "the world's greatest naval port".^[87]In 1900, Portsmouth Dockyard employed 8,000 people– a figure which increased to 23,000 during theFirst World War.^[24][88]The whole of Portsea Island came united under the control of Portsmouth borough council in 1904.^[89]

In 1906HMSDreadnoughtwas launched from Portsmouth Dockyard. The ship revolutionised naval warfare and began an arms race with Germany. The ship's entry into service in 1906 represented such an advance in naval technology that her name came to be associated with an entire generation of battleships.

A majorterroristincident occurred in the city in 1913, which led to the deaths of two men. During thesuffragette bombing and arson campaignof 1912–1914,militantsuffragettesof theWomen's Social and Political Unioncarried out a series of politically motivated bombing and arson attacks nationwide as part of their campaign forwomen's suffrage.^[90]In one of the more serious suffragette attacks, a fire was purposely started atPortsmouth dockyardon 20 December 1913, in which two sailors were killed after it spread through the industrial area.^[91][92][93]The fire spread rapidly as there were many old wooden buildings in the area, including the historic semaphore tower which dated back to the eighteenth century, which was completely destroyed.^[92]The damage to the dockyard area cost the city £200,000 in damages, equivalent to £23,600,000 today.^[92]In the midst of the firestorm, a battleship,HMSQueen Mary, had to be towed to safety to avoid the flames.^[92]The two victims were a pensioner and a signalman.^[92]

The attack was notable enough to be reported on in the press in theUnited States, with theNew York Timesreporting on the disaster two days after with the headline "Big Portsmouth Fire Loss".^[91]The report also disclosed that at a previous police raid on a suffragette headquarters, "papers were discovered disclosing a plan to fire the yard".^[91]

On 1 October 1916, Portsmouth was bombed by aZeppelinairship.^[94]Although theOberste Heeresleitung(German Supreme Army Command) said that the town was "lavishly bombarded with good results", there were no reports of bombs dropped in the area.^[95]According to another source, the bombs were mistakenly dropped into the harbour rather than the dockyard.^[94]About 1,200 ships were refitted in the dockyard during the war, making it one of the empire's most strategic ports at the time.^[88]

Portsmouth's boundaries were extended onto the mainland ofGreat Britainbetween 1920 and 1932 by incorporatingPaulsgrove,Wymering,Cosham,DraytonandFarlingtoninto Portsmouth.^[89]Portsmouth was grantedcity statusin 1926 after a long campaign by the borough council.^[89]The application was made on the grounds that it was the "first naval port of the kingdom".^[96]In 1929, the city council added themotto"Heaven's Light Our Guide" to the medieval coat of arms. Except for the celestial objects in the arms, the motto was that of theStar of Indiaand referred to the troopships bound forBritish Indiawhich left from the port.^[97]The crest andsupportersare based on those of theroyal arms, but altered to show the city's maritime connections: the lions and unicorn have fish tails, and anaval crownand a representation of the Tudor defensive boom which stretched across Portsmouth Harbour are around the unicorn.^[47][97]

During theSecond World War, the city (particularly the port) was bombed extensively by theLuftwaffein the Portsmouth Blitz.^[8]Portsmouth experienced 67 air raids between July 1940 and May 1944, which destroyed 6,625 houses and severely damaged 6,549.^[24]The air raids caused 930 deaths and wounded almost 3,000 people,^[98][99]many in the dockyard and military establishments.^[100]On the night of the city's heaviest raid (10 January 1941), the Luftwaffe dropped 140 tonnes of high-explosive bombs which killed 171 people and left 3,000 homeless.^[101]Many of the city's houses were damaged, and areas ofLandportand Old Portsmouth destroyed; the future site ofGunwharf Quayswas razed to the ground.^[102]TheGuildhallwas hit by an incendiary bomb which burnt out the interior and destroyed its inner walls,^[103]although the civic plate was retrieved unharmed from the vault under the front steps.^[98]After the raid, Portsmouth mayor Denis Daley wrote for theEvening News:

We are bruised but we are not daunted, and we are still as determined as ever to stand side by side with other cities who have felt the blast of the enemy, and we shall, with them, persevere with an unflagging spirit towards a conclusive and decisive victory.

—  Sir Denis Daley, January 1941^[104]

Portsmouth Harbour was a vital military embarkation point for the 6 June 1944 D-Day landings.Southwick House, just north of the city, was the headquarters of Supreme Allied CommanderDwight D. Eisenhower.^[105][106]AV-1 flying bombhit Newcomen Road on 15 July 1944, killing 15 people.^[24]

Much of the city's housing stock was damaged during the war. The wreckage was cleared in an attempt to improve housing quality after the war; before permanent accommodations could be built, Portsmouth City Council builtprefabsfor those who had lost their homes. More than 700 prefab houses were constructed between 1945 and 1947, some over bomb sites.^[24]The first permanent houses were built away from the city centre, in new developments such as Paulsgrove andLeigh Park;^[107][108]construction of council estates in Paulsgrove was completed in 1953. The first Leigh Park housing estates were completed in 1949, although construction in the area continued until 1974.^[24]Builders still occasionally findunexploded bombs, such as on the site of the destroyed Hippodrome Theatre in 1984.^[109]Despite efforts by the city council to build new housing, a 1955 survey indicated that 7,000 houses in Portsmouth were unfit for human habitation. A controversial decision was made to replace a section of the central city, including Landport, Somerstown and Buckland, with council housing during the 1960s and early 1970s. The success of the project and the quality of its housing are debatable.^[24]

Portsmouth was affected by the decline of the British Empire in the second half of the 20th century. Shipbuilding jobs fell from 46 per cent of the workforce in 1951 to 14 per cent in 1966, drastically reducing manpower in the dockyard. The city council attempted to create new work; an industrial estate was built in Fratton in 1948, and others were built at Paulsgrove and Farlington during the 1950s and 1960s.^[24]Although traditional industries such as brewing and corset manufacturing disappeared during this time, electrical engineering became a major employer. Despite the cutbacks in traditional sectors, Portsmouth remained attractive to industry.Zurich Insurance Groupmoved their UK headquarters to the city in 1968, andIBMrelocated their European headquarters in 1979.^[24]Portsmouth's population had dropped from about 200,000 to 177,142 by the end of the 1960s.^[110]Defence SecretaryJohn Nottdecided in the early 1980s that of the four home dockyards, Portsmouth andChathamwould be closed. The city council won a concession, however, and the dockyard was downgraded instead to a naval base.^[111]

In 1956 the Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze docked in Portsmouth harbour on a diplomatic mission that had taken head of state Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin to Britain. Naval intelligence was interested in the design of the ship andMI6recruited diverLionel Crabbto collect intelligence on the ship particularly its propulsion. After diving into the harbour Crabb was never seen again. This led to a diplomatic incident with the Soviet Union and scandal in British domestic politics.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces invaded two British territories in the South Atlantic: theFalkland IslandsandSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The British government's response was to dispatch anaval task force, and the aircraft carriersHMSHermesandHMSInvinciblesailed from Portsmouth for the South Atlantic on 5 April. The successful outcome of the war reaffirmed Portsmouth's significance as a naval port and its importance to the defence of British interests.^[112]In January 1997,Her Majesty's YachtBritanniaembarked from the city on her final voyage to oversee the handover of Hong Kong; for many, this marked the end of the empire.^[113][114]She was decommissioned on 11 December of that year at Portsmouth Naval Base in the presence ofElizabeth II, theDuke of Edinburgh, and twelve senior members of the royal family.^[115][116]

