Portsmouth
Portsmouth (18th century)Shown on an old map by Harrison 1788
- settlement, town - fortification - Portsdown Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
Shown on an old map by Badeslade 1742
- settlement, town, market town - fortification - Hampshire
Period - 1740s
Market Thurs: & Sat: Fair July 1st. sends 2 Memb. [to Parliament]
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- settlement, town - harbour, shipyard - fortification - Hampshire
Portsmouth, a populous Town in the Time of War, and never more than in the late Wars with France in the last two Reigns; and it has been noted for a Recourse to it upon those Occasions, for many Ages. And being a Port has had many remarkable Things in it besides; ...
In the reign of King Richard II. the French burnt this Town, but it recovered it self again soon, for within six Years after, when the French appeared again insulting the Coasts, the People of this Port set out some Ships, fought the Enemy, slew all but nine, and took all their Ships. Being encouraged with this Success, they again, two Years after, entered the Seine, sunk four of their Ships, took many, and burnt one of the French Admiral's small Ships, which he had built for Pleasure, the finest Vessel of that sort in France or England; returning with a great Booty of Wines and Merchandize
The Town for a long Time was fortified with a Wall made of Timber, and well lined with Mud only, and an high Mount at the North East near the Gate; but King Edward IV. built two Forts of Free-Stone at the Entrance of the Harbour, and King Henry VII. made a Garrison for the Defence of the Coasts, which was found to be of great Use in the Reign of his Son and Successor, King Henry VIII. when the French made several Attempts upon this Town, more particularly Anno 1545, when they came into the Haven with six Gallies, and engaged the English Ships lying in the Harbour, but were not able to make their Way into the Port, and therefore landed in the Isle of Wight; yet Francis I. the French King, notified by his Embassadors to his Confederates, that his Ships had taken Portsmouth. Sir George Carew's Ship, the Mary-Rose, was sunk in this Engagement; but it was by the too great Weight of its own Ordnance, and not by any Damage from the Enemy.
Queen Elizabeth, at great Expence, added new Works to the old Fortifications, so that then there seem'd nothing wanting to make it a compleat Fortress: She also placed a Garrison here, of which some Part keep guard Night and Day at the Town-Gate, others are set upon the Top of the Church-Tower; where, by the Ringing of a Bell, they give Notice what Horse and Foot are advancing toward the Town, and by waving of Colours shew from what Quarter they come.
... Since the late wars, this Port, which has been the constant Rendezvous of the Grand Fleet, and the Squadrons for Convoys of Merchants Ships, homeward and outward-bound, and up and down the Chanel, is so encreased and enriched, that those that knew and saw it fifty Years ago, would not know it in its present Condition, every Thing being altered so much for the better, as to the Multitude of Inhabitants, the Extent, Strength and Magnificence of the Land-Fortifications, as well as Things belonging to the Sea, which is in great Part owing to the Bounty and Encouragement of King Charles II. for
The Works here are numerous and regular, according to the modern Improvements in Fortifications; so that now it is reckoned among the principal Chambers of the Kingdom, for the laying up of the Royal Navy, as being furnished on the Shore with Docks wet and dry, Store-houses, Rope-yards, Materials, and Requisites of all kinds for Building, Repairing, Rigging, Arming, Victualling, and compleat fitting to Sea, Ships of the biggest Rates, as well as smaller. It has also Dwelling-houses and ample Accommodations for a Commissioner, and all the subordinate Officers, and Master Artisans, needful for the constant attending upon the Navy Royal, both in Peace and War.
The Civil Government of this Corporation is by a Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, Bailiffs, and Common-Council. It sends two Burgesses to Parliament, which are in this present Session Sir Edward Ernley Knt. and Sir Charles Wager Knt. It hath two Markets weekly, on Thursday and Saturday; but provisions, tho' the Country about it is very fruitful, are very dear, by reason of the great Concourse of Land and Sea-Officers, Soldiers and Seamen, which are always crowding hither, which makes the Place as unpleasant for Strangers and Travellers to take up their Abode in, as it is delightful to take a transient Survey of.
The Town lies low, and so the Air is neither wholesome, nor Streets cleanly, but Profit and Business dispenses with such small Inconveniences. 'Tis seventy-three Miles from London, and lies in 50 Degrees, 49 Minutes of Northern Latitude. One of its greatest Disadvantages is, that it wants fresh Water; otherwise 'tis a most important Place, being a Nursery for Seamen, a great Magazine of War, and a Town of great Trade.
Period - 18th century, early
... the river on the west side of the town [Southampton] in particular comes by the edge of the great forest, call'd New-Forest; here we saw a prodigious quantity of timber, of an uncommon size, vastly large, lying on the shoar of the river, for above two miles in length, which they told us was brought thither from the forest, and left there to be fetch'd by the builders at Portsmouth-Dock, as they had occasion for it.
...
... as I rode through New-Forest, I cou'd see the antient oaks of many hundred years standing, perishing with their wither'd tops advanc'd up in the air, and grown white with age, and that could never yet get the favour to be cut down, and made serviceable to their country.
