12/19/2023 0 Comments Iron marines fell bishop![]() Nevertheless, the population of Tudor Portsmouth continued to grow and it might have reached about 2,500 by 1600. About 300 people died, which was a significant number in a town of perhaps 2,000 people. Portsmouth also suffered an outbreak of plague in 1563. In the late 16th century and early 17th century, ships were repaired at Portsmouth but none were actually built. Other dockyards were opened on the Thames. However, in the late 16th century, Portsmouth declined in importance. Then in 1545, Henry VIII watched as his warship Mary Rose sank in the Solent. Southsea Castle, as it is called, was built in 1544. Henry also built a castle, east of Portsmouth, overlooking the sea. Later it became part of the military governor’s residence. In 1527 Henry VIII enlarged Portsmouth dockyard. At first, it consisted of a single dry dock. ![]() The dockyard was built a short distance north of the town. From then on Portsmouth became a naval port. The dockyard was a place where royal warships could be built or repaired. Henry also changed the destiny of Portsmouth when he built a dockyard in 1495. In 1494 Henry VII strengthened the town’s fortifications by building the square tower. This meant that mass could not be heard in the town and no other sacraments could be performed. A mob dragged him out and stabbed him to death.įor this crime, the whole town of Portsmouth was placed under an interdict. The Bishop was in the Domus Dei (the ‘hospital’ for poor and sick people). When the sailors found out they were enraged. According to one account, the bishop brought some money but not enough to pay the sailors all they were owed. Sailors in the town had not been paid for a long time. In 1450 the Bishop of Chichester was murdered in Portsmouth. The chain could be lowered to let in friendly ships but raised to prevent enemy ones from entering the harbour. In the 16th century, a giant chain was stretched across the mouth of the harbour. Cannons on it could fire at any enemy ship attempting to enter the harbour. Then about 1418, a tower was erected at the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour called the Round Tower. Portsmouth was not fortified till after the last attack in 1380. On the other hand they could be easily rebuilt). The French burned Portsmouth in 1338, 1369, 1377, and 1380, (This was easy as most of the buildings were of wood with thatched roofs. However, Portsmouth was burned down 4 times during the 14th century during a period of almost continuous warfare between England and France. In 1369 a military governor was appointed who was responsible for the defense of the town. There were also constables responsible for arresting wrongdoers. By the 14th century, Portsmouth had a mayor elected by the merchants. Portsmouth was, at first, run by a man called a reeve assisted by bailiffs. There was also a hostel for lepers outside the town. In 1212 a building called the Domus Dei (house of God) was built at Portsmouth. The main imports were wine, woad for dyeing, wax for candles, and iron. The main exports from Medieval Portsmouth were wool and grain. ![]() However, the population of Portsmouth was probably only about 1,200 people. (A document granting the townspeople certain rights).īy the early 13th century Portsmouth was described as ‘one of our most important ports’. In 1194 King Richard I gave Portsmouth a charter. In 1188 a parish church was dedicated to St Thomas (in the 20th century it became Portsmouth Cathedral). Craftsmen and merchants came to live in the new settlement. It was a sheltered place for ships to land and De Gisors decided it was an ideal place to start a town.ĭe Gisors divided up the land into plots for building houses and he started a market. In the Southwest of the island was a small inlet from the sea called the Camber. He was also a landowner who owned land on Portsea Island. Jean De Gisors was a merchant who owned a fleet of ships. Portsmouth was founded about 1180 when a merchant called Jean De Gisors founded a little town in the South-West corner of Portsea Island. Dedicated to Vanessa Wood Portsmouth in the Middle Ages
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