Redevelopment of the naval shore establishmentHMSVernonbegan in 2001 as a complex of retail outlets, clubs, pubs, and a shopping centre known as Gunwharf Quays.^[24]Construction of the 552-foot-tall (168 m)Spinnaker Tower, sponsored by theNational Lottery, began at Gunwharf Quays in 2003.^[117]TheTricorn Centre, called "the ugliest building in the UK" by the BBC, was demolished in late 2004 after years of debate over the expense of demolition and whether it was worth preserving as an example of 1960sbrutalist architecture.^{[118][119][page needed]}Designed byOwen Luderas part of a project to "revitalise" Portsmouth in the 1960s, it consisted of a shopping centre, market, nightclubs, and amultistorey car park.^[120]Portsmouth celebrated the 200th anniversary of theBattle of Trafalgarin 2005, with Queen Elizabeth II present at afleet reviewand a mock battle.^[24]The naval base is home to two-thirds of Britain's surface fleet.^[121]The city also hosted international commemorations for 50th, 75th and 80th anniversaries of the D-Day landings, these were attended by international leaders and remaining veterans.

Portsmouth is 73.5 miles (118.3 km) by road from central London, 49.5 miles (79.7 km) west ofBrighton, and 22.3 miles (35.9 km) east ofSouthampton.^[122]It is located primarily onPortsea Islandand is the United Kingdom's only island city, although the city has expanded to the mainland.^[123]Gosportis a town and borough to the west.^[122]Portsea Island is separated from the mainland byPortsbridge Creek,^{[124][page needed]}which is crossed by three road bridges (theM275 motorway, theA3 road, and theA2030 road), a railway bridge, and two footbridges.^[125]Portsea Island, part of theHampshire Basin,^[126]is low-lying; most of the island is less than 3 metres (9.8 ft)above sea level.^[127][128]The island's highest natural elevation is the Kingston Cross road junction, at 21 feet (6.4 m) above ordinary spring tide.^[129]

Old Portsmouth, the original town, is in the south-west part of the island and includesPortsmouth Point(nicknamed Spice Island).^[130]The main channel entering Portsmouth Harbour, west of the island,^{[124][page needed]}passes between Old Portsmouth and Gosport.^[122]Portsmouth Harbour has a series of lakes, including Fountain Lake (near the commercial port), Portchester Lake (south central), Paulsgrove Lake (north), Brick Kiln Lake and Tipner (east), and Bombketch and Spider Lakes (west). Further northwest, around Portchester, are Wicor, Cams, and Great Cams Lakes.^[122]The large tidal inlet ofLangstone Harbouris east of the island. TheFarlington Marshes, in the north off the coast ofFarlington, is a 125 hectares (310 acres)grazing marshand saline lagoon. One of the oldestlocal reservesin the county, built from reclaimed land in 1771, it provides a habitat for migratory wildfowl andwaders.^[131]

South of Portsmouth areSpithead, theSolent, and theIsle of Wight. Its southern coast was fortified by theRound Tower, theSquare Tower, Southsea Castle,Lumps FortandFort Cumberland.^{[132][page needed]}Four sea forts were built in the Solent byLord Palmerston:Spitbank Fort,St Helens Fort,Horse Sand FortandNo Man's Land Fort.

The resort ofSouthseais on the central southern shoreline of Portsea Island,^[133]andEastneyis east.^[134]Eastney Lake covered nearly 170 acres (69 hectares) in 1626.^[135]North of Eastney is the residentialMiltonand an area of reclaimed land known as Milton Common (formerly Milton Lake),^[122]a "flat scrubby land with a series of freshwater lakes".^[136]Further north on the east coast isBaffins, with the Great Salterns recreation ground and golf course aroundPortsmouth College.^[122]

TheHilsea Linesare a series of defunct fortifications on the island's north coast, bordering Portsbridge Creek and the mainland.^{[137][138][page needed]}Portsdown Hilldominates the skyline in the north, and contains several largePalmerston Forts^[d]such asFort Fareham,Fort Wallington,Fort Nelson,Fort Southwick,Fort Widley, andFort Purbrook.^{[132][page needed][139]}Portsdown Hill is a large band ofchalk; the rest of Portsea Island is composed of layers ofLondon Clayandsand(part of theBagshot Formation), formed principally during theEocene.^[140]

Northern areas of the city includeStamshaw,HilseaandCopnor,Cosham,Drayton,Farlington, Paulsgrove andPort Solent.^[141]Other districts includeNorth Endand Fratton.^[142][143]The west of the city containscouncil estates, such asBuckland,Landport, and Portsea, which replaced Victorian terraces destroyed by Second World War bombing.^[24]After the war, the 2,000-acre (810 ha)Leigh Parkestate was built to address the chronic housing shortage during post-war reconstruction.^[107]Although the estate has been under the jurisdiction ofHavant Borough Councilsince the early 2000s, Portsmouth City Council remains its landlord (the borough's largest landowner).^[108]

The city's main station,Portsmouth and Southsea railway station,^[144]is in the city centre near theGuildhalland theCivic Offices.^[98][145]South of the Guildhall is Guildhall Walk, with a number of pubs and clubs.^[146]The city's other railway station,Portsmouth Harbour railway station, is located on a pier at the harbour's edge, near Old Portsmouth.^[147]Edinburgh Road contains the city's Roman Catholic cathedral andVictoria Park, a 15-acre (6.1 ha) park which opened in 1878.^[148]

Portsmouth has a mildoceanic climate, with more sunshine than most of the British Isles.^[149]Frosts are light and short-lived and snow is quite rare in winter, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing.^[127]The average maximum temperature in January is 10 °C (50 °F), and the average minimum is 5 °C (41 °F). The lowest recorded temperature is −8 °C (18 °F).^[150]In summer, temperatures sometimes reach 30 °C (86 °F). The average maximum temperature in July is 22 °C (72 °F), and the average minimum is 15 °C (59 °F). The highest recorded temperature is 35 °C (95 °F).^[150]The city gets about 645 millimetres (25.4 in) of rain annually, with a minimum of 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain reported 103 days per year.^[151]

Average sea temperature ^[154]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
9.6 °C (49.3 °F)	9.1 °C (48.4 °F)	8.7 °C (47.7 °F)	9.8 °C (49.6 °F)	11.4 °C (52.5 °F)	13.4 °C (56.1 °F)	15.2 °C (59.4 °F)	16.7 °C (62.1 °F)	17.2 °C (63.0 °F)	16.2 °C (61.2 °F)	14.3 °C (57.7 °F)	11.8 °C (53.2 °F)	12.1 °C (53.8 °F)

