Southsea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Southsea
South Parade Pier
Southsea
Population	18,514 (2001) 16,660 (2011 Census. Central Southsea Ward)
OS grid reference	SZ6499
Unitary authority	Portsmouth
Ceremonial county	Hampshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SOUTHSEA
Postcode district	PO4, PO5
Dialling code	023
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Hampshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Portsmouth South
List of places UK England Hampshire 50°47′06″N 1°04′12″W / 50.785°N 1.07°W / 50.785; -1.07

Southsea is a fun seaside resort and a part of Portsmouth, located on Portsea Island in Hampshire, England. It's about 2.8 kilometers (1.8 miles) south of Portsmouth's city center.

Southsea started as a popular holiday spot in the 1800s, during the Victorian era. It was first called Croxton Town, after the person who owned the land. As it grew, it took the name of a nearby fort, Southsea Castle. This castle was built in 1544 to protect the Solent (the sea strait) and Portsmouth Harbour.

In 1879, the South Parade Pier opened in Southsea. It offered boat trips across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. This led to the idea of connecting Southsea to Portsmouth's railway line. This way, tourists could easily reach the pier without going through busy Portsmouth. The Southsea Railway and East Southsea railway station opened in 1885.

Southsea became a busy place with many homes, shops, and entertainment areas. It was separate from Portsmouth until 1904, when it became part of the town of Portsmouth.

The Southsea Railway closed in 1914 because fewer people used it, especially during World War I. To keep tourism alive, the "Southsea" name was added to Portsmouth's main train station in 1925, making it Portsmouth & Southsea railway station. Even though Portsmouth became a city in 1926, the station kept its name. This makes many visitors think Southsea is still a separate town.

Today, areas like Albert Road, Palmerston Road, and Osborne Road in Southsea are full of cafes, restaurants, and unique shops. Palmerston Road is the main shopping street. It has a library and the Southsea Community Cinema. Albert Road is known for its shops and cultural places, including The Wedgewood Rooms and the Kings Theatre, a beautiful old theatre built in 1907.

Southsea still has its own postcodes (PO4 and PO5). This is a reminder of its past as a separate town before it joined Portsmouth in 1904.

Southsea's Story: A Look Back in Time

Southsea Front and Common around 1905

The story of Southsea is closely linked to Portsmouth's history. Southsea grew as the Portsmouth dockyard and the city expanded. Before the 1500s, Southsea was mostly farms, open fields, and marshland. But in 1544, Henry VIII ordered Southsea Castle to be built. This was to protect the naval base from possible French attacks. Southsea was first mentioned as a place name in a Royal plan in 1577. Henry VIII even visited the castle in 1545. From there, he saw the warship Mary Rose sink in the Solent.

In the late 1700s, Southsea started to develop. Small buildings and farms appeared on land owned by Thomas Croxton. This area became known as Croxton Town. The first homes were built around 1809 for skilled workers. More streets were added around 1810, near the old city walls. Many of these areas were heavily bombed during World War II. They were rebuilt after the war.

Southsea continued to grow during the Napoleonic era. As the dockyard got bigger, more homes were needed. Many houses and apartments were built. A famous architect named Thomas Ellis Owen designed many of these buildings. Today, they still show a beautiful old style and are protected as a special area.

At the same time, Southsea became a popular place for holidays and bathing. In 1816, baths were built near today's Clarence Pier. By 1820, a large complex with different types of baths and rooms for games was developed. The marshland, called The Great Morass, was drained. This created Southsea Common, a huge open grassy area. This area was kept clear for military reasons, but today it's a lovely park. Hotels and apartments were built near the common and the sea. The first large hotel was the Portland Hotel. Others followed, like the Queens Hotel (1861) and Pier Hotel (1865). In 1861, Clarence Pier was built for walking and for boats to land. Other piers were also built, with South Parade Pier opening in 1879.

