Portsmouth Harbour

50°49′24.60″N 1°7′22.08″W / 50.8235000°N 1.1228000°W / 50.8235000; -1.1228000

Portsmouth Harbour
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationHampshire
Grid referenceSU 617 034[1]
InterestBiological
Area1,264.2 hectares (3,124 acres)[1]
Notification1992[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Portsmouth Harbour is a 1,264.2-hectare (3,124-acre)/12.6 km2 (4.9 sq mi) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Portsmouth and Gosport in Hampshire.[1][2] It is a Ramsar site[3] and a Special Protection Area.[4]

Aerial view from the south-east.
Portsmouth harbour with the Spinnaker Tower on the right. The masts of HMS Warrior and HMS Victory are visible in the background.

It is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent. At its north end is Portchester Castle, of Roman origin and the first fortress built to protect the harbour.

The lower end of Portsmouth harbour at the end of the 19th century

The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England's (and later Britain's) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. Before the fortifications were built the French burned Portsmouth in 1338.[5] During the civil war parliamentary forces were able to carry out a successful cutting-out expedition within the harbour and capture the six-gunned Henrietta Marie.[6]

In modern times, the harbour has become a major commercial ferry port, with regular services to Caen, France, Cherbourg, France, St Malo, France, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight. There is a passenger ferry to Gosport. It is also a major area for leisure sailing. In 2001 the Gunwharf Quays development, was opened on the site of HMS Vernon (a former naval shore establishment).

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Portsmouth Harbour". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of Portsmouth Harbour". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Designated Sites View: Portsmouth Harbour". Ramsar Site. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: Portsmouth Harbour". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. ^ Sumption, Jonathan (1999). The Hundred Years War: Trial by Battle. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 672. ISBN 978-0-8122-1655-4.
  6. ^ Webb, John (1977). The Siege of Portsmouth in the Civil War. Portsmouth City Council. p. 14. ISBN 0-901559-33-4.