Portsmouth is the second-most densely populated city in theUnited Kingdom, afterLondon.^[155][156]In the2021 census, the city had 208,100 residents.^[6]The city used to be even more densely populated, with the 1951 census showing a population of 233,545.^{[157][page needed][158]}In a reversal of that decrease, its population has been gradually increasing since the 1990s.^[159]With about 860,000 residents,South Hampshireis thefifth-largest urban area in Englandand the largest inSouth-East Englandoutside London; it is the centre of one of the United Kingdom's most-populous metropolitan areas.^[160]

The city is predominantly white (85.3% of the population). However, Portsmouth's long association with the Royal Navy ensures some diversity.^[161]Some large, well-established non-white communities have their roots in the Royal Navy, particularly theChinesecommunity fromBritish Hong Kong.^[161][162]Portsmouth's long industrial history with the Royal Navy has drawn many people from across the British Isles (particularly Irish Catholics) to its factories and docks.^[163][e]According to the 2011 census, Portsmouth's population was 84%White British, 3.8%other White, 1.3%Chinese, 1.4%Indian, 0.5%mixed race, 1.8%Bangladeshi, 0.5%other, 1.4%Black African, 0.5%white Irish, 1.3%other Asian, 0.3%Pakistani, 0.3%Black Caribbeanand 0.1% other Black.^[166][167]

Ethnic Group	Year
	1981 estimations[169]		1991[170]		2001[171]		2011[172]		2021[173]
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
White: Total	165,149	97.5%	170,210	97.3%	176,882	94.7%	181,182	88.4%	177,277	85.3%
White:British	–	–	–	–	171,510	91.9%	172,313	84%	161,664	77.7%
White:Irish	–	–	–	–	1,339		1,071		1,066	0.5%
White:Gypsy or Irish Traveller	–	–	–	–	–	–	85		118	0.1%
White: Roma	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	324	0.2%
White:Other	–	–	–	–	4,033		7,713		14,105	6.8%
Asian or Asian British: Total	–	–	2,879	1.6%	6,162	3.3%	12,474	6.1%	14,370	6.9%
Asian or Asian British:Indian	–	–	702		1,320		2,911		3,104	1.5%
Asian or Asian British:Pakistani	–	–	68		215		539		603	0.3%
Asian or Asian British:Bangladeshi	–	–	1,046		2,522		3,649		4,742	2.3%
Asian or Asian British:Chinese	–	–	725	0.4%	1,607		2,611		2,116	1.0%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian	–	–	338		498		2,764		3,805	1.8%
Black or Black British: Total	–	–	778	0.4%	942	0.5%	3,777	1.8%	7,070	3.5%
Black or Black British:Caribbean	–	–	175		219		540		5,369	2.6%
Black or Black British:African	–	–	246		601		2,958		950	0.5%
Black or Black British:Other Black	–	–	357		122		279		751	0.4%
Mixed or British Mixed: Total	–	–	–	–	1,859	1%	5,467	2.7%	5,487	2.6%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean	–	–	–	–	414		1,103		1,176	0.6%
Mixed: White and Black African	–	–	–	–	235		935		1,244	0.6%
Mixed: White and Asian	–	–	–	–	560		2,381		1,540	0.7%
Mixed: Other Mixed	–	–	–	–	650		1,048		1,527	0.7%
Other: Total	–	–	830	0.5%	856	0.5%	2,156	1.1%	3,797	1.8%
Other: Arab	–	–	–	–	–	–	1,078		1,007	0.5%
Other: Any other ethnic group	–	–	830		856		1,078		2,790	1.3%
Non-White: Total	4,203	2.5%	4,487	2.7%	9,819	5.3%	23,874	11.6%	30,724	14.3%
Total	169,352	100%	174,697	100%	186,701	100%	205,056	100%	208,001	100%

The city is administered byPortsmouth City Council, aunitary authoritywhich is responsible for local affairs. Portsmouth was granted its first market town charter in 1194.^[174]In 1904, its boundaries were extended to all of Portsea Island and were later expanded onto the mainland ofGreat Britainbetween 1920 and 1932 by incorporating Paulsgrove,Wymering,Cosham,DraytonandFarlingtoninto Portsmouth.^[175]Portsmouth was grantedcity statuson 21 April 1926.^[175]

On 1 April 1974, it formed the second tier of local government (belowHampshire County Council);^[176]Portsmouth and Southampton became administratively independent of Hampshire with the creation of the unitary authority on 1 April 1997.^[177]

The city is divided into two parliamentary constituencies,Portsmouth SouthandPortsmouth North, represented in theHouse of CommonsbyStephen MorganandAmanda Martin, both of theLabour Party.^[178]The two Parliamentary constituencies each contain 7 electoral wards, giving an overall total of 14 electoral wards. Portsmouth's inner city centre is located in the Portsmouth South constituency.

Portsmouth City Council has 14 electoral wards, each ward returns three councillors, making 42 in total.^[179]Each councillor serves a four-year term.^[180]After theMay 2018 local elections, theLiberal Democratsformed a minority administration, they have run the city since then. The leader of the council is the Liberal Democrat,Gerald Vernon-Jackson. The lord mayor usually has a one-year term.^[181]

The council is based in theCivic Offices, which house the tax support, housing-benefits, resident-services, and municipal-functions departments.^[182]They are in Guildhall Square, with thePortsmouth Guildhalland Portsmouth Central Library. The Guildhall, a symbol of Portsmouth, is a cultural venue. It was designed byLeeds-based architectWilliam Hill, who began it in theneo-classical stylein 1873 at a cost of £140,000.^[104][183]It was opened to the public in 1890.^[184]

Between January 2014 and July 2016, Portsmouth uniquely had a dedicated government minister, theMinister for Portsmouth, a position created in response to the loss of 900 jobs from BAE Systems within HMNB Portsmouth. The minister was charged with bringing economic growth to the city.^[185]

Ten per cent of Portsmouth's workforce is employed atPortsmouth Naval Dockyard, which is linked to the city's biggest industry, defence; the headquarters ofBAE Systems Surface Shipsis in the city.^[186]BAE's Portsmouth shipyard received construction work on the two newQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.^{[187][188][189]}A £100 million contract was signed to develop needed facilities for the vessels.^[189]However defence shipbuilding was ended in the city in favour of Glasgow during the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum. The Government was accused of making the decision to keep the more antiquated Glasgow shipyard over Portsmouth for political reasons as part of the pro union campaign. Ministers at the time did state shipbuilding would return to the city if Scotland left the UK. A minister for Portsmouth was established to help deal with the economic fallout of the decision.^[190]A ferry port handles passengers and cargo,^[191]and a fishing fleet of 20 to 30 boats operates out of Camber Quay,Old Portsmouth; most of the catch is sold at the quayside fish market.^[192]

The city is host toIBM's UK headquarters and Portsmouth was also the UK headquarters ofZurich Financial Servicesuntil 2007.^[24][193]City shopping is centred on Commercial Road and the 1980s Cascades Shopping Centre.^[194][195]The shopping centre has 185,000 to 230,000 visitors weekly.^[196]Redevelopment has created new shopping areas, including theGunwharf Quays(the repurposedHMSVernonshore establishment,^[197]with stores, restaurants and a cinema) and the Historic Dockyard, which caters to tourists and holds an annual VictorianChristmas market.^[198][199]Ocean Retail Park, on the north-eastern side of Portsea Island, was built in September 1985 on the site of a former metal-box factory.^[200]

