It was the secure location of the harbour that no doubt encouraged the Romans to build their fortress at the top end of harbour some time around 275 A.D and... more information
King Alfred stationing some of his fleet in Portsmouth Harbour and it is said that some of the vessels were built here to his own design; they were not shaped... more information
King Harold (Godwineson) having seized the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor, mustered the fleet (we are told of 700 vessels.) at Portchester to cruise the Channel and ward... more information
Robert, Duke of Normandy, William “The Conquerors” eldest son, and claimant to the English throne, landed at Portsmouth. After the death of William Rufus, killed by an arrow in the... more information
Henry I embarked from Portsmouth on his last expedition to Normandy. In the same year Empress Matilda landed at Portsmouth to assert her claim to the throne. 1148 Matilda fled back... more information
Richard was crowned at Westminster and after but a few months he left England to pursue his crusade to Palestine and the re-capture of Jerusalem. This Holy Crusade was beset... more information
King Richard granted Portsmouth its charter: in the second paragraph he states “Know that we have retained our Borough of Portsmouth in our hands, with everything pertaining to it”. Richard... more information
King John and Queen Isabella celebrated Whitsuntide in the Kings Hall (which Richard I had ordered build.) John sailed with the Queen as far as the Isle of Wight, returned... more information
At Whitsuntide King John assembled a large fleet and army here. He sailed in June but because of discontent amongst the nobles the expedition was abandoned.
King John orders the Constable of Southampton:
As you value our honour and the peace of our kingdom, as soon as You receive these letters you are at once without... more information
Geoffrey de Lucy disposed of 13 ships captured by his galleys between 25 April and 8 September. The ships carried 666 tons of wine, 936 quarters of corn, 2,640 quarters of salt and 860 salted hog carcasses.... more information
King John issued an order to assemble a fleet at Portsmouth. The fleet of 500 ships sailed on 28th May with 700 English and Flemish knights under the command of William, Earl... more information
King John led an unsuccessful expedition against the French in February. Ten galleys based at Portsmouth. 1st February. The King, Queen, son Richard and niece Eleanor embarked but were delayed... more information
Following Magna Carta and the start of Civil War in 1215 King John spent Whitsuntide at Portsmouth Planning to cross to France. During this year French forces landed and captured Portchester... more information
Henry III granted two charters to Portsmouth. Large army assembled here but disbanded, having achieved nothing. Order for the repair of the Kings galleys at Portsmouth using 350 oaks from the... more information
Barons of the Cinque Ports, jealous of the growing trade of Portsmouth and Southampton, starting seizing cargoes bound for those ports, they invaded and burned the town of Portsmouth, murdered... more information
Edward I’s son, in the King’s name, issued orders to Gervase Alard of Winchelsea, Admiral of the Cinque Ports from Dover to Cornwall, to build a large galley... more information
French galleys under command of Nicholas Behuchet land at Portsmouth under the cover of an English flag, landing a body of troops near Portsmouth, they plundered and burn the town... more information
Edward’s fleet attack and defeat the Spanish fleet off the Sussex coast. The Battle was known as “Les Espagnols-sur-Mer” (The Spanish at Sea) and is said to be the... more information
King Edward III assembled an army of 3,000 knights, 10,000 archers, 4,000 Welsh light infantry and 3,000 support troops here. Having reviewed his fleet of 700 ships he sailed to France on 11th July, landing... more information
Portsmouth was razed to the ground by the invaders again, this time under Jean de Viene Admiral of France. On this occasion the inhabitants rallied and drove the Frenchmen back... more information
Charter granted by Richard II.
Portsmouth fitted out a squadron to Harry the French, engaging the French of equal force in the Channel they took every vessel and slew all... more information
Portsmouth squadron enter the Seine where they captur four vessels and four ships. Among the prizes was the barge of Sire de Clisson, which was worth 20.000 florins, and was said... more information
Duke of Lancaster embarked with an army of 28,000 for France, leading an expedition to recover Castile in Spain.
Commission appointed to survey the town defences.
King Henry V reviewing a fleet of 1500 vessels at Portsmouth. He later sailed for France with 2000 knights and men-at-arms and about 8000 archers to win a close run victory at the... more information
Henry V, The Duke of Clarence and Duke of Gloucester sailed to conquer Normandy. The Kings triumphant return in 1422 became a royal progress through the Kingdom.
Charter granted by Henry... more information
“and in this year, the Friday the ninth of January, Master Adam Moleyns, Bishop of Chichester and Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal, whom the king sent to Portsmouth to... more information
Henry VII bought 8 acres of land to build the first dry dock in the world.
The designer of the Dock was Sir Reginald Bray who was described as a sage... more information
