Walks

From the moment you begin your Walk at the original entrance to the area of Portsea Island known as Old Portsmouth, you will be transported back to the sights, sounds and smells of the early days when Portsmouth was founded, and travel through the streets and alleyways to the impressive fortifications of our military and naval defences.

Prepare to be presented with a rich history of some of our famous and infamous residents and their sometimes unexpected antics. Pompey is made up of the suffering of a people who have overcome centuries of being under siege, rising up to reinvent themselves as a global trading nation, maritime and industrial giant and more recently a focus for retail and leisure activities.

In response to constant attacks on our naval fleet during the early 1800’s, plans were drawn up to connect the manufacture and storage of munitions and our arsenals in London with the Royal Navy Dockyard in Portsmouth.

Walk along the route of the last section of the canal from Langstone Harbour to the site of the basin at Arundel Street, now in our city shopping centre district. Discuss the planning, construction and route of this massive undertaking which was completed in 1823, as you walk in the footsteps of engineers, navvies and the locals, who weren’t always impressed!

Memorials remind us of the famous past history of events related to Portsmouth and some of the amazing people who have been born here or made it their home. We are given a snapshot of a different time, when circumstances have brought about an act of valour, an event of significance or a person who has made a difference to the lives of others.

Walk along and spot as many memorials as you can and hear enough about each memorial to make you want to know more. You may want to complete the circuit yourselves on other occasions depending on how far you get. A wealth of knowledge and information awaits!

Beer & Spirits have been a staple part of the diet of Portsmouth from the earliest times, as a means to obtain clean boiled water through to the demon drink which impacted the lives of so many. Walk and talk and drink (in moderation) as we tell the story of local brewing to keep the town and the military watered.

Stopping at a selection of hostelries along the way, hear the story of how the city grew into the public house’s capital of the world!

When the railway network was at its height in 1880’s, a branch line was created to serve the growing seaside resort of Southsea, spurring off from the mainline to Portsmouth Harbour at Fratton Station, the short lived line opened in 1885 as Southsea, and closed as East Southsea as the First World War began in August 1914, unable to support themselves financially.

Walking the route, you will relive the route and the surrounding area of developing Southsea.

Solent Original Walks were proud to provide the official Historical Walk which accompanied the events of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Southsea on 3rd August 2024. The Battle of Southsea was a significant historical event that unfolded over the course of a four-day struggle between the Portsmouth Corporation and the town’s residents over public access to the beach via Southsea Common. The 150th Anniversary project stands as a testament to the power of collective action and public protest in preserving cherished communal spaces.

To keep the extensive efforts of the project alive moving forward, you can now book to experience the details of this largely unknown aspect of Portsmouth’s rich heritage by attending The Battle of Southsea Walk as experienced at the anniversary event. The Walk and the accompanying Historical Drinking Poem will be read out loud to all who attend (bring your tankards to the Barley Mow!) and if you couldn’t attend the anniversary, you can still learn all about this slice of local history ensuring it will not be lost for future generations.

For more information check out www.battleofsouthsea.org