Development of Gunwharf Quays continued until 2007, when the 330-foot-tall (101 m) No.1 Gunwharf Quays residential tower was completed.^[201][202]The development of the former Brickwoods Brewery site included the construction of the 22-storey Admiralty Quarter Tower, the tallest in a complex of primarily low-rise residential buildings.^[203]Number One Portsmouth, a proposed 25-storey 330 feet (101 m) tower opposite Portsmouth & Southsea station, was announced at the end of October 2008.^[204]In August 2009, internal demolition of the existing building had begun.^[205]A high-rise student dormitory, nicknamed "The Blade", has begun construction on the site of theswimming bathsat the edge of Victoria Park. The 300-foot (91 m) tower will be Portsmouth's second-tallest structure, after the Spinnaker Tower.^[206]

In April 2007, Portsmouth F.C. announced plans to move from Fratton Park to a new stadium on reclaimed land next to the Historic Dockyard. The £600 million mixed-use development, designed byHerzog & de Meuron, would include shops, offices and 1,500 harbourside apartments.^[207][208]The scheme was criticised for its size and location, and some officials said that it would interfere with harbour operations.^[209][210]The project was rejected by the city council due to the2008 financial crisis.^[211]

Portsmouth's two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers,HMSQueen ElizabethandHMSPrince of Wales, were ordered by defence secretaryDes Browneon 25 July 2007.^[212]They were built in the Firth of Forth atRosyth DockyardandBAE Systems Surface Shipsin Glasgow,Babcock Internationalat Rosyth, and at HMNB Portsmouth.^[213][214]The government announced before the2014 Scottish independence referendumthat military shipbuilding would end in Portsmouth, with all UK surface-warship construction focused on the two older BAE facilities in Glasgow.^[215]The announcement was criticised by local politicians as a political decision to aid the referendum's "No" campaign.^[216]

Portsmouth has several theatres. TheNew Theatre Royalin Guildhall Walk, near the city centre, specialises in professional drama.^[217]The restored Kings Theatre in Southsea features amateur musicals and national tours.^[218]The Groundlings Theatre, built in 1784, is housed at the Old Beneficial School in Portsea.^[219]New Prince's Theatre and Southsea's Kings Theatre were designed by Victorian architectFrank Matcham.^[220]

The city has three musical venues: the Guildhall,^[221]the Wedgewood Rooms(which includes Edge of the Wedge, a smaller venue),^[222]andPortsmouth Pyramids Centre.^[223]Portsmouth Guildhallis one of the largest venues inSouth East England, with aseating capacityof 2,500.^{[98][224][225]}A concert series is presented at the Guildhall by theBournemouth Symphony Orchestra.^[226]ThePortsmouth Sinfoniaapproached classical music from a different angle during the 1970s, recruiting players withno musical trainingor who played an instrument new to them.^[227][228]The Portsmouth Summer Show is held atKing George's Fields. The 2016 show held during the last weekend of April, featuredcover bandssuch as the Silver Beatles, the Bog Rolling Stones, and Fleetingwood Mac.^[229]

A number of musical works are set in the city.H.M.S. Pinaforeis a comic opera in two acts set in Portsmouth Harbour, with music byArthur Sullivanand libretto byW.S. Gilbert.^[230]Portsmouth Pointis a 1925overturefor orchestra by English composerWilliam Walton, inspired byThomas Rowlandson's etching of Portsmouth Point in Old Portsmouth.^[231][232]The overture was played during a 2007 BBCPromsconcert.^[233]John Cranko's 1951 balletPineapple Poll, which features music fromGilbert and Sullivan's operettaThe Bumboat Woman's Story, is also set in Portsmouth.^[234][235]

Portsmouth hosts yearly remembrances of the D-Day landings, attended by veterans from Allied and Commonwealth nations.^[236][237]The city played a major role in the 50th D-Day anniversary in 1994; visitors included US PresidentBill Clinton, Australian Prime MinisterPaul Keating, KingHarald V of Norway, French PresidentFrançois Mitterrand, New Zealand Prime MinisterJim Bolger, Canadian Prime MinisterJean Chrétien, Prime MinisterJohn Major, the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh.^[238][239]The 75th Anniversary of D-Day was similarly commemorated in the city. Prime MinisterTheresa Mayled the event, and was joined by leaders of the US, Canada, Australia, France and Germany.^[240]

The annual Portsmouth International Kite Festival, organised by the city council and the Kite Society of Great Britain, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016.^[241]

Victorious Festival, the biggest metropolitan music festival in the UK takes place on Southsea Seafront in Portsmouth. It has been an annual event at this location since 2014. It's a large family-friendly music festival and has featured headliners including Stereophonics, Noel Gallager's High Flying Birds, The Prodigy, and other prominent household names.^[242]

Portsmouth is frequently used as a filming location for television and film productions, especially the Historic Dockyard. Productions includeTommy,Tomorrow Never Dies(1997),Mansfield Parkand the Hollywood adaptation ofLes Miserables.^[243][244]

In 2005, Portsmouth featured in the first series of ITV'sBritain's Toughest Towns.^[245]As this documentary also indicated, Portsmouth has issues with gangs and anti-social behaviour.^{[246][247][248][249][250]}

Portsmouth is the hometown of Fanny Price, the main character ofJane Austen's novelMansfield Park, and most of its closing chapters are set there.^[251]Nicholas and Smike, the main protagonists ofCharles Dickens' novelThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, make their way to Portsmouth and become involved with a theatrical troupe.^[252]Portsmouth is most often the port from which Captain Jack Aubrey's ships sail inPatrick O'Brian's seafaring historicalAubrey-Maturin series.^[253]Portsmouth is the main setting ofJonathan Meades's 1993 novelPompey.^[254]Since the novel was published, Meades has presented a TV programme documenting Victorian architecture in Portsmouth Dockyard.^[255]

Victorian novelist and historianSir Walter Besantdocumented his 1840s childhood inBy Celia's Arbour: A Tale of Portsmouth Town, precisely describing the town before its defensive walls were removed.^[256]Southsea (as Port Burdock) features inThe History of Mr PollybyH. G. Wells, who describes it as "one of the three townships that are grouped around the Port Burdock naval dockyards".^[257]The resort is also the setting of thegraphic novelThe Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punchbyhigh fantasyauthorNeil Gaiman, who grew up in Portsmouth. A Southsea street was renamed The Ocean at the End of the Lane by the city council in honour of Gaiman'snovel of the same name.^[258][259]

Crime novels set in Portsmouth and the surrounding area includeGraham Hurley's D.I.Faraday/D.C.Winter novels^[260]andC. J. Sansom's Tudor crime novel,Heartstone; the latter refers to the warshipMary Roseand describes Tudor life in the town.^[261]Portsmouth Fairy Tales for Grown Ups, a collection of short stories, was published in 2014.^[262][263]The collection, set around Portsmouth, includes stories by crime novelists William Sutton and Diana Bretherick.^[264][265]