Kings Theatre

By the 1860s, Southsea had grown quite a bit. In 1857, Southsea got its own "Improvement Commissioners." These were people in charge of things like paving streets, street cleaning, and public lighting. The Southsea Railway arrived in 1885, bringing more development. Southsea became known as a middle-class area, with many naval officers living there. The famous writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes, lived in Southsea from 1882. He even had a medical practice there.

Southsea in the 1900s

Southsea kept growing eastwards in the early 1900s. Important public buildings were built, like the Queens Hotel in 1903 and the Kings Theatre in 1907. During World War I, more defenses were added along the seafront. Southsea remained a popular holiday spot between the wars. But World War II changed the area a lot. Large parts of Southsea were destroyed by bombing during The Blitz. Shopping areas like Palmerston Road were completely ruined. The beaches and piers were closed during the war.

After the war ended in 1945, Southsea began a huge rebuilding project. Many damaged homes were cleared to make way for new buildings. The Palmerston Road shopping area was rebuilt in the 1950s. Even though fewer visitors came after the war, Southsea continued to develop. Today, it's a mix of homes and a fun place to visit.

Southsea's Recent Events

On September 15, 2000, parts of Southsea flooded. This happened because the pumping station, which sends rainwater to the sea, flooded during a very heavy storm.

On August 9, 2011, a fire broke out at an old, empty nightclub near South Parade Pier. Police closed off the area, and guests at a nearby hotel had to leave for safety. The building was torn down a few days later.

Southsea Common: A Big Green Space

Southsea Common and Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Row of wind-pruned Huntingdon Elms, Southsea Common

Southsea Common is a huge grassy area that runs along the shore, from Clarence Pier to Southsea Castle. It exists because the military needed a clear area to fire cannons from the harbor defenses in the 1800s. In 1874, there were riots, known as the "Battle of Southsea," when the city tried to build on part of the common. The plans were stopped.

The common is a popular place for fun activities. It also hosts many yearly events. These include the Southsea Show, Military Vehicle Show, Kite Festival, and the Victorious Festival. It's also where fans of Portsmouth F.C. celebrated their win in the 2008 FA Cup Final.

On June 6, 1994, a special service was held on Southsea Common. It was to remember the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Important leaders like Queen Elizabeth II and US President Bill Clinton attended. Over 100,000 people watched.

In August 2010, a giant dinosaur model called "Ultrasauros" was put on the common. It was 52 feet tall! Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in October.

The Victorious Festival moved to Southsea Common in 2013. It became a three-day event in 2017. In 2015 and 2016, Southsea Common also hosted the 2015–16 America's Cup World Series sailing event.

Trees on the Common

Ulmus pumila hybrid

The common has many old elm trees. They are thought to be the oldest and largest in Hampshire. They have avoided Dutch elm disease because they are quite isolated. Many of the big trees are Huntingdon Elms, planted in the 1920s.

You can also find Canary Island date palms on the Ladies' Mile. These palms are some of the biggest in the UK. Other types of palms grow near the common too.

Fun Things to Do in Southsea

By the Sea

• Southsea beach is mostly made of small stones, but you can see sand when the tide is low.
• There are two piers: South Parade Pier and Clarence Pier. Both have fun arcades with games. South Parade Pier also has a ballroom. Clarence Pier is next to a permanent amusement park.
• You can play miniature golf, visit the Southsea Skatepark, and use public tennis courts. There are also beach volleyball courts.
• The Blue Reef Aquarium is right on the seafront.
• Near the seafront is the Southsea Model Village. It's a 1/12 scale model village with tiny buildings and a miniature railway. It opened in 1956.

Historical Sights

• Out at sea, you can see four big round forts. They were built in the 1860s to protect the city. They were never used in a real battle and were sometimes called "Palmerston's Folly."
• The Millennium Promenade was created for the year 2000. It's a walkway marked on the pavement with special blue streetlights.
• You can find blue plaques around Southsea. These plaques remember famous people who lived there, like Peter Sellers and Rudyard Kipling.

