Anyone else remember putting an old penny in the Laughing Sailor attraction at the pier entrance? And the incredibly loud hovercrafts of the 60s and 70s?
Canoe Lake is a natural salt water lake and is the only surviving part of a once very marshy area of Southsea. The lake is actually still linked to the open sea with an underground culvert which keeps the lake topped up with salt water. The culvert also explains how salt water crabs got into the lake and live there and why swans don't drink the salty lake water.
Interesting. I live here and I didn't know that!. Great video. One of the things you missed is the art and crafts kiosks installed beneath the arches under the sea wall. All pretty good, and always worth a visit.
I was born and bred in Portsea, Portsmouth, thank you Jack for reminding me of my childhood days and school summer holidays getting up to mischief at Billy Manning's fair ground, swimming at sallyport and jumping off the 'Hotwalls' and eating a dagistino 99 ice cream to end up the day before walking back home where me mum was waiting to ask me where I've been all day and tell me my dinner was cold!...miss those days so much...
First time viewer to your channel because its Southsea. Born and grew up there, you are right, Southsea has a totally different vibe to the rest of Pompey and is a beautiful seaside prom walk.Will visit again soon no doubt. Good job Jack and some great aerial footage.
You missed out the natural history museum which is free and next to the model village. Also you should have visited the dockyard which you can wander round free. You only pay to go into the museums. Portsmouth museum and art gallery is also free to visit. Then theres Gunwharf quays where the Spinaker tower is with its shopping centre, dozens of restaurant and bars, a bowling alley and multi screen cinema.
I live in Portsmouth. Those viewing platforms are mostly used to watch naval ships coming in or out of port. The seafront is packed in the summer. Every year we have Victorious festival on the common too
If you go again you have to do a harbour tour, especially if you’re interested in naval ships, plenty of which are built or maintained at HMNB Portsmouth.
Inside of Southsea Castle you can walk around the outer defensive wall. On the seaward side of this wall is a brick tunnel that leads out under the beach to the water's edge. When this tunnel was first built, the plan was to extend it under the Solent all the way to France. Unfortunately, this forerunner of the Channel Tunnel leaked too much and so the scheme was abandoned.
Yes, thanks for the video. I was 'brought up' there, living on the sea-front from lived there from 1948 to 1960, swimming daily in sweet waves, and visiting what-was-then an indoor aquarium behind the canoe lake with a huge turtle as its startling main attraction. Growing up in what you also feel is a giant village, sailing boats on the Canoe Lake. In the USA now, but my first visit whenever back will be Southsea. John.
I was born in Portsmouth...so have been along the seafront many times....But the last time I was there was in 2005...to see "Faith No More" & "The Sundays" in concert....The year before I was there for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day...I assisted the Beverley Sisters with their luggage into the Castle where they were staying...Since 2006 I have been living in Scotland and have never returned to Portsmouth...It has changed alot since then...Nice to see the seafront again...The next concert I attended after "Faith No More" ...was "BAND-MAID" in Tokyo, Japan in 2023.
As a side note..an ancestor was killed by the last bomb to fall on Portsmouth in WWII..It was a V-1 Flying bomb (doodlebug)...It came down in the Stamshaw area.(Newcomen, Winstanley Road)
I have lived in Portsmouth for the last 44 years I love walking along with my dog along by the sea I was born in London and we move to Horndean when I was a child the move to southern when I got married I love the place in the winter a warm coat a hot drink you don't much more to enjoy life from Linda in portsmouth
I worked on the Clarence Pier Fair in the summers of 71 & 72. I worked in one of the gift shops on the outside of the fair with my boyfriend I cut my knuckle to the bone one day retrieving a ball. I had to run over to the conveniences to run it under the tap and put a plaster on it. Still have the scar
My Dad's family (Goble) were from Pompey. They lived in Eastney, which is quite near Canoe Lake. When you walked down Broad Street after leaving the coffee shop the second house from the corner on your right , number 31, was where my Grandmother, Martha Maslin grew up.
Beach all open now, looking great. Southsea Castle is free to enter and there's a popular cafe inside. Walking inland from the castle Southsea is really bustling with cafes' bars and restaurants.
