David Otton

1859: Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

6 min read

Quote

It also includes HILSEA hamlet, a mile S. of Cosham, at the north end of Portsea Island, near POST BRIDGE, which crosses the navigable creek that separates the island from the main land, and is navigable for barges to and from the inner parts of Portsmouth and Langston Harbours. Hilsea Fortifications are the outer defences of Portsmouth, on the land side, and after being many years neglected, they are now being considerably strengthened, as afterwards noticed. Hilsea Royal Artillery Barracks were built in 1854, and have accommodations for a field-battery. Gatcombe House and farm, near Hilsea, belong to Sir Lucius Curtis, with some other parts of the parish; but Thos. Thistlethwayte, Esq., is lord of the manor of Wymering, or Wimeringes, as it was called at Domesday Survey, when it was held by the King. John Burrill, Esq., has estates at Cosham, Hilsea, and Stubbington, and there are many small freeholds in the parish.

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield source

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WYMERING PARISH DIRECTORY is mostly included with COSHAM, where the Post Office, Railway Station, &c., are situated. (See page 245.) Those marked 2 are at HILSEA.

Austen Admiral Sir Fras. W., K.C.B.. Portsdown Lodge
Downman Capt. G. C. Hilsea
Martin John Burrill, Esq., Wymering House
Nugée Rev. Andrew, M.A., rector, Rectory
2 Prance, James, foreman

INNS AT HILSEA

Coach & Horses, Lucy Neat
George Inn, Hy. Bishop Tart
King’s Head, James King

BEERHOUSES.—James Henry Hunt and James Doogan

FARMERS.

Allen James, Hook Heath
Copsey Thos. (bailiff to John Burrill, Esq.), Hilsea
2 [Dunning, James|Dunning Jas.]] (bailiff to Sir L. Curtis), Gatcombe
Hill Henry, Highgrove
Martin Wm., Paul’s Grove
2 Monk Geo., Little Salterns
Monk Henry, Gt. Salterns
Peel Geo. (thrashing machine owner), Wymering Farm
Pittis George and Sons, East Wymering Farm
Pittis Chas., Horsea Island

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield, p.246 source

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PORTSEA PARISH comprises about six-sevenths of the population of the Borough of Portsmouth, and extends over nearly 5500 acres, including about nine-tenths of Portsea Island, and also Whaley Island, which was uninhabited till 1845, and is a small marshy islet on the eastern side of Portsmouth Harbour, about a mile north of the Dockyard. Hilsea, at the north end of Portsea Island, belongs to Wymering parish; and on the north-east side of the island, adjoining Langston Harbour, are the Great Salterns, an extra parochial tract of salt marshes, comprising about 550 acres, 4 houses, and 30 inhabitants.

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield, p.248 source

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On the western shore of Langston Harbour, more than a mile north of Milton, is the tract of salt marshes called the Great Salterns, which belonged to the Crown till 1830, when it was sold to Mr. F. Sharp. Here were the ancient Salt Works, which are noticed in Domesday Survey, and had a wharf and seventy acres of brine grounds. Here is Tangier farm, &c.; and about a mile to the north, near Hilsea, is Gatcombe House, which was the seat of the late Sir Roger Curtis, Bart., as noticed at page 245. Gatcombe and the adjacent hamlet of HILSEA are in Wymering parish, at the north end of Portsea Island, outside the borough boundary, where Government in 1759 purchased 95 acres of land for the purpose of strengthening the fortifications. In 1780, they built Hilsea Barracks, which were enlarged in 1794, and had often near them during the Napoleon war large encampments of troops. They were taken down after 1815, and Government afterwards sold much of the land which they had purchased in this part of Portsea Island; but in 1854-‘5, they erected Hilsea Royal Artillery Barracks, on part of the site of the old Barracks. About half a mile north of these Barracks is a strong line of fortifications, with a double drawbridge over the fosse, and extensive out-works, thrown up to defend the entrance to Portsea Island, at POST BRIDGE, which crosses the creek that separates the island from the main land. After being long neglected, these fortifications are now being remodelled, and considerably strengthened. The creek is being widened and deepened, and a new line of walls and bastions are building in lieu of the old dwarf parapets. A strong line of defence is also to be extended southward to Cumberland Fort. These new works will cost about £150,000. West of Hilsea, at the head of an inlet of Portsmouth Harbour, is TIPNER FORT, where there is a large bomb-proof Gunpowder Magazine. It was erected in the early part of the present century, and is now garrisoned by three officers and about 80 men. Here is room for 24,000 barrels of powder.

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield, p.246 source

Note

“A strong line of defence is also to be extended southward to Cumberland Fort.” - Is this describing a defensive line down the eastern side of the island? I don’t think I’ve ever seen another reference to this plan.

Todo

I was wrong. There’s some discussion in Journals of the House of Commons Volume 67

Quote

In 1215, King John1 granted Hilsea hamlet to the Earl of Albemarle, and ten acres in Portsea to William of Rochester.

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield, p.250 source

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There are sixteen town letter carriers, who go out on delivery at seven morning and two afternoon; and five village postmen go daily to the surrounding parishes. There are RECEIVING BOXES at James Churcher’s, Kingston Cross; at Edward Greenwood’s, Milton; at Wm. Mills’, Cambridge terrace, Southsea; and at Joseph Oliver’s, Hilsea.

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield, p.279 source

— White, William (1859), Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Robert Leader, Sheffield source

Note

The above list is not a direct quote, it’s been collated from the full directory.

I think it’s fair to assume that Burrell in 1813 is Burrill in 1859.

Duncan’s Head. That’s new.

Footnotes

  1. King John ↩

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