Route - Frewen Library to Clarence Pier via Old Portsmouth

Found Object - Alexander Zhigalov

Shadow Patterns - Alexander Zhigalov

Serial Views - Alexander Zhigalov

Sounds

Below are to sounds heard along the route expressed in images.

Serial Views - William Harrison

History

1. Ravelin park occupies the site of fortifications built by Sir Bernard de Gomme between 1665 and 1685. The area of Portsmouth used to be surrounded by defensive fortifications including walls, bastions, a moat and tall triangular constructions known as ravelins.Ravelins were located beyond the city wall. Their initial function was as a fortification, however, if and when overrun, defenders could fall back and fire down into the ravelin from the wall above. The triangular shape of the ravelin would force a wave of attackers to divide before getting to the city wall.During the 19th century the fortifications were demolished, the site became the city's army garrison headquarters. Ravelin House, Town Mount and Gun House were built, being used to house senior army officers.The army left the site in the 1960's and the land was transferred in 1969 to Portsmouth Polytechnic, which later became the University of Portsmouth.
2. Museum road was previously known as Alexandra road. If you notice on the map below

this changed occurred between 1960 and the present. Presumably it would have happened when the museum was situated in the area.

3. In 1732 William Smith former Mayor of Portsmouth and Physician to its Garrison, died and left his estate to Christ Church, Oxford. This came with instructions to build a new school in Portsmouth - The Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS) was founded.Since then it has undergone a series of changes - including slight alterations to its location, some of which were due to bombing in World War II, its conversion to co-education, and the abolition of boarding.At the moment the Upper Junior School is situated in a Victorian building (which once contained the whole Grammar School) close to part of the University of Portsmouth. The buildings for the Nursery to Upper School are located across the roundabout. You will notice in fig’s that the majority of that area used to be the Cambridge Barracks; a building used by the army which was ravaged by fire after bombing by the German Air Force.

4. Density of Portsmouth in this region changed dramatically in between 1933 and 1960. It is presumed that this is also a result from the bombings of the Second World War. This has been shown in fig.

5. En-route there are two places where the Portsmouth Cathedral is clearly visible. From this position, the spire towers over the foreground buildings allowing it to be seen over great distances.Around the year 1180 Jean de Gisors, a wealthy Norman merchant and Lord of the Manor of Titchfield, gave land in his new town of Portsmouth to the Augustinian canons of Southwick Priory so that they could build a chapel in honor of the martyr Thomas of Canterbury, one time Archbishop. This chapel was to become in turn a parish church in the 14th century and then a cathedral in the 20th century. Of this original building, the chancel and transepts remain.

6. This is the main residential area en-route to the pier. The historical maps (1960 map) show the density much greater than it currently is, with a bottle factory occupying a large portion of St. Nicholas Street.

7. The Pembroke, at the corner of Penny Street and Pembroke Road, is one of the oldest pubs in Portsmouth. Reputedly haunted by a ‘woman in white’, the name ‘The Pembroke’ was first used in the mid 18th Century when the ancient inn, originally known as the Blue Posts, was acquired by local brewer William Deacon.

8. Royal Garrison Church was constructed around 1212 as a hostel for pilgrims. It was also used as a store for weapons and ammunition, before becoming a garrison church in the 1560s. Though the church was badly damaged in a 1941 fire-bomb raid on Portsmouth, the chancel was saved. Modern stained-glass windows tell the story of the building and those who worshipped here.

9. This point was formerly known as the King’s Bastion and was part of Portsmouth's defences. Rebuilt to its present form in the 17th century, It began as an earthwork circa in 1522, and was then rebuilt in stone as an angle tower in 1541-5. Modifications continued until 1589, by when it had been converted into a flanker angled bastion. Although much altered, King's Bastion's present form is due to the modification of the whole defensive system by de Gomme in the late 17th century. Fig

10. The original Clarence Pier was built in 1861, and was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales who attended a concert given by the combined band of the Royal Marines Artillery and Royal Marines Light Infantry.Up until 1873 the Pier had a tramline from Portsmouth Town Railway Station (now Portsmouth & Southsea) which ran right onto the Pier, taking passengers and luggage to the Isle of Wight on steamers.In 1905 the Pier was extended to accommodate increased boat traffic. Further extensions were made in 1932 when a café, sun deck and concourse hall were added. Then on 1st June 1941 the Pier was bombed by the Luftwaffe during the heaviest air raid on Portsmouth of World War Two.It re-opened in its present form some twenty years later on 1st June 1961.