TheUniversity of Portsmouthwas founded in 1992 as anew universityfrom Portsmouth Polytechnic; in 2016, it had 20,000 students.^[266]The university was ranked among the world's top 100 modern universities in April 2015.^[267][268]In 2013, it had about 23,000 students and over 2,500 staff members.^[269]Several local colleges also awardHigher National Diplomas, includingHighbury College(specialising in vocational education),^[270]and Portsmouth College (which offers academic courses).^[271]Admiral Lord Nelson SchoolandMiltoncross Academywere built in the late 1990s to meet the needs of a growing school-age population.^[272][273]

After the cancellation of the national building programme for schools, redevelopment halted.^[274]Two schools in the city were judged "inadequate", and 29 of its 63 schools were considered "no longer good enough" byOfstedin 2009.^[275]Before it was taken over byArk Schoolsand becameArk Charter Academy, StLuke's Church of England secondary school was one of England's worst schools in GCSE achievement. It was criticised by officials for its behavioural standards, with students reportedly throwing chairs at teachers.^[276]Since it became an academy in 2009, the school has improved; 69 per cent of its students achieved five GCSEs with grades of A* to C, including English and mathematics.^[277]The academy's intake policy is for a standard comprehensive school, drawing from the community rather than by religion.^[278]

Portsmouth Grammar School, the city's oldest independent school was founded in 1732.^{[279][280][verification needed]}Other independent schools includePortsmouth High School,^[281]andMayville High School(founded in 1897).^[282]

Many of Portsmouth's former defences are now museums or event venues. Several Victorian-era forts on Portsdown Hill are tourist attractions;^[283]Fort Nelson, at its summit, is home to the Royal Armouries museum.^[284]Tudor-era Southsea Castle has a small museum, and much of the seafront defences leading to theRound Towerare open to the public. The castle was withdrawn from active service in 1960, and was purchased by Portsmouth City Council.^[285]The southern part of the Royal Marines'Eastney Barracksis now theRoyal Marines Museum, and was opened to the public under theNational Heritage Act 1983.^[286]The museum received a £14 million grant from the National Lottery Fund, and was scheduled to relocate to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2019.^[287]The birthplace ofCharles Dickens, at Mile End Terrace,^[288][289]is theCharles Dickens' Birthplace Museum; the four-storey red brick building became a GradeI listed building in 1953.^[290]Other tourist attractions include the Blue Reef Aquarium (with an "underwater safari" of British aquatic life)^[291]and the Cumberland House Natural History Museum, housing a variety of local wildlife.^[292][293]

Most of the city's landmarks and tourist attractions are related to its naval history. They includethe D-Day Storyin Southsea, which contains the 83-metre-long (272 ft)Overlord Embroidery.^[294][295]Portsmouth is home to several well-known ships; Horatio Nelson's flagshipHMSVictory, the world's oldest naval ship still in commission, is in thedry dockofPortsmouth Historic Dockyard. TheVictorywas placed in a permanent dry dock in 1922 when theSociety for Nautical Researchled a national appeal to restore her,^[82]and 22million people have visited the ship.^[296]The remains of Henry VIII's flagship,Mary Rose, was rediscovered on the seabed in 1971.^[49]She was raised and brought to a purpose-built structure in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 1982.^[297]Britain's first iron-hulled warship,HMSWarrior, was restored and moved to Portsmouth in June 1987 after serving as an oil fuel pier atPembroke DockinPembrokeshirefor fifty years.^{[298][page needed][299][300]}TheNational Museum of the Royal Navy, in the dockyard, is sponsored by a charity which promotes research into the Royal Dockyard's history and archaeology.^[301]The dockyard hosts the Victorian Festival of Christmas, featuringFather Christmasin a traditional green robe, each November.^[302][303]

Portsmouth's long association with the armed forces is demonstrated by a large number of war memorials, including several at the Royal Marines Museum^[304]and a large collection of memorials related to the Royal Navy inVictoria Park.^[148]ThePortsmouth Naval Memorial, in Southsea Common, commemorates the 24,591 British sailors who died during both World Wars and have no known grave.^[305]Designed by SirRobert Lorimer, it was unveiled byGeorge VIon 15 October 1924.^[306]In the city centre, theGuildhall Square Cenotaphcontains the names of the fallen and is guarded by stone sculptures of machine gunners byCharles Sargeant Jagger.^[307]The west face of the memorial reads:

This memorial was erected by the people of Portsmouth in proud and loving memory of those who in the glorious morning of their days for England's sake lost all but England's praise. May light perpetual shine upon them.^[308]

The city has three cemeteries: Kingston, Milton Road, and Highland Road. Kingston Cemetery, opened in 1856, is in east Fratton. At 52 acres (21 ha), it is Portsmouth's largest cemetery and has about 400 burials a year.^[309]In February 2014, a ceremony celebrating the 180th anniversary of Portsmouth's Polish community was held at the cemetery.^[310]The approximately 25-acre (10 ha) Milton Road Cemetery, founded on 8 April 1912, has about 200 burials per year. There is acrematoriuminPortchester.^[309]

The naval shore establishmentHMSVernoncontained the Royal Navy's arsenal; weapons and ammunition which would be taken from ships at its 'Gun Wharf' as they entered the harbour, and resupplied when they headed back to sea. The 1919Southsea and Portsmouth Official Guidedescribed the establishment as "the finest collections of weapons outside the Tower of London, containing more than 25,000 rifles".^[311]During the early nineteenth century, the 'Gunwharf' supplied the fleet with a "grand arsenal" of cannons, mortars, bombs, and ordnance. Although gunpowder was not provided due to safety concerns, it could be obtained at Priddy's Hard (near Gosport).^[312]An armoury sold small arms to soldiers, and thestone frigatealso had blacksmith and carpenter shops for armourers. It was run by three officers: aviz(storekeeper), a clerk, and a foreman. By 1817, Gunwharf reportedly employed 5,000 men and housed the world's largest naval arsenal.^[313]

HMSVernonwas closed on 1 April 1996^[314]and was redeveloped by Portsmouth City Council as Gunwharf Quays,^[197]a mixed residential and retail site withoutlet stores, restaurants, pubs, cafés and a cinema.^[315]Construction of theSpinnaker Towerbegan in 2001, and was completed in the summer of 2005. The project exceeded its budget and cost £36million, of which Portsmouth City Council contributed £11 million.^{[316][317][318]}The 560-foot (170 m) tower is visible at a distance of 23 miles (37 km) in clear weather, and its viewing platforms overlook the Solent (towards the Isle of Wight), the harbour and Southsea Castle.^[319][320]The tower weighs over 33,000 tonnes (32,000 long tons; 36,000 short tons).^[321][320]and has the largest glass floor in Europe.

