How a former Victorian Southsea apprentice, who worked at Draper’s Emporium on the corner of King’s Road and St Paul’s Road between 1881 and 1883 (sadly levelled by WW2 German air raids on 10/01/1941), ideals inspired and more than influenced the creation of the United Nations and its key charters. In...

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Another Portsmouth first, the British birthplace of free education for our children. John Pounds (June 17, 1766 – January 1, 1839) was a teacher and altruist born in Portsmouth, and the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged schools. A Portsmouth cobbler, he began teaching poor children...

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Ding dong, ding dong! We all know and love our Chimes... ? Played from the five bells in the Guildhall bell tower, collectively nicknamed The Pompey Chimes, as they inspired the football chant of the same name. The largest of the five bells, Victoria is named after Queen Victoria and is...

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The English Civil War is usually said to have begun when King Charles I raised his standard at Nottingham on the 22nd August 1642. But conflict had looked inevitable since the 18th June, when the King rejected the Nineteen Propositions, an ultimatum sent by parliament. On the 2nd August 1642,...

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