History of Portsmouth

One of the main draws to Portsmouth for many visitors is the city's rich history. From its dalliances with kings and queens, to being the home of the Royal Navy for centuries, Portsmouth has plenty of stories to tell. So before you next venture to the Great Waterfront City, take some time to brush up on what brought Portsmouth to where it is today.

Portsmouth was founded circa 1180, when Jean de Gisors established a small settlement at the corner of Portsea Island. Not long afterward, Portsmouth received its first charter from Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), in 1194.

Since then the city has been a key player in many major historical events, including Nelson's last battle at Trafalgar, the sailing of the First Fleet to Australia, and the D-Day Landings.

The fortifications that now define many areas of the city have their origins in the 14th century. With England almost perpetually at war with France, Portsmouth bore the brunt - supposedly being burned down four times between 1338 and 1380. The result was to build walls around the city - shortly followed by the Round Tower, which could fire at enemy ships making their way up the Solent.

Around 100 years later, Henry VII built the Square Tower, to further fortify the entrance to the Camber area. He would also change the city forever, by building the dockyard.

He was followed by his namesake, Henry VIII, who helped design Southsea Castle - and developed the country's naval force from a handful of vessels to a bona fine fleet.

In more recent times, Portsmouth was the departure location for many of the troops that headed across the Solent for D-Day. The city was heavily bombed during the Blitz, but would go on to play a central role in the D-Day efforts, which helped bring the war to an end and drive Germany to surrender within the following 12 months.

Portsmouth’s history can be uncovered at its many museums – from Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery (which showcases the area’s social history), to The D-Day Story, which tells the personal insights of those who took part in the Normandy Landings.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and The Mary Rose tell of the city’s rich naval heritage that goes back centuries.

Portsmouth’s history isn’t contained to its museums, though, but is all around – provided you know where to look. The Hotwalls Studios may these days look like chic designer workshops (as that’s exactly what they are!) but were once part of the fortifications that defended Portsmouth from invasion by sea. Defences such as these stretch for miles throughout Portsmouth, as we were at one point the most fortified city in the land.

From the coast you can see out to the Solent Forts – commissioned by Palmerston to defend the UK from invasion by the French. It was, of course, an invasion that never came, which led to them being routinely referred to since then as ‘Palmerston’s Follies’.

Get all the stories behind these historic buildings by taking a guided tour of the area, for fascinating insight into Portsmouth’s history.