Exploring Portsmouth Old Town & Dockyards | The Lost History! 

LOVED this SO MUCH! Thank you for allowing us to react to it! ❤❤

As a portsmouth resident, nice display of our personal history as a naval port city, brilliant place to come, would recommend this city to everyone!

HMS Victory is far more famous the that piece of driftwood, the Mary rose. HMS Warrior was the 1st ever ironclad warship

The Still and West pub on Spice Island is probably my favorite pub in the whole world. Last time I was there in 2016 my family had a few beers on the patio when a Royal Navy frigate was going out to sea. A very cool experience.

Rare indeed for me to watch a video of length from start to finish. Really uplifting to see enthusiasm for my hometown. It has had its problems over the years. Thank you.

The figurehead of HMS Vernon represented the shore Royal Navy base on which the shopping Mall is now built on.

A great little outing thanks 4 posting, love the way you speed up the bits that drag 👍 think I might have to venture down old Portsmouth.

Thanks for that very enjoyable tour of my old home town of Portsmouth. Did you know the Tolpuddle Martyrs left England from the Spice Island jetty when they were deported to Australia? Also the Merry Monarch Charles II was married in the Royal Garrison Church?

Hello, Darren. At 07:24, when you show Gosport, you can see a tower on the left. This is at the former submarine base of HMS Dolphin. The tower was used to train submarine crews how to escape from a submarine. It was full of water 90+ feet deep, with airlocks at various depths to train crew - the water pressure increases the further down the tower you go. Lovely video. Long time since I've had a walk around the place known to the personnel of the Royal Navy as 'Pompey'. You certainly had a fine day for it. Thank you.

This is a great video - the Round Tower was not just a fortification, there was a chain across to a sqaure tower in Gosport; the chain rested on the sea bed, but at times of threat a capstain in each tower would be turned to raise it up and block the entrance to the harbour. Also in Old Portsmouth is the house where George Villers, Duke of Buckingham,was assassinated in 1629 - it was then the Greyhound pub. Such a lot of histoey in a small city.

Portsmouth has a special place in my heart. Childhood and romantic memories. Especially Southsea and South Parade Pier. Both sets of my grandparents lived there. The Still and West is an awesome pub. When some of the big ships come into the harbour you can’t see the sky because the ships are so massive and close to the pub. My grandfathers (both) used to work in “The Dockyard” in the 1960s. Portsmouth has changed a lot over the years, but definitely for the better.

Portsmouth is a very interesting place, we had many great days out at Gunwharf Quays. I have not returned to the UK for fifteen years or so and your coverage was good to see. Chichester is an interesting walk around too if you are ever close.

Love it all around there, always something going on.

I don't live so far from Portsmouth but not been along the front for so many years. Your video is so very interesting. Filmed in the summer makes it bright and colourful too. You seem to have some footage in the box ready to pull out during these times. Nice one. Take care and thanks for sharing. W :)

Thank you for video , it takes me back a few years love it down there , I have family in Gosport , the big blue and white yacht , opposite Spinnaker tower is owned by the guy who owned the NCP car parks.

Looks like a nice place for a weeks holiday when covid finally go's but any place is better than staying in. Looking forward to next weeks adventure

When I lived and worked in Portsmouth in the 1980’s during the summer my friends and I couldn’t wait for our day off so we could sunbath on that little beach at old Portsmouth. I believe it was called the Hot Walls ❤️

at 6:25, the Round Tower. I was on the Round Tower the day the task force set sail for the Falklands, among the crowds. 18:22 Ship and Castle on the corner, I used to work there in the late 80's

Thank you for this video, found the link in Portsmouth Nostalgia. played it again with the sound off and slowed it down drastically so I could really look at the buildings I haven't seen in so many years, we don't have red brick building like that in my part of the USA. These are views I usually see (birds eye level) from the HMS Warrior web cam and it was so nice to see these places at ground level. I'll be sharing this video on my personal fb page too so I'm glad to see you've put a link to the Southsea walk as I was wondering how to go about including that in my post.

Thanks Darren I enjoyed that wander by the sea, its nice to see the sun I could almost feel the heat. It looks like a lovely place I've yet to visit.

Fantastic video thanks 👍

The old part is the best bit and you did a good job of showing it off. Blowed if I'd queue for 40 mins at Gunwharf!!!!!

Thanks for your most interesting video. Just a note - HMS Warrior was the first steam powered war ship combining boilers below deck and sail above. It must have been hell working with those boilers.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, BEST engineer ever.

