Weird and wonderful

A city with as long and rich a history as Portsmouth is certain to have encountered its own weird and wonderful goings on over the years. Surely enough, there are some rather quirky facts pertaining to the city and its inhabitants. Here are just some of the weirdest and most wonderful.

A superstition that came true

Local legend had it that grave misfortune would befall Portsmouth if a bust of Charles I, which had long been displayed on a wall in the city, were to ever be removed. It seemed this warning wasn’t heeded in 1937, when it was taken down to be offered on loan to the Royal Academy for an exhibition. Of course, World War II broke out soon afterwards and Portsmouth suffered extensive bombing during the Blitz – the effects of which can still be seen today in some of the city’s rather incongruous housing stock, where newer properties sit among 19th century builds. Today, a replica of the bust has been installed, the original forming part of the Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery collection.

A fopp and his umbrella

Jonas Hanway was a Portsmouth-born traveller and philanthropist who founded the Marine Society. He was also publicly shamed and ostracised by certain sections of society during his lifetime. Hanway’s crime? Using an umbrella.

Back then, umbrellas were seen to be a weakness of character; suited to the softer souls on the continent, but not us hardy Brits. Undimmed, Hanway wielded his with pride and defiance, in the face of insults – and sometimes projectiles. But don’t be fooled about Hanway just because he was on the right side of history in this instance. He also opposed the introduction of tea into England, thus proving you can’t get everything right.

Some paintings aren't quite what they seem

Coming back to more recent times, Portsmouth’s status as a world-class tourist destination was given credence by the Tate Art Gallery in 2003, when its experts discovered that two Turner paintings that had long been thought to depict Venice were actually of Portsmouth – almost certainly sending their value rocketing in the process. One painting from 1844 is said to depict the King of France, Louis-Philippe, arriving into Portsmouth and not, as had long been suspected, a festive lagoon in Venice. It has yet to be proven whether any tourists have since confused the Piazza San Marco for Clarence Esplanade.

A rock and a far place

The world-famous Ayers Rock (Uluru) in Australia was named after a Portsmouth man. Sir Henry Ayers was Chief Secretary of South Australia when the landmark was sighted by surveyor William Gosse back in 1873. Gosse called it Ayers Rock in his honour and the name stuck. Sir Henry Ayers was born in Portsea, and lived here until 19 years of age – at which point he emigrated to Australia. He would go on to become the eighth premier of South Australia, as well as holding numerous lofty positions in Australian banks and gas companies.

Potatoes, celementines and bananas

If you’ve ever had a Jersey potato or a Moroccan clementine, it almost certainly came through Portsmouth Port. It is said that 100% of Jersey potatoes, 100% of Moroccan citrus fruits and 70% of the bananas that come into the mainland do so through our port.

Pompey in the spotlight

Portsmouth FC has amassed a number of accolades over the years, though perhaps the most peculiar of these is having the honour of hosting the first game to ever be played under floodlights. On 22 February 1956, history was made at Fratton Park as Portsmouth played under the lights against Newcastle United. However, the game itself was one to forget for Pompey, who went down 2-0.

That’s not the only curio surrounding the city’s much-loved football team. Back in the days when it was an amateur team going by the name Portsmouth Association Football Club, the team counted goalkeeper AC Smith among its ranks. If you don’t recognise the name, you’re probably not meant to. AC Smith was actually a pseudonym used by Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.

A trailblazing... bunny girl

Those of a sensitive disposition may want to skip over the final quirky Portsmouth fact – as it concerns Playboy magazine and full-frontal nudity. Mercifully, we’ve spared you the photographs.

The first ever Playboy centrefold to go fully nude is also the only British Playmate of the Year – a lady by the name of Marilyn Cole. The connection is that Marilyn was born right here in Portsmouth, and indeed worked in the city’s Co-Op Fuel Office for £12 a week before heading off to London for an audition to become a bunny girl. Even if you’ve no interest in such magazines that you definitely only read for the articles, there’s every chance you’ve seen Marilyn elsewhere, including the cover sleeve of Roxy Music’s 1973 album 'Stranded' and a number of Top of the Pops compilations.