Lived in gosport on snd off for 40 yrs almost. Love the location. It’s not till u see a vlog like yours that I realise how very very lucky I am. Thank you. Please do come to the gosport peninsula with Lee on Solent. Stokes bay. Etc. Thank you. 🙏
I really enjoyed your video and have subscribed. We were in Southsea the other week to visit the D-Day Museum as my Dad was on a LCA and was at Gold Beach. We were frequent visitors a few years ago as my younger son was at Portsmouth Uni and we loved exploring the area.
I lived in southsea from 1960 to 1985, and some parts are exactly the same as then. Interesting to see the changes along the sea front, but not progress in my eyes. Thanks for the tour, I will look at more.
Thanks very much Richard and interesting to hear some parts are exactly the same! That part of the seafront they closed near the castle in this video is now open again and looks great
Hi Jack. Many thanks for this one, I really enjoyed it. I stayed in the Royal Beach Hotel when I visited Southsea back in 1984. It was a nice hotel then hooe it's still operating. I remember it was called the Hospitality Inn at one point. I've just subscribed, at last!!
Very interesting video. I live near there but never taken that walk. You have inspired me to do so. And yes you are the biggest anchor iscthe south. Lol
Hi Jack, new to you're channel, after watching this video, i absolutely love Portsmouth and Southsea, great memories of family holidays when i was a kid, even now when i visit i still love it. Love the hovercraft. You went to the rock Gardens which are amazing, but did you know next to the model village, they have a rose garden which always smells nice and looks wonderful if you go at the right time and season. Great video. Loved it. 👍
Ah thanks so much Charlie and welcome! I’m gutted literally didn’t go any further than the model village now, but I’ll definitely be going back next month while the weather is like this! Thanks again
My family are from here Clarendon Road, George Hamilton was a composer for military bands and owned a tobacconist there. He owned the first car in Southsea
Royal Beach Hotel will be turned into homes with a neighbouring modern block of flats. You pointed out the Aquarium, which is alright, not very big but alright.
I used to spend a day in Portsmouth, when going to visit the Isle of Wight the next day. I remember going up the Spinnaker Tower, is has a glass floor at the top. You get such amazing views.
Go back on a summers evening at twilight into night, with all the lights coming on and the ferry plus pleasure craft traffic that place has a real buzz about it and head towards Gunwharf Keys and try it time and when an aircraft carrier is coming into or out of harbour
That Tunnel you walked through, in the old defense walls, was the one Admiral Lord Nelson walked through to board HMS Victory to go fight, win and meet his end in the battle of Trafalger.....
The fair ground used to be very large when I was younger. I live the Eastney end of the beach. I used to cut through the. Marine Barracks as a short cut to the beach. I am Pompey born and bred as we say. Now in my 70’s.
Viewing platforms with seats are for relatives to wave & welcome their beloved sailors back from deployments or off to deployments. And watching our siblings Aircraft Carriers HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Queen Elizabeth stationed here sail pass in and out of the Port. ❤
I remember when the 1st hovercraft left from there to the island it was an SRN 6 (If I remember rightly) way back in the mid 60s. Portsmouth/Southsea sea fronts in my day were much less "touristy". People used to use Canoe Lake (once locally known as Swan Lake) to sail their remote controlled model ships. My nan used to live in Southsea so I spent many summers there upto the early 70s. Where that arcade is there used to be a Night club called the Dolphin. That Common was the site of a Medieval Chuch/Hospital for plague victims (Time Team excavated it about 30 years ago.) "Modern" Portsmouth/Southsea looks nothing like it did in it's hayday, to many it's just a Southend (A derogatory term) now, but it seems popular with the modern tourist who just wants more of the same. Many locals who wanted to enjoy long sandy beaches etcm instead of the shingle beachesm used to go to nearby Hayling Island, but even that has turned into a tourist trap now according a friend who had been there fairly recently. There is a "secret" beach in Portsmouth down by the Fort, a right sun trap.
