Crowds watching a Punch and Judy show at Southsea, about 1895.
Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Late 1800s:
Some early reports of the seafront’s importance to local people began in what has been named the ‘Battle of Southsea’ in 1874 when the wide-open space of Southsea Common, considered common land and a public right of way, was commandeered by the armed forces resulting in what has been termed a ‘strong popular response’
Newspaper evidence during this time suggests local residents were calling for the common area to provide ‘facilities for outdoor enjoyment’. One particular resident who provides a lively dialogue with other contributors throughout the newspapers of that year, is Kate Coventry who’s name appears several times in newspapers of the time.
This interest by local people into the use and investment in the common area, even though the majority was still owned by the war office, culminated in a lease obtained from the War Department in the 1880’s (Webb et al, 1989).A newly formed group named the Southsea Improvement Association was created in 1884 that helped begin a program of works on the common that included the Ladies Mile, ornamental garden in front of South Parade, tree planting and addition of the seaside shelters.
Early 1900s:
Throughout the late 1800’s the common continued to be a space bordering the seafront from the hotels, but it wasn’t until 1905 that the Portsmouth Entertainment Committee developed the area further, forming a miniature golf course and bowling greens towards the east of the seafront, as well as chairs and bandstands and the encouragement of artists and performers to the common.
Very little is mentioned about the common during World War 1, but the majority was still owned by the war department itself, thus commanding much of the common for their use, but shortly after in 1920 the Entertainments Committees program was considered such a success that in 1920 the council adopted it into its newly formed Beach and Publicity Committee.
Other changes took place to the area within that period included walls built by unskilled workmen as part of a back to work scheme in 1918. Followed by a sunken Rock Garden within these walls in 1928. This was closed and neglected in WW2 with a tricky restoration because of storms and flooding. Two narrow rectangular gardens were laid out in 1920s as Italian Gardens that still remain. In 1922, the Council finally purchased Southsea Common from the War Department on the stipulation that an area was reserved for military operations. Thus began the development of the seafront we see today. Between 1922 and 1925, gardens and recreation areas were constructed, tennis courts, bowling greens, football and lacrosse pitches, paddling pools and aviaries as well as the Royal Naval War Memorial. This development alongside an increase in advertising preceded the most successful season on record in 1928. In 1930 along with technological development, the carriageway along the seafront was widened for cars and 900 lamps were installed, some of which remain and are also listed.
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