Portsmouth History and Cultural Links
- Andrew Starr
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 15
Links in blue take you to other resources.
However...
Specifically British Festivals
Local authors
Nevil Shute (He designed the Horsa gliders that landed in Normandy in 1944 on D-Day)
Sir Francis Austen (brother of Jane Austen)
Life of Charles Dickens
Local Musicians
Mick Jones, founder of Foreigner
Local actors
People of note
John Pounds, founder of the ragged school
Hertha Ayrton, scientist and Suffragette
William Wyllie - Watercolour artist, Old Portsmouth Tower House
Infamous
History - The Titanic Stonehenge
Recent Royal Family History - The Coronation
Stonehenge - a World Heritage Site
April 1912 was a major historical tragedy that marked the UK, Ireland, France, the USA, and Canada. - The sinking of the Titanic
Food and Drink
The traditional Roast Dinner and the traditional English Breakfast. (A perspective from abroad)
The Cream Tea
You could learn from any of the following:
The Hotwalls Studios and the City Ramparts
Main (paid) attractions
The Historic Dockyard - There are 11+ attractions on this site. However, there are three main ships.
HMS Warrior from 1860 (Queen Victoria's Navy)
Launched in 1860 as the world's first iron-hulled warship, HMS Warrior was once the pride of Queen Victoria's fleet. Now permanently docked in Portsmouth Harbour, she stands as a stunning testament to Victorian engineering and maritime heritage.
HMS Victory from 1765 (King George III)
HMS Victory was launched on May 7, 1765, and has been a commissioned Royal Navy warship ever since, according to the National Museum of the Royal Navy. She is the oldest commissioned warship in the world and is currently the flagship of the First Sea Lord.
Significance:
HMS Victory was launched at Chatham Dockyard.
The ship was commissioned for active service in March 1778.
She participated in several significant battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar.
HMS Victory has been a tourist attraction since 1823.
The ship is currently docked at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
The Mary Rose, From 1511 to 1545
Did you think that the Mary Rose sank on her maiden voyage? Think again… The Mary Rose was built in 1510-11 at the start of Henry VIII's reign and was one of his favourite ships for 34 years, until it sank in 1545, off the coast of Southsea Castle, after a major refit and relaunch.
Here is some background information on Mary Rose, available in both English and Italian.
D-Day (Cultural and Political History) D-Day Story - Overlord Embroidery
Constructed at the behest of King Henry VIII to protect the Solent from a possible invasion by the French and the Holy Roman Empire. This happened in July 1545. The Battle of the Solent saw the sinking of the Mary Rose.
The world's only year-round public transport hovercraft service.
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