Jack you stopped in front of the LCT 7074 but you never mentioned the D day Museum. When my wife was alive we would often drive down to Southsea for a few hours.Take a picnic and grab some chips as well then walk down to Spice Island for a pint.Watch the ships go by.Saw a Viking Longship once.Amazing.The cobbled streets of Old Portsmouth must have seen some action of all sorts in the old days..Our only gripe was the hefty parking charges.
Ah thank you for your comment and for sharing your memories. I’m gutted to say I completely missed the museum, but that’s helpful to know for next time
I took some friends back to the sealife centre back in the summer, and was hugely disappointed at how run down and shabby it was. Okay for young kids, I guess, but still very expensive for what you get, unless you want a big gift shop full of ‘tacky’ cuddly toys! As a Pompey lad, who still lives in the area your video reminded me of some great places I’ve not been to for years. Nice job. Thanks
Nice one👍🏻 This brought back memories from when my grandparents would take me there in the summer holidays for a week as a kid. I'm sure the amusements next door to Clarence pier had a bad fire and was closed for quite some time in the 90's. You've made me want to take my kids there for the day after watching this!
Jack it is such a shame that the very short crossing to the Isle of Wight is the most expensive crossing in the world per mile. Jack the David Essex film That'll Be The Day was filmed on the Isle of Wight and Clarence Pier Southsea. Look forward to your next video 👍😁😎
I was a student at the Poly when they filmed Tommy there. The Pinball Wizard sequence was filmed at the Kings Theatre and Ken Russell burned down South Parade Pier.
3:19 I've lived in Portsmouth for the past 20 years and try to get down to that section of the beach every day in the summer and early autumn for a swim. (Because it's supposed to be dog free but it generally isn't. Grrr!) I've often wondered what happened to the top floor of that building on the right. There's a wall with windows but behind it is the roof. Was it built like that or was the top floor demolished and the roof lowered?
@@JohnDoe-tx8lq Jack even managed to video the hover arriving from one side, and leaving from the other! Like you, I can't understand why anyone would comment before watching the video - I mean, it's only 15 mins!
At the beginning you see a line of masts sticking out of the water going out to sea. This is a relic of WW2 and they mark a submarine barrier that stopped U-Boats sneaking into the harbour. There is a small gap marked by two of the mast close together that let’s yachts go along the coast.
Hi there, I am grateful that I live in Southsea, right by Canoe lake that you showed. Sadly Southsea has been in decline since about 2010, imho, the precinct, like many others around the UK are mostly boarded up. Thanks for coming though
I never really got the chance to walk around Southsea when I was visiting the Portsmouth area before. It's now on my list for next year when I plan to go around there, the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Gosport.
I feel a real affinity with the place but I've only ever been to Portsmouth three times. The first time when I was 6years old with mom and Dad, I went there on my own when I was at college, and just before covid with my wife. I'd really love to go there again.
I was born here, grew up at havant and emsworth and then moved back here 21 years ago. Portsmouth and Southsea has lost some of its character. Tricorn has gone and classic shops have shut (u need us, debenhams, john Lewis, etc..). Loads of properties have been made into student accommodation so it's harder for single people to find a place to live. They have just finished the walkway and sea defence along southsea beach (took them around three years!). It used to be a really nice walk along there passing by Henry 8th's castle. You could look out at the Isle of Wight in the dark and see the orange lights of Ryde over the water. I think the new walkway there has lights now so that's probably ruined it (I haven't walked there at night yet so I could be wrong - I doubt I am though!) That said, this vid is a good reminder of how much southsea has to offer. It's a great place. In the summer so much happens here. It's so alive with people, festivals, people banging drums on castle field and around the bandstand and waving to the ferries etc.. Good video. Nice one 👍
Digging for remnants of an old Hospital dating back to the 1200's, built by monks. The church was built on the old site, so they were excavating for evidence of the former hospital. ua-cam.com/video/MOfBfQ_zC7k/v-deo.html
@@jackryanmiller I went to see Tony Robinson about 20 years ago, he was performing a one man show around the country. Briefly met him afterwards and wanted to chat but was too introverted and ended up saying nothing! Anyway, he seemed like a nice guy....:-))
You said imagine living there. (Tower House) I Did live there and yes it was amazing. The Royal Yacht, when we had one, sailed past the house and we got a wave from the late Queen. Submarines also used to sail past.
