Site-Search
Coming Soon
|
Site-Search |
|
Page and site |
|
Gosport in Southampton County England History and GeographyGOSPORT, a sea port, market town, and chapelry, in the parish of ALVERSTOKE, within the liberties of ALVERSTOKE and GOSPORT, Portsdown division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 17½ miles (S.E. by E.) from Southampton, and (S.W.) from London, containing 6184 inhabitants. This place is mentioned by Leland, in the reign of Henry VIII., as a poor village inhabited by fishermen; but it has risen to importance during the last century, in consequence of its vicinity to the great naval station of Portsmouth, opposite to which it is situated, on a projecting point of land on the western side of the harbour. About thirty years since a line of regular fortifications for the protection of the town was constructed, extending from Weovil to Alverstoke lake: within the works are the king's brewery and cooperage, with store-houses on a very large scale for wine, malt, hops, &c., for the navy. This place has a communication with the sea by means of a large basin and canal, with extensive quays, where vessels of considerable burden can take in their stores. There are many small sloops belonging to Weovil, which are employed in the conveyance of various articles for the use of the vessels in the harbour. The approach to Gosport from the sea presents a noble prospect, including the forts, store-houses, and other extensive buildings. There are several streets, the principal of which extends from the harbour to the fortifications, but it is somewhat interrupted by the market-house; and along the shore are various ranges of buildings, consisting chiefly of neat and well-built houses. There is a small theatre: assemblies are held once a month, and concerts frequently take place. Stokes bay, to the south-west of Gosport, is justly celebrated for the excellence of its anchorage, affording security to an unlimited number of vessels. Near Forton lake, a creek of Portsmouth harbour, about one mile north of Gosport, is the new military hospital connected with the establishment at Portsmouth: it consists of four ranges of building connected by an arcade, with offices, &c. In each range are six large wards, with proper accommodations for attendants. On the north side of the lake, near its entrance, is the magazine, in which and in a smaller building dependent upon it, on an island above, all the powder for the service of this port is stored. The magazine, which is bomb-proof and strongly arched, communicates with the harbour by a small cut. Near it are the ruins of an ancient castle, called Borough castle. Near Forton, on the road to Gosport, is an extensive range of buildings, formerly used for the custody of prisoners of war, with an hospital and proper offices, the whole secured by a strong enclosure. The Royal hospital at Haslar, for the reception of sick and wounded seamen of the Royal navy, was built in 1762, through the influence of the Earl of Sandwich. It is situated near the extremity of the point of land which bounds the west side of the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, and consists of an extensive front and two wings: the airing-ground, which is almost a mile in circumference, is surrounded by a wall twelve feet high. Opposite the grand entrance is a neat guard-house. The wards are all uniform, sixty feet long, and twenty-four broad; each containing accommodations for twenty patients, with apartments for nurses, &c. In 1818, one of the principal wings of the building was appropriated to the reception of seamen and marines labouring under lunacy, who had been previously placed in an asylum at Hoxton. Within the area there are several other buildings for the use of the governor, lieutenants, and other officers and servants belonging to the institution, which consists of-more than two hundred and sixty persons: the chapel is a neat edifice, seventy-two feet in length, and thirty-six broad. The hospital is capable of receiving upwards of two thousand sick or wounded men; and the annual expenses of the establishment, during the time of war, amount to upwards of £5000. About three quarters of a mile south-westward from Haslar hospital is Fort Monkton, a modern and regular fortification, exceedingly strong, on which are mounted thirty-two pieces of heavy ordnance: to the westward ranges a strong redoubt, which, together with the fort, secures this part of the coast. On the shore to the eastward, a high and massive stone wall has been erected, to preserve the land from the encroachments of the sea. Still further to the cast, and near the extremity of the neck of land which bounds the entrance to the harbour on this side, is the Block-house, a very strong fort with a powerful battery. Numerous ferry-boats ply between Gosport and Portsmouth, the width of the harbour being here about three-quarters of a mile. There are several breweries, and a very extensive iron foundry for the manufacture of various articles for the use of the shipping, especially anchors. The markets are on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; and there are fairs on May 4th and October 10th. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Rector of Alverstoke. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a spacious building on the south side of the town: the organ was formerly in the chapel of the magnificent mansion of Canons, belonging to the Duke of Chandos. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists, and a Roman Catholic chapel; and the Independents have also an academy for the education of missionaries and other candidates for the ministry. An almshouse for seven poor widows was founded and endowed by Edward Piachy, in 1693; and several charity schools have been established here by subscription. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
Readers of this page were also interested in: Chiselhurst in Kent County England History and Geography CHISELHURST, a parish in the hundred of RUXLEY, lathe of SUTTON at HONE, county of KENT, 11 miles (S.E.) from London, containing, with a portion of the hamlet of Mottingham, which extends into this parish, 1586 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Rochester, rated in the king's books at £16. 3. 6½., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Rochester Deeping (Market) in Lincoln County England History and Geography DEEPING (MARKET), a market town and parish in the wapentake of NESS, parts of KESTEVEN, county of LINCOLN, 43 miles (S.S.E.) from Lincoln, and 86 (N. by W.) from London, containing, with some extra-parochial places in the fens, 1016 inhabitants Dunchurch in Warwick County England History and Geography DUNCHURCH, a parish in the Rugby division of the hundred of KNIGHTLOW, county of WARWICK, 15 miles (E.N.E.) from Warwick, containing, with the hamlets of Toft and Thurlaston, 1251 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Coventry, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, rated in the king's books at £14. 1. 10½., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry Kirton in Lindsey in Lincoln County England History and Geography KIRTON in LINDSEY, a market town and parish, in the wapentake of CORRINGHAM, parts of LINDSEY, county of LINCOLN, 18 miles (N. by W.) from Lincoln, and 147 (N. by W.) from London, containing 1480 inhabitants. The manor was granted by the Conqueror to his half-brother, Robert of Mortaigne, the first Earl of Cornwall, subsequently bestowed by Edward II Pontefract in York County England History and Geography PONTEFRACT, a parish in the upper division of the wapentake of OSGOLDCROSS, West riding of the county of YORK, comprising the borough of Pontefract, which has a separate jurisdiction, the chapelry of Knottingly, and the townships of Carleton, East Hardwick, Monkhill, and Tanshelf, and containing 8824 inhabitants, of which number, 4447 are in the borough of Pontefract, 23 miles (S.S.W Witney in Oxford County England History and Geography WITNEY, a parish in the hundred of BAMPTON, county of OXFORD, comprising the market town of Witney, the chapelry of Hailey, and the hamlets of Crawley and Curbridge, and containing 4784 inhabitants, of which number, 2827 are in the town of Witney, 11 miles (W. by N.) from Oxford, and 65 (W.N.W.) from London |