It’s a shame you couldn’t get into the dockyard/museum - it’s fantastic! Everyone should visit HMS Victory at least once in their lifetime. It’ll make a first rate video next time you’re down there. Keep up the good work!

I've lived in Pompey all my life (61 years) a great city with naval & maritime history unmatched anywhere in Britain, pomponions are a breed apart , a very proud and loyal bunch , also let's not forget Portsmouth is an island ( portsea island) ...and with the amount of forts , castles , and ramparts around a city built to keep enemies out . For me Pompey is a unique city with great people and fantastic history and I'm convinced there's still a great community spirit in this city so let's cherish living here because trust me there's a lot worse places to live .....PUP

Enjoyed this. When looking out towards the Isle Of Wight you can see some of the sea forts, two of these are now hotels. Also one of the fires at South parade pier happened during the filming of Tommy in 1974. When you leave Spice Island as you look to the left there is a modern building which is the home of the ben Ainsley racing team, they decided to build there when the America's Cup came to Portsmouth. As others have mentioned before Gunwharf Quays the area was HMS Vernon which was a Torpedo training site hence the Torpedos around that area. Also the train line used to run across into the dockyard for Royalty use. The sculpture towards the end is of the Mud Larkers, these were the youths who used to dive around in the mud as the wealthier folk would throw them money.

A Pompey boy till I die, even though I've moved away. Bad traffic now I think but still a great place.

This is great! Portsmouth is my home town, but I haven’t been there much in the past 20 years. It looks great in this video, and Gunwharf looks so much different from when I last saw it.

Spice Island Inn used to be called The Coal Exchange when i was drinking there as a young man. The coal used to be offloaded from the ships coming down from the North, probably Newcastle! Just by there was the Gosport chain ferry, which I just about remember from the 50's as a lad. That's when we had the Isle of Wight paddle steamer as well. Happy young days!

Wow I spent time in pompey whilst in the navy, the whole area around the harbour train station is like outer space compared to 96 when I left, its unbelievable. Thanks very much for the brilliant vid. Nice to see the Ship Anson is still open, I got very drunk there multiple times, like a good matelot, I loved this vid 👌

Very enjoyable.

You have hardly mentioned the history of P’mth. The reason for all the modern buildings and not many old ones is that P’mth was bombed to bits in the war. Not to mention history for over 1000 years.

Great video. I grew up in Portsmouth but left at 17 to work in London. These days, I live in Sydney, Oz, but last time I was home (2013) I visited Pompey and was blown away by how lovely and well-cared for Southsea was. And the Spinnaker Tower is amazing. It's one of those structures that can never be mistaken, like the Sydney Opera House, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal - whoever designed it was a bloody genius. Meanwhile, Old Portsmouth was always gorgeous; glad to see it still is.

Nice video & Quality : ) Next time your down - give me a shout & I'll show you 'real' Portsmouth!!

1:03 Nelson walked through that square arch and bridge to go to Trafalgar. Long Curtain Lane was his last time on British soil 4:00 The brown ones are modern modern buildings that replaced a shipyard. 11:58 Nearly!.. Gunwharf Quays WAS HMS Vernon. It was a Navy Shore Establishment, and the Old Customs House is the only complete building left from the HMS Vernon days. 17:57 Arthur Conan Doyle helped form Portsmouth Football club and was one of the first goalies

Fantastic video mate - I live here but from Aussie my friends always ask what it’s like here you actually walk past my apartment hope you don’t mind me sending a link to this to a few friends back home - far better then what I can do…….

Until Gun-wharf Quays was build ,this was the sight of HMS Vernon, which was a land-based training centre for the Royal Navy.

You get an excellent view of the Spinnaker Tower from the Isle of Wight, provided the weather is good!

Loved it please do more of these walking history tours.

Would have liked more research, but some very good comments down here.

Many a time have I made the journey across from Portsmouth harbour station to Gosport on the ferry to visit dad! Sadly, in the past!

Actually, the most famous Dockyard is Devonport in Plymouth, it's also the biggest in Northern Europe.

So lovely to see this video brings back lovely memories of my visits to Southsea and Portsmouth...love the seafront and Canal Lake...Gunwharf Queys so lovely to walk around... Also my friend who lives in Southsea worked on the HMS Warrior as an engineer for 2-3 years and loved to chat with the tourists and even took me on a tour round the ship which was fascinating...Looking forward to going back sometime as I have great memories of my visits. I was taken up the Spinnaker Tower and a trip over to the I.O.W. on the Hovercraft where we enjoyed a few hours at Sandown Beach... we went to Ryde and took the train to Sandown...was a lovely day and we had great fish n chips and a drink not sure name of pub but was a lovely day... Back on the Hovercraft later but really enjoyed that day trip...😁😎👍👌

Just became a fully pledge member xx 😊

What about Gosport. Which is on the other side of Portsmouth. And Hayling Island on the east side off Portsmouth in neighbouring West Sussex.