Southsea is aseaside resortand residential area of Portsmouth located at the southern end of Portsea Island. Its name originates from Southsea Castle, a seafront castle built in 1544 by HenryVIII to help defend theSolentand Portsmouth Harbour.^[322]The area was developed in 1809 as Croxton Town; by the 1860s, the suburb of Southsea had expanded to provide working-class housing.^[133]Southsea developed as a seaside and bathing resort.^[133]A pump room and baths were built near the present-dayClarence Pier, and a complex was developed which included vapour baths, showers, and card-playing and assembly rooms for holiday-goers.^[323]

Clarence Pier, opened in 1861 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, was named after Portsmouth military governorLord Frederick FitzClarenceand was described as "one of the largest amusement parks on the south coast".^[324]South Parade Pierwas built in 1878, and is among the United Kingdom's 55 remaining private piers.^[325][326]Originally a terminal for ferries travelling to the Isle of Wight, it was soon redeveloped as an entertainment centre. The pier was rebuilt after fires in 1904, 1967 and 1974 (during the filming ofTommy).^[325][133]Plans were announced in 2015 for a Solent Eye at Clarence Pier: a £750,000, 24-gondolaFerris wheelsimilar to theLondon Eye.^[327]

Southsea is dominated by Southsea Common, a 480-acre (190 ha) grassland created by draining the marshland next to the vapour baths in 1820. The common met the demands of the early-19th-century military for a clearfiring range,^[328]and parallels the shore from Clarence Pier to Southsea Castle.^[328]A popular recreation area, it hosts a number of annual events which include carnivals, Christmas markets, and Victorian festivals.^[329][330]The common has a large collection of matureelmtrees, believed to be the oldest and largest surviving in Hampshire and which have escapedDutch elm diseasedue to their isolation. Other plants include theCanary Islanddate palms (Phoenix canariensis), some of Britain's largest, which have recently produced viable seed.^[331]

Southsea is often mistaken as a town separate from Portsmouth, mainly due to the confusingPortsmouth & Southsea railway stationname.^{[citation needed]}The resort of Southsea previously had its own dedicated light railway line; theSouthsea Railwayand its own terminus,East Southsea railway station. The Southsea Railway and station were closed in 1914, with the station's name merged into that of Portsmouth's main railway station name in 1925.

Portsmouth has two cathedrals: theAnglican Cathedral of St ThomasinOld Portsmouthand the Roman CatholicCathedral of St John the Evangelist. The city is one of 34 British settlements with aRoman Catholiccathedral.^[164][332]Portsmouth's first chapel, dedicated toThomas Becket, was built by Jean deGisors in the second half of the 12th century.^[333][334]It was rebuilt and developed into aparish churchand an Anglican cathedral.^[334][335]Damaged during the 1642Siege of Portsmouth, its tower andnavewere rebuilt afterthe Restoration.^[336]Significant changes were made when the Diocese of Portsmouth was founded in 1927.^[337]It became a cathedral in 1932 and was enlarged, although construction was halted during the Second World War. The cathedral was re-consecrated beforeQueen Elizabeth The Queen Motherin 1991.^[338]

TheRoyal Garrison Churchwas founded in 1212 byPeter des Roches,Bishop of Winchester. After centuries of decay, it became an ammunition store in 1540. The 1662 marriage of CharlesII andCatherine of Braganzawas celebrated in the church, and large receptions were held there after the defeat ofNapoleonat the 1813Battle of Leipzig. In 1941, a firebomb fell on its roof and destroyed the nave.^[57]Although the church's chancel was saved by servicemen shortly after the raid, replacing the roof was deemed impossible due to the large amounts of salt solution absorbed by the stonework.^[339]

The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist was built in 1882 to accommodate Portsmouth's increasing Roman Catholic population, and replaced a chapel built in 1796 to the west. Before 1791, Roman Catholic chapels in towns withborough statuswere prohibited. The chapel opened after theRoman Catholic Relief Act 1791was passed, and was replaced by the cathedral.^[340]It was constructed in phases; the nave was completed in 1882; thecrossingin 1886, and thechancelby 1893. During the blitz, the cathedral was badly damaged when Luftwaffe bombing destroyed Bishop's House next door; it was restored in 1970, 1982, and 2001.^[340]TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouthwas founded in 1882 byPope Leo XIII.^[f]Smaller places of worship in the city include StJude's Church in Southsea,^[342]StMary's Churchin Portsea,^[343]StAnn's Chapelin the naval base^[344]and thePortsmouth and Southsea Synagogue, one of Britain's oldest.^[345]Other places of worship include the Immanuel Baptist Church, Southsea; Trinity Methodist Church, Highland Road; Buckland United Reformed Church; The Oasis Centre Elim Penteostal Church; Jubilee Pentecostal Church, Somers Road; Kings Church Assemblies of God (St Peter's Somers Road); Family Church; Christ Central Church, John Pounds Centre; The Jami Mosque, Bradford Junction; The Sikh Gurudwara, Margate Road.

Portsmouth F.C.play their home games atFratton Park. They have won twoFootball Leaguetitles (1949 and 1950),^[346][347]and won theFA Cupin 1939 and 2008.^[348][349]The club returned to thePremier Leaguein 2003.^[350]They were relegated to theChampionshipin 2010 and, experiencing serious financial difficulties in February 2012,^[351]were relegated again toLeague One. The club was relegated the following year toLeague Two, the fourth tier ofEnglish football.^[352]PortsmouthF.C. was purchased in April 2013 by the Pompey Supporters Trust, becoming the largest fan-owned club in English Football history.^[353][354]In May 2017, as League Two champions, they were promoted toLeague Onefor the 2017–18 season.

Moneyfields F.C.have played in theWessex Football LeaguePremier Division since 1998.^[355]United Services Portsmouth F.C.(formerly known as Portsmouth Royal Navy) andBaffins Milton Rovers F.C.compete in Wessex League Division One; United Services was founded in 1962,^[356]and Baffins Milton Rovers in 2011.^[357]TherugbyteamsUnited Services Portsmouth RFCandRoyal Navy Rugby Unionplay their home matches at theUnited Services Recreation Ground. Royal Navy Rugby Union play in the annualArmy Navy MatchatTwickenham.^[358]

Portsmouth began hostingfirst-class cricketat the United Services Recreation Ground in 1882,^[359]andHampshire County Cricket Clubmatches were played there from 1895 to 2000. In 2000, Hampshire moved their home matches to the newRose Bowlcricket ground inWest End.^[360]Portsmouth is home to fourhockeyclubs: City of Portsmouth Hockey Club, based at the university's Langstone Campus;^[361]Portsmouth & Southsea Hockey Club and Portsmouth Sharks Hockey Club, based at theAdmiral Lord Nelson School;^[362]and United Services Portsmouth Hockey Club, based on Burnaby Road.^[363]Great Salterns Golf Club, established in 1926,^[364]is an 18-hole parkland course with two holes played across a lake;^[365]there are coastal courses atHaylingand the Gosport and Stokes Bay Golf Club.^[122]Boxing was a popular sport between 1910 and 1960, and a monument commemorating the city's boxing heritage was built in 2017.^[366]

In March 2008, Portsmouth City Council became the first local authority in the UK to implement city-wide 20 miles per hour speed limit zones.^[367][368]

