PORTSMOUTH, the chief naval arsenal of Great Britain, and an important seaport, market-town, and municipal and parliamentary borough, in the s. of Hampshire, stands on the s.w. shore of Portsea island (q.v.), at the entrance to Portsmouth harbor, and oppo site the town of Gosport, with which it communicates by means of a steam-bridge. It is 74 m. s.w. of London by the London and South-western railway. Besides- the parish of Portsmouth, the limits of the municipal and parliamentary borough, which are co extensive, include also the parish and town of Portsea, and the out-wards Landport and Southsea. The population of the borough, with its suburbs, was (1871) 113,569.' Portsmouth is for the most part a mean-looking, dirty town; but has the most complete fortifications in Britain. These comprise, on the landward side, the outer line of the Portsdowu forts and the Hilsea lines; to seaward, the Spithead forts. The- bas-k' honed ramparts, which formerly encircled both Portsmouth and Gosport, and were se imposing in appearance, have recently been removed as useless. Southsea, .which is sit uated outside the walls skirting Southsea common, is rapidly increasing, and is now a fashionable watering-place. In the town proper there are few objects oenote. Pleasing views may be bad from the ramparts and batteries, as the harbor, the roadstead of Spit head, and the-isle of Wight, on the coast of which the white walls of the royal residence of Osborne lioue are seen gleaming among the trees. Among the few notable buildings may be mentioned the church of Et. Thomas, the chancel and transepts of which date from the 12th c., and which contains a ghastly cenotaph in memory of the murdered duke of Buckingham (see infra). In front of the garrison chapel is buried the brave sir Charles James Napier (q.v.), who died in thiS neighborhood in 1853. The dockyard of Ports mouth, in the district of Portsea, was till lately only 116 acres in extent; but vast works have recently been carried out, at a cost of €2,500,000, which have increased the area to a total of 293 acres. Of this immense naval establishment, the most noteworthy if not the most recent features are the mast and rope houses, hemp-stores, rigging-stores, sail loft, and the dry docks, spacious enough to admit the largest vessels, and offering every' facility for their speedy repair. The 12 docks vary from 22 to 36 ft. deep, lined with
solid masonry, and roofed over, and closed by lock-gates. Of the various building-slips, one of thein, roofed and covered in, is so large thht three or four vessels can be in process of construction under it at the same time. The wood mills contain a 'dumber of most ingenious block-making machines, the invention of sir Isambard Brunel, in which rough timber, introduced at one end, is cut, squared, drilled, bored, and turned into the required . shape. About 150,000 blocks are made here annually, and the machines require the attendance of no more than four men. In the smithy, anchors are forged by aid of a Nasmyth's hammer. The dockyard also contains the residences of the superintending officers and a school of naval architecture.
Portsmouth harbor, about 420 yards wide at its entrance, expands into a spacious basin, extending inland for about 4 m., and having a breadth of 3 in. along its northern shore.. Large war-vessels can enter and lie at anchor at all times of the tide. The outward entrance is defended by Monkton fort and Southsea castle. The position of this harbor is highly favorable. It is situated in the middle of the channel, close to the magnificent.. anchorage of Spithead, where 1000 ships of the line may ride without inconvenience, and is under shelter of the isle of Wight, and opposite the French arsenal of Cherbourg. ,, The local trade of Portsmouth is supported by the dockyard and the other public establishments of the town. Brewing is largely carried ou.. Coals, cattle, sheep, corn, and provisions are imported from our own coasts, and timber and wine from abroad. In 1S75, 1937 vessels, of 185,756 tons, entered, and.1080, of 53,446 tons,, cleared the port.
The importance of this port dates only from the reign of Henry VIII. Its defenses were strengthened by Elizabeth, and afterward in a more thorough manner by William III. Here, in a house that still remains iu the, High street, and which was then an inn called the "Spotted Dog," the duke of Buckingham (the "Steenie" of king James) was assassinated by John Felton. On Aug. 29, 1782,when its commander, admiral Kempen-, feldt, was writing in his cabin, the 4?oyal George went down in the harbor, and nearly, 1000 lives were lost.