My husband has promised me to me here ❤ Hiwa I see u 😂

Lived in Portsmouth for 6 months in 1983. Place has totally changed from what I remember it by but the thing I find amazing is there are so many people now enjoying the views.

Please add to the list of famous people associated to Portsmouth one John Pounds. He was a disabled cobbler and shoe maker who decided to help poor illiterate children to read and write. Many people have either forgotten him or do not know of him.

Born and bred on the Isle of Wight, until moving to Dorset a while ago, always loved Portsmouth ( always known as Pompey) from going there in 60s Christmas shopping with my parents, to the navy days in the late 60s, my first proper girl friend came from Eastney who I use to go see and going to shows at the guildhall and shopping trips in the 90s still love the place

HI Darren, Brilliant video, Right at the start did you notice the concrete pyramid thing above where you were standing? There are two or three of these in various places around there , they've been moved about a bit over the years but were originally put there for the Queen's Silver jubilee in 1977. Some more info, at 1:10 at Long Curtain Moat area, as I mentioned in my previous comment, the sea defences are currently being upgraded in that area & interestingly, during the work the contractors have uncovered some historic stonework & slipways dating back over 300 years! Heres a link for more information, southseacoastalscheme.org.uk/historic-seawalls-uncovered-in-southsea/ At 4:10 where you said about the secret beach, that bit is know as the 'Hot walls' a locally famous bit of beach known for its use for all year round sunbathing! 2:45 , the Garrison Church lost its roof when it was bombed in World war 2.

Thank you for this video. I was born here but moved away many years ago. Gun wharf is built on the site oh HMS Vernon & my dad was stationed here. The ‘bust’ is actually a figurehead which would have been mounted on the bow of the ship of that name. The museum of the Royal Navy is situated inside HM Naval Dockyard which is still in use today as a dockyard.

I used to jump of round tower when I was a lad and square not today

Been looking forward to the continuation of your walk from Southsea. We stayed in the Premier Inn by the pier a few years ago and got the Hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight, as well as walking along your route to the Dockyard

As a Southsea resident I enjoyed your videos

Terrific. I was born in Portsmouth. 109 Goldsmith Avenue. Moved to South Africa later on.

Southsea! My favourite part of Portsmouth. Born there in 1953. Still here.

I was a student at Pompey and felt a bit nostalgic so thanks for this. Can’t believe how different it is now and forgot how beautiful it looks in the sun!

royal garrison church has no roof as it was bombed in WW2. the 'battery' as he calls it, is called the square tower.the defensive wall between here and the round tower is known as 'the hot walls'. all guns were primed, loaded and aimed to the fleet at anchor in the solent when there was a general naval mutiny( for better conditions). gunwharf was built on the site of HMS Vernon, a naval bomb disposal unit. nerdy fact = the spinnaker tower was purposely built 6 feet out of line. the weight of the concrete pulled it back into line when finally topped off. it is built on loads of 30 ft pilings.

Fantastic video. So informative & so well presented 👏👏👏 I’ve been there on my travels in the past but the developments are great & fit in so well. Thanks so much 👍👍👍

Ahhhh the hospital is in shot that I mentioned in the comments of part one. I like how you only mention the French. Since the Spanish armada did try, but never got this far oops. I remember the little beach from all the Falklands task force footage, as the navy left, every place was full of people, as still seen today if certain ships are arriving or departing on occasions, like recently with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, and their carrier groups. I thank the people of Portsmouth, for their never-ending dedication to preserving so many aspects of our history. Both physically in the town, and of our illustrious naval history too. Pardon my audacious pun. My comedy is far from invincible. I could remain indomitable, but I'm sure most would get furious, if I maintain this eagle-eyed approach to hiding such a list of venerable ship names, that were to triumph in conflict. So much glory to each warrior of war. So indefatigable and majestic. So magnificent and powerful. Each a leviathan of naval defence against such an arrogant and terrible axis during WWII. Ok, I'll stop now. I managed 20 names of aircraft carriers. If you only counted 19, that's because there was no way to slip in Ark Royal with subtlety, so I kept her until the end, to throw her in like a brick 🤣 God Save the Royal Navy and God Save the Queen.