Portsmouth Harbourhas passenger-ferry links toGosportand theIsle of Wight,^[369]with car-ferry service to the Isle of Wight nearby.^[370]Hovertravel, Britain's longest-standing commercialhovercraftservice, begun in the 1960s, runs from near Clarence Pier inSouthseatoRyde, Isle of Wight.^[371]Portsmouth International Porthas links toCaen,Cherbourg-Octeville,St MaloandLe Havrein France,^[372][373]SantanderandBilbaoin Spain,^[374]and theChannel Islands.^[375]Ferry services from the port are operated byBrittany FerriesandCondor Ferries.^{[374][376][377]}

On 18 May 2006,Trasmediterraneabegan service to Bilbao in competition withP&O's service. Its ferry,Fortuny, was detained in Portsmouth by theMaritime and Coastguard Agencyfor a number of safety violations.^[378]They were quickly corrected and the service was cleared for passengers on 23 May of that year.^[379]Trasmediterránea discontinued its Bilbao service in March 2007, citing a need to deploy theFortunyelsewhere.^[380]P&O Ferries ended their service toBilbaoon 27 September 2010 due to "unsustainable losses".^[381][382]The second-busiest ferry port in the UK (afterDover), Portsmouth handles about three million passengers per year.^[383][384]

Local bus services are provided byStagecoach SouthandFirst Hampshire & Dorsetto the city and its surrounding towns. Hovertravel and Stagecoach operate a Hoverbus service from the city centre to Southsea Hovercraft Terminal and the Hard Interchange, near the seafront.^[385]National Expressservice from Portsmouth operates primarily from the Hard Interchange toVictoria Coach Station, Cornwall,Bradford,BirkenheadandBristol.^[386]

v t e Railways in the Portsmouth area
Legend
Portsmouth Direct Line toLondon WaterlooviaGuildford West Coastway Line toBrighton&London Victoria West Coastway Line toSouthampton Central Portchester Havant M27 Bedhampton Cosham A3(M) Farlington Halt A27 Portsbridge Creek HMNB Portsmouth Admiralty Line Hilsea Portsmouth & Southsea Fratton Portsmouth Harbour Southsea Railway1885–1914 Gosport FerrytoGosport WightlinktoRyde Pier Head Jessie Road Bridge Halt Albert Road Bridge Halt East Southsea

Portsmouth has four railway stations on Portsea Island:Hilsea,Fratton,Portsmouth & Southsea^[387]andPortsmouth Harbour,^[388]with a fifth station atCoshamin the northern mainland suburb ofCosham, Portsmouth. Portsmouth previously had additional stations atSouthsea,FarlingtonandPaulsgrove, but these were closed at various periods of the twentieth century.

The city of Portsmouth is on two directSouth Western Railwayroutes toLondon Waterloo, viaGuildfordand viaBasingstoke.^[389]There is a South Western Railway stopping service toSouthampton CentralandGreat Western Railwayservice toCardiff Centralvia Southampton,Salisbury,Bath SpaandBristol.^[390]Southernhas service toBrighton,Gatwick Airport,CroydonandLondon Victoria.^[391]

Southsea once had its own branch line, theSouthsea Railway, which opened in 1885 betweenSouthsea railway stationand Fratton; it was closed in 1914 due to competition from tram services.^[392]

Farlington Halt railway stationwas built to serve Portsmouth Parkracecourse, opening as Farlington Race Course on 26 June 1891.^[393]The racecourse was closed duringWorld War One, but the station was retained to serve the ammunition dump put in its place.^[394]The station closed in 1917.^[393]Re-opened in 1922 until 1927.^[393]Under theSouthern Railway, it re-opened as a general publichaltin 1928 namedFarlington Halt;^[393]however, this was short-lived as the station closed due to insufficient customers on 4 July 1937.^[393]

Paulsgrove Halt railway station^[395]was a railway station opened in 1928 to serve the adjacent PortsmouthRacecourse, a pony racing stronghold.^[396]The station was formerly located between Cosham and Portchester stations. Paulsgrove Halt was closed along with the racecourse when the land was acquired by the military in 1939, at the outbreak ofWorld War II.

Portsmouth Airport, with a grass runway, was in operation from 1932 to 1973. After it closed, housing (Anchorage Park) and industry were built on the site.^[397][398]The nearest airport isSouthampton Airportin theBorough of Eastleigh, 19.8 miles (31.9 km) away.^[122]It has aSouth Western Railwayrail connection, requiring a change atSouthampton CentralorEastleigh.^[399]HeathrowandGatwickare 65 miles (105 km) and 75 miles (121 km) away, respectively. Gatwick is linked by Southern train service to London Victoria station and Heathrow is linked by coach toWoking, which is on both rail lines to London Waterloo and theLondon Underground.^[400]Heathrow is linked to Portsmouth by National Express coaches.^[401]

ThePortsmouth and Arundel Canalran between the towns and was built in 1823 by the Portsmouth & Arundel Navigation Company. Never financially successful, and found to be contaminating Portsea Island fresh water wells,^[402]it was abandoned in 1855 and the company was wound up in 1888.^[403]The canal was part of a larger scheme for a secure inland canal route from London to Portsmouth, allowing boats to avoid theEnglish Channel. It had three sections: a pair of ship canals (one on Portsea Island and one toChichester) and a barge canal fromFordon theRiver AruntoHunston, where it joined the canal's Chichester section.^[404]

The route through Portsea Island began from a basin formerly located on Arundel Street and cut throughLandport, Fratton andMilton, ending at the eastern end of Locksway Road in Milton (where a set of lock gates accessedLangstoneandChichester Harbours. After the island route was closed, the drained canal-bed sections through Landport and Fratton were reused for thePortsmouth Direct line, or filled-in to surface level to form a new main road route to Milton, named Goldsmith Avenue.

The brick-lined canal walls are clearly visible between the Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea railway stations. The canal lock entrance at Locksway Road in Milton is east of the Thatched Housepub.^[405]

This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: This never happened, section now undue and probably needs to be removed. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2020)

A new public transport structure was once under discussion, includingmonorailsandlight rail. Although a light-rail link to Gosport was authorised in 2002 (with completion expected to be in 2005), the project was in jeopardy as theDepartment for Transportrefused to fund it in November 2005.^[406]In April 2011,The Newsreported a scheme to replace conventional rail lines to Southampton via Fareham,BursledonandSholingwith light rail.^[407][408]

Portsmouth, Southampton and their adjacent towns are served primarily by programming from theRowridgeandChillerton Downtransmitters on theIsle of Wight,^{[409][page needed]}although the transmitter atMidhurstcan substitute for Rowridge. Portsmouth was one of the first cities in the UK to have a local TV station (MyTV), although the Isle of Wight began local television broadcasting in 1998.^[410]In November 2014,That's Solentwas introduced as part of a nationwide roll-out of localFreeviewchannels in south-central England.^[411]The stations broadcast from Rowridge.^[412]

