Gosport
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- Other places of this name include Gosport, Indiana and Gosport, Ontario
| Borough of Gosport | |
|---|---|
| Image:Gosport - Hampshire dot.png | Image:HampshireGosport.png Shown within Hampshire |
| Geography | |
| Status: | Borough |
| Region: | South East England |
| Admin. County: | Hampshire |
| Area: - Total | Ranked 343rd 25.29 km² |
| Admin. HQ: | Gosport |
| ONS code: | 24UF |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total (2004 est.) - Density | Ranked 301st 77,000 3,045 / km² |
| Ethnicity: | 98.3% White |
| Politics | |
| Gosport Borough Council http://www.gosport.gov.uk/ | |
| Leadership: | Alternative - Sec.31 |
| Control: | Conservative |
| MP: | Peter Viggers |
Gosport is a town and district in Hampshire with around 78,000 inhabitants, situated on the south coast of England. Part of the South Hampshire conurbation, it lies on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour opposite the city of Portsmouth, to which it is linked by a pedestrian ferry.
Gosport is said to be the largest town in Britain without an operational railway station, though the harbour ferry goes to Portsmouth Harbour railway station, terminus of the Portsmouth Direct Line to London.
Until the last quarter of the 20th century it was a major naval and military centre associated with the defence and supply infrastructure of Portsmouth Harbour. With the decline of these activities, many of its fortifications and installations, such as Fort Blockhouse and Palmerston forts like Fort Brockhurst, have been opened to the public as tourism and heritage sites, with extensive redevelopment of the harbour area as a marina. Stokes Bay and the Solent are popular areas for yachting. Part of the tourism in Gosport also includes the Royal Navy Submarine Museum based just outside of Fort Blockhouse, Explosion and the Gosport museum.
Contents |
History
The Rowner area of the peninsula was known to have been settled in Saxon times (for instance, Cherque Farm) and Alverstoke (a village now within the boundaries of Gosport) was included in the Domesday Book [1]. Settlements in the wider region date back much earlier [2].
The borough's name - an early name was Goseport - is believed to derive from "goose". An alternative etymology "gorse" (from the bushes growing on local heathland) is not supported by the regional name for the plant, "furze"; and that implied by the town's motto, "God's Port Our Haven", dates from the 19th century. [3]
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales (1870-72) gives the source of the name Gosport as God's Port to King Stephen in 1144 when he landed there in a storm.
Railways & Transport
Gosport was originally connected to the main London and Southampton Railway line at Eastleigh via Fareham by a railway line that opened in 1841, terminating at a station designed in Italianate style by William Tite. The station at Gosport was designed specifically to serve the city of Portsmouth across the water - or more accurately Old Portsmouth (at the mouth of the harbour; the present-day city has spread to cover the whole of Portsea Island). It was sited at Gosport, however, because the railway company was not allowed to breach the Hilsea Lines, the straits seperating Portsea Island from the mainland to the north, until many years later (even then only by drawbridge).
An extension to Royal Clarence Yard was opened in 1846, and branch lines to Stokes Bay (open from 1863 to 1915); and to Lee-on-the-Solent (open to passengers 1894 to 1931). Due to declining traffic, the connection to Fareham was closed for passenger services in 1953 and to freight traffic in 1969.
The line is now a pedestrian walkway, the station has been retained for its historical and architectural value but is presently inaccessible and in poor condition. Proposals now exist to convert the platforms and buildings into a small number of residential properties and offices with the main gate in Spring Garden Lane opened up for vehicle access. A development of six terraced homes is also proposed for the North Western end of the site linking with George Street.
The station site has been linked with the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Scheme, which would make use of the former railway route (some of which still has track because of freight services), however at present Government policy has made this scheme appear less likely.
Present day
Image:Forton Bridge.jpg As part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour Millennium project, a large sundial, known as the Millennium Timespace, was installed on the harbour front in 2000 [4]. Its timekeeping is partially restricted each day by shadowing caused by a large tower block nearby [5]. The International Festival Of The Sea [6] drew over 250,000 tourists to the Portsmouth Harbour area in 1998, 2001, and 2005. The next festival will take place in 2007. [7]
Sport
The town of Gosport has many sports clubs and organisations from judo and angling to rugby and cricket but by far the most successful is Gosport Borough Football Club[8]. The Club play their home games at Privett Park and cater for players of either sex from six to adults. The club play in the Wessex League and represent the town at a national level in the FA Cup and FA Vase.
Tourism
The Gosport peninsular has 17 miles (27km) of waterfront on Portsmouth Harbour and The Solent and is a martime playground for all. The beach at Stokes Bay is pebble and slopes steeply into the sea but offers fine views of the shipping going in and out of Portsmouth and Southampton, the many pleasure craft from the many marinas along The Solent and the Isle of Wight.
The town also has a strong military history - notably with the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum[9] is home to the world's first ever submarine (Holland 1) and HMS Alliance - a World War Two sub you can explore.
Explosion![10] tells the story of naval firepower from gunpowder to modern missiles. This modern, interactive museum is housed in historic buildings at Priddy's Hard, the Navy's former armaments depot, with stunning views across Portsmouth Harbour.
Fort Brockhurst[11] is one of Palmerston's Follies, built in the 1850s to defend Portsmouth Harbour against threats of a French invasion. Central exhibition explains Palmerston's plans to defend the key naval port. Also visit the Gosport Aviation Heritage Museum which is dedicated to the development of the Royal Air Force. The fort is owned by English Heritage.
Famous connections
- Henry Cort, the Industrial Revolution iron founder - based in Gosport.
- Richard Dawson - actor, born in Gosport.
- Mike Hugg - co-founder of Manfred Mann, born in Gosport
- Alexander Bryan Johnson - philosopher, born in Gosport.
- Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, liberal Victorian clergyman, was made Rector of Alverstoke in 1840.
- Nat Gonella - jazz trumpeter and bandleader, long associated with, and died in, Gosport.
- Arthur Upfield - author (creator of the Australian detective "Bony") - born in Gosport [12].
- Roger Black - Olympic Gold Medal winner, brought up in Gosport
Trivia
- In the BBC radio series the Navy Lark (set on a ship based at HMNB Portsmouth), one of the catchphrases was 'You carry on on that course, and you'll be doing 50 knots up Gosport high street!'
See also
References + External Links
- Gosport Borough Football Club Official website
- Gosport Railway History by Peter Keat, Gosport Railway Society
- Gosport Railway Station Development Brief (PDF format)
- Places to Visit in Gosport