Never saw Portsmouth on my visits to the UK. My mistake, obviously. Thanks so much.

If we ever can get back to visit the UK, my wife and I have to come visit Portsmouth! What a fantastic place. Thanks for the great video.

You showed HMS Warrior, this was the first iron clad warship, and the guns on board have never been fired in anger. She was about 3 times the size of the French ships of the time so if there was a battle between the French and the English Warrior would show up and the French ships would retreat rather than trying to take on such a large ship.

3:09. Hot walls to the left. Where we dare to jump off the walls and clear the shallows. people always get hurt but it’s almost become tradition. The ballsier jump from round tower

Great video. Very proud residente of Pompey. Highly recommend a visit when things allow. Enjoy our fantastic city.

Thanks for the tour Darren! Haven't been to Portsmouth for ages. Last summer all looks so normal compared with now :-/

fun fact spiniker tower wasnt always owned by emirates who own it now and when asked why they baught it it was becuse no joke it looks like there logo of a sail

I didn’t know Portsmouth was a really nice place to visit I love the way it is not littered with rubbish

I think what he called "The Battery" is actually the square tower

Ya gotta get in the starforts brother

Just show us the Ice cream kiosk you should be fine with that

Shame you missed the Cathedral

opposite gunwharf was HMS Dolphin in gosport. a submarine naval base. you can see the tall diving tower.used by the RN to train escaping from a sunken sub also houses HMS Alliance. the Explosion museum is not too far away.

Lovely sky, thanks for another awesome video!

A couple of points about the cathedrals in Portsmouth. Portsmouth is one of very few cities to have two cathedrals, the Anglican cathedral in Old Portsmouth and the Roman Catholic one by the town centre. The Anglican cathedral is the closest cathedral to the sea in the UK.

The glass lift never worked lol xx

It was called spice Island because of the prostitutes and brothels "spicy" nothing to do with cinnamon or nutmeg

Nice video!

How cold does it get in mid-February?? ...When was this video shot?

Best place to buy any designer gear at a really cheap price!

Thanks for the video and chat. A very nice tour of Portsmouth. Cheers Darren.

Great video, has certainly made me homesick 😕 reminds me of the school trips to the dockyard and surrounding area.

Thank you very very much. Watching this video make me happy, we are living in such beautiful place👍

One day, you'll go somewhere I've never been. Brings back memories of being dragged to the Isle of Wight every year by my grandparents.

Really enjoyed this. Was born,. grew up and lived in Portsmouth betwen the 50's to 90's and then moved away. Made me feel quite homesick watching it. They've certainly.done a good job of the area in Old Portsmouth, the round tower and Gunwharf. Hope I can visit again one day.

Beautiful place I loved visiting my nan in the summer and exploring this magical place

Amazing area of the world, very underrated city, used to work nearby to there, fantastic day and video as always

A secret tunnel to The George? Can anyone elucidate PLEASE?

oh Darren ich schreibe gleich mal auf deutsch. Dankeschön für dieses tolle Video mit soviel historischem Hintergrund. Einfach nur genial

Hi Darren, Finished watching both parts of this, very enjoyable to watch. The photography was really good, well done!! I used to do this walk quite regulary when I used to live in Milton, no better place to end a walk than The Still and West!!. There is so much history in such a small place that its impossible to do it justice in a short video, but reading the comments youve really woken the interest of a lot of people. There are lots of other places slightly off the beaten track there as well, like the Southsea branch that you have already done. Lots of blue plaques, at the end of the video just round the corner you would have come across the one for IKB, his father was responsable for the Blockmills in the dockyard one of the first uses of machines for mass production. The dockyard was where the first ever dry docks were built, over 500 years ago. Good luck from Spain!!

Nice

Never been there Darren, looks a top place for a mini break

Could you tell me what is the nicest Hotel on the water front to stay in?

You were a long way from your beloved Yorkshire. But what a lovely visit and such glorious weather you had. Much enjoyed. Cheers

Great video, but what's all this Haitch.M.S. Warrior and Haitch.G.Wells? The letter aitch comes under A in a dictionary.

of all the cities i visited Portsmouth is the only one i would like ( and i will ) to go again!!i spend there such a nice time.thanks to you for this wonderfull trip i m from Belgium

You skipped one of the oldest pubs in the UK Which even has a painting of what it was like back then in camber docks

Good video and walk around in Portsmouth

Darren we visited Gun Wharf keys last summer and loved it. It was my first time in Portsmouth and i want to go back.