BBClocal radio station that broadcast to the city isBBC Radio Solenton 96.1 FM. According toRAJAR, popular radio stations include regionalWave 105and Global Radio'sHeart SouthandCapital South.Easy Radio South Coastbroadcasts from Southampton to the city on 107.4 MHz,^[413]and the non-profit community station, Express FM, broadcasts on 93.7.^[414]Patients atQueen Alexandra Hospital(Portsmouth's primary hospital) receive local programming from Portsmouth Hospital Broadcasting, which began in 1951.^[415]When the first local commercial radio stations were licensed during the 1970s by theIndependent Broadcasting Authority(IBA),Radio Victoryreceived the first licence and began broadcasting in 1975. In 1986, the IBA increased the Portsmouth licence to include Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The new licence went to Ocean Sound (later known as Ocean FM), with studios inFareham; Ocean FM becameHeart Hampshire. For the city's 800th birthday in 1994, VictoryFM broadcast for three 28-day periods over 18 months.^[416]It was purchased by TLRC, who relaunched the station in 2001 as the Quay;^[417]Portsmouth Football Club became a stakeholder in 2007, selling it in 2009.^[418]

Portsmouth's daily newspaper isThe News, founded in 1873 and previously known as thePortsmouth Evening News.The Journal, a free weekly newspaper, is published byNewspublisherJohnston Press.^[419][420]

Portsmouth has been home to a number of famed authors;Charles Dickens, whose works includeA Christmas Carol,Great Expectations,Oliver TwistandA Tale of Two Cities, was born there.^[421]Arthur Conan Doyle, author of theSherlock Holmesstories, practised medicine in the city and played in goal for the amateur Portsmouth Association Football Club.^[422]Rudyard Kipling(poet and author ofThe Jungle Book)^[423]andH. G. Wells, author ofThe War of the WorldsandThe Time Machine, lived in Portsmouth during the 1880s.^[424]Novelist and historianWalter Besant, author ofBy Celia's Arbour, A Tale of Portsmouth Town, was born in Portsmouth.^[425][426]HistorianFrances Yates, known for her work on Renaissanceesotericism, was born in the city.Francis Austen, brother ofJane Austen, briefly lived in the area after graduating from Portsmouth Naval Academy.^[427]Contemporary literary figures include social critic, journalist and authorChristopher Hitchens, who was born in Portsmouth.^[428]Nevil Shutemoved to the city in 1934 when he relocated his aircraft company, and his former home is in Southsea.^[429]Fantasy authorNeil Gaimangrew up inPurbrookand Southsea.^[258][430]

Industrial RevolutionengineerIsambard Kingdom Brunelwas born in Portsmouth.^[431][432]His father,Marc Isambard Brunel, worked for the Royal Navy and developed the world's firstproduction lineto mass-producepulley blocksfor ship rigging.^[75]James Callaghan, British prime minister from 1976 to 1979, was born and raised in Portsmouth.^[433][434]Son of a Protestant Northern Irish petty officer in the Royal Navy, Callaghan was the only person to hold all fourGreat Offices of State: foreign secretary, home secretary, chancellor and prime minister.^[435]John Pounds, the founder ofragged schools(which provided free education to working-class children), lived in Portsmouth and founded England's first ragged school there.^[436]

Comedian and actorPeter Sellerswas born in Southsea,^[437]andArnold Schwarzeneggerbriefly lived and trained in Portsmouth.^[438]Other actors who were born or lived in the city includeEastEndersactressesEmma BartonandLorraine Stanley,^[439]comedienne and singerAudrey Jeans,^[440]and Bollywood actressGeeta Basra.^[441]Cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes was born in Portsmouth, and lived there for a time.^[442]Ant Middleton, former SBS, current television presenter and author was born in Portsmouth.Helen Duncan, the last person to be imprisoned under the 1735 Witchcraft Act, was arrested in Portsmouth.^[443]

Notable sportspeople include Commonwealth Games gold medalistMichael East,^[444]Olympic medallist in cyclingRob Hayles,^[445]former British light-heavyweight boxing championTony Oakey,^[446]Olympic medallistAlan Pascoeas well as professional footballerMason Mount.^[447]Single-handed yachtsmanAlec Rose,^[448]2003 World Aquatics Championshipsgold medallistKaty Sexton,^[449]and Olympic medallistRoger Blackwere also born in the city.^[450]Jamshid bin Abdullah of Zanzibar, the last constitutional monarch of the island state, lives in exile in Portsmouth with his wife and six children.^[451]

Sources:^[452][453]

• Caen,Normandy, France
• Duisburg,North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Haifa,Haifa District, Israel
• Halifax,Nova Scotia, Canada
• Lakewood,Jefferson County,Colorado, United States
• Maizuru,Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
• Portsmouth,Virginia, United States
• Portsmouth,Rockingham County,New Hampshire, United States
• Sydney,New South Wales, Australia
• Sylhet, Bangladesh
• Zhanjiang,Guangdong, China

According to the Portsmouth City Council website, the following individuals and military units have received theFreedom of the Cityin Portsmouth:^[454]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2019)

• Baron Macnaghten(1895)
• Field MarshalLord Roberts of Kandahar(1898)
• Sir John Baker(1901)
• Lieutenant GeneralSir Frederick Fitzwygram(1901)
• Sir William Pink (1905)
• Sir T. Scott Foster (1906)
• Duke of Connaught and Strathearn(1921)
• F. G. Foster (1924)
• David Lloyd George(1924)
• Prince of Wales(1926)
• Major GeneralJ. E. B. Seely(1927)
• Sir William Joynson-Hicks(1927)
• Frank J. Privett (1928)
• Sir Harold R. Pink (1928)
• AdmiralSir William James(1942)
• Field MarshalLord Montgomery of Alamein(1946)
• Sir Winston Churchill(1950)^[455]
• Albert Johnson(1966)
• J. P. D. Lacey (1966)
• Sir Alec Rose(1968)^[456]
• Admiral of the FleetLord Mountbatten of Burma(1976)
• Prince of Wales(1979)
• Lord Callaghan of Cardiff(1991)
• Princess of Wales(1992)
• Lord Judd of Portsea(1995)
• Lady Margaret Daley (1996)
• Josef Krings (1997)
• Ian G. Gibson (2002)
• Milan Mandarić(2003)
• Sir Alfred Blake(2003)
• Brian Kidd (2003), former Head of Parks and Gardens in Portsmouth^[457]
• Harry Redknapp(2008)
• Syd Rapson(2016)

• Royal Hampshire Regiment(1950)
• Royal Marines(1959)
• Portsmouth Commandof the Royal Navy (1965)
• Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment(1992)
• HMSKing Alfred,RNR(2003)
• HMSEndurance, RN (2007)

• Essential Workers of Portsmouth: 16 March 2021 (service will be held in May 2021).^[458]
• Royal NavalAssociation: 8 December 2021.
• Royal MarinesAssociation (Portsmouth Branch): 8 December 2021.
• Association of Wrens and Women of the Royal Naval Services: 8 December 2021.^[459]
• Pompey in the Community: 29 March 2022.^[460]
• Life House: 15 December 2022.^[461]
• The Southern Co-operative Limited: 10 July 2023.^[462]

• List of tallest buildings and structures in Portsmouth
• List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom
• Portsmouth power station

• Churchill, Winston Spencer (1968).History of the English Speaking People: Birth of Britain, 55 B.C. to 1485. Dodd Mead. p. 65.ISBN978-0-396-03841-2.

• PortsmouthatCurlie
• Travel & Tourism in PortsmouthatCurlie