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Gosport‘s medieval name was Goseport, meaning port of geese. The growth of naval activities had a major influence on the development of Gosport. It featured in the Civil War and by 1678, a Royal command had ordered the construction of a major defence system. |
In the 18th century this was extended to include ordnance depot at Priddy’s Hard and later a new victualling depot at Royal Clarence Yard. In the 19th century, this military importance led to a line of five forts being built across the peninsula. They became known as Palmerston’s Follies - now they represent an impressive and intriguing site with Spitbank Fort welcoming visitors from Easter to September, whilst Fort Gilkicker offers some of the best views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight.
During the Second World War, 11,000 houses were damaged in Gosport and nearly 500 were destroyed with 111 civilians killed and 289 wounded.
Haslar Creek was home to our coastal forces and HMS Dolphin at the harbour entrance was home to the submarine service. Grange Airfield had long been used for flying training and trained pilots for World War II. Nearby HMS Daedalus, at Lee-on-the-Solent, was a Fleet Air Arm base. The town made a major contribution to D-Day, with three embarkation points at Stokes Bay, Beach Street and Hardway, which was visited by the King, the Prime Minister and Field Marshall Montgomery on the 22nd May 1944. Later, Hardway saw the return of the wounded and prisoners. Whilst the impact of the military generated much employment and wealth, there were several notable civilians who influenced the town and its development. One was Henry Cort, who developed the ‘puddling and rolling’ process of iron maintenance that revolutionised the iron industry. Between 1827 and 1831, Robert Cruickshank’s architect designed “The Crescent”, a grand Georgian terrace of houses described as the best example of its type in Hampshire. The growing importance of Gosport brought the railway to the town in 1841. Branch lines to Hardway, Stokes Bay and Lee-on-the-Solent were built and Queen Victoria embarked from Gosport for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
In the 1930s, ship and boat building and supplying the Royal Navy dominated the Gosport economy. But in the post war years, new factories were built on bomb-damaged sites and the town thrived with factories making televisions and other electronic equipment, plastic products, pharmaceuticals and wallpaper. The 1990s saw the closure of defence establishments begin and the decline in these manufacturing industries, so Gosport turned from its reliance on the Navy and defence to create new jobs in new industries. Boat building has lasted for centuries and continues to this day. The first marina for yachts opened in 1957 and in recent years several other busy and thriving marinas have sprung up. Gosport was twinned with Royan, France in 1959 - links which successfully continue to this day. At the turn of the new Millennium, Gosport’s Waterfront was transformed as part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour, and now offers the finest views of Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower and the busy waterways.
On Wednesday 25th August 2004, Gosport Borough Council organised a ceremony to mark the Town's 800th birthday with a Civic Procession led by the Mayor ending at the Timespace on the Millennium Promenade. A short service was held and children representing Newtown School buried a time capsule, which, if unearthed in hundreds of years time might give those who find it an insight into how we live today.
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