Canoe Lake

Canoe Lake is what's left of a marshy area that was drained in 1886. The lake is filled with sea water when the tide is high. You might spot fish, crabs, and even moon jellyfish in the lake.

You can often see Mute swans and mallard ducks. Sometimes, you might see other birds like tufted ducks or black swans. In the summer, you can rent pedal boats on the lake.

Every December, the Lake of Lights Memorial Service is held at Canoe Lake. Thousands of lights are floated on the lake to remember people who have passed away from cancer.

Shows and Performances

• The Kings Theatre on Albert Road hosts many different shows. Local groups, like the Southsea Shakespeare Actors, also perform there.
• There are often outdoor concerts and events at the bandstand and on Castle Field. The Victorious Festival is held on Southsea Common in August.
• "Love Albert Road Day" used to be an annual event. It had live music, street art, theatre, food, and an outdoor cinema. The first event in 2007 expected 2,000 visitors, but 20,000 showed up!

Museums to Explore

• The D-Day Story museum is on the seafront, near Southsea castle. It tells the story of D-Day and has the amazing Overlord Embroidery.
• Cumberland House is a natural history museum. It has a butterfly house and an aquarium.
• The Royal Marines Museum is at the eastern end of the seafront. It's in a beautifully decorated old building. The museum shows the history of the Royal Marines and has a collection of over 8,000 medals.

Southsea's Weather

Southsea has a mild oceanic climate. This means it has warm summers and fairly mild, wet winters. Because it's in the south and protected by Portsdown Hill from cold northern winds, Southsea has one of the mildest winters in the UK. It also gets more sunshine than nearby areas. Summers are usually warm, but not as extremely hot as some other places in the South East of England.

Southsea's Local Government

On April 1, 1999, Southsea became a civil parish. This meant it had its own local council, called the Southsea Town Council.

Portsmouth City Council did not want the town council to be created. There was a long effort to get rid of it. In 2010, most local residents voted to abolish it. So, the parish was officially ended on April 23, 2010. Southsea is now part of the unparished area of Portsmouth.

The town council had limited powers and a small budget. It worked on local issues and tried to influence the main Portsmouth City Council. It also gave money to local causes and helped improve things in the area.

Getting Around Southsea

Solent Flyer hovercraft leaving Southsea bound for Ryde

Hovertravel runs a regular hovercraft service from Southsea seafront to Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

A 1910 Railway Clearing House map of lines around Portsmouth, showing the Southsea Railway

In 1898, a railway line called the Southsea Railway opened. It went from Fratton Station to East Southsea Station. This line also had two small stops. However, it couldn't compete with Portsmouth's tram services. It closed in 1914 and never reopened. The railway line and station have since been replaced by houses. Today, Southsea is served by train stations at Fratton and Portsmouth and Southsea. You can also get to Portsmouth Harbour. Regular trains go to London Waterloo and London Victoria.

There is also a ferry service from Eastney to Ferry Point on Hayling Island.

Schools in Southsea

• University of Portsmouth
• Priory School
• Trafalgar School
• Mary Rose Academy
• Portsmouth Grammar School
• Portsmouth High School
• Mayville High School
• St John's College
• Ark Charter Academy

Famous People from Southsea

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Southsea:

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a famous engineer
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the writer who created Sherlock Holmes
• Rudyard Kipling, another well-known writer
• Peter Sellers, a famous actor
• H. G. Wells, a science fiction writer
• Paul Jones, a singer

Sports in Southsea

Southsea is the birthplace of underwater hockey! The town is home to the UK's most successful club. They have won many national championships and tournaments.

Images for kids

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  Southsea Beach

• 

  Peter Sellers' birthplace on the corner of Castle Road and Southsea Terrace.

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  Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea

See also

In Spanish: Southsea para niños