Excellent video Jack 👍😁😎 I use to holiday in Southsea back in the 1970s, back then South Parade was full of amusements & Cafes. A trip to the Royal Marine Museum at Eastney is great 👍😁😎 look forward to your next video
Interesting facts as I live here, opposite the Garrison church is an underpass that leads to the beach and is said is where Lord Nelson got into a long boat to join HMS Victory for The Battle of Trafalgar, another one, Southsea Castle, at the top Henry the 8th watched his beloved flagship, The Maty Rose sink, ive got lots more but don't want to bore your audience
Southsea does get more busy over the summer and you found some great places to go to. It is also worth going to Gunwarf Quays and the Historic Dockyard. Clearance Pier can be fun with wristbands. There is still some clues there about past rides like the Prehistoric, Jurassic 2000 ride and this aquarium called The Seahorses.
This is funny. You picked the right day. That ‘festival’ looked like the DDay event for the TV rather than Victorious which is Aug bank holiday. Royal Beach isn’t a hotel as such anymore. Lots of car parks, good spot, parking is a great vote winner.
Cheers Andy, so funny I googled at the time what festivals were happening in Southsea and the 90s festival I mentioned was actually taking place at Tokyo Joe’s 😭😂
I am born and bred in Portsmouth and I think you tend to become blind to how the city appears to visitors as for residents it is far less appealing. However we do have some amazing visitor attractions- you mentioned and saw the LCT, recently put in pride of place just outside the D-Day Museum which is just by Southsea Castle. Oft forgotten as not in the Dockyard, as is the Royal Marines Museum-both fascinating to visit. When you looked over towards Gosport, the building you are looking right at what used to be HMS Dolphin which was a big Navy Submarine Base. The Royal Naval Hospital Haslar was just beyond it when it was open.
That hotel at the start is used to hose refugees We used to stay there we booked and they said a week before our stay ,that they had to cancel for building works it was a lie. We normally stay in the Queens hotel which is on the front. A magnificent old hotel
Jack the 2 forts recently went to auction and sold for just over 1 million pound each. Too be honest that was a bargain. A number of years ago they were worth about 4 million each. How times have changed. I also read recently that Portsmouth & Southsea have the most amount of pubs in the country.
Bit confused, video says 4 months ago which would have been July, there's no way the fair rides would have been closed and the seafront abandoned in that month 🤔
Hi mate, I filmed this at the end of May and posted it on my channel in June, also filmed in the early evening / early morning when it was a lot quieter😄
@@jackryanmiller It's still surprising to see it so quiet on the seafront. Another local here - I get down to the seafront pretty regularly and it's rare to see it like that, even when the weather is rotten. Come back in Jan/Feb and brave the wind and waves overtopping the walls at Old Portsmouth! Of course to me it's all very familiar, but it's always good to have an outsider's perspective. My friend from Germany spent a couple of weeks trying out different coastal towns between Bournemouth and Brighton and ended up staying here for a couple of years! She loves sitting on the beach listening to the waves - finds it very relaxing :) I suspect the good old UA-cam algorithm has directed so many local people to this video - I've not come across this channel before.
The three sea Forts were built along with Forts on the hill during Victorian times incase of another war with France. They were known as Palmestones follies, so named after the then Prime minister as they were never needed. They did have anti aircraft guns during WW2.
Your welcome mate. The sea Forts were empty and derelict for decades. I think it was only twenty years ago two were spruced up. They went for millions of pounds. One was a night club, then hotel for awhile. @@jackryanmiller
While you’re here my dears, please give the video a thumbs up above and also subscribe to the channel if you’re not already! Thank you and good night
@@jackryanmiller will do if you stop saying my dears 😁
Anyone else remember putting an old penny in the Laughing Sailor attraction at the pier entrance? And the incredibly loud hovercrafts of the 60s and 70s?
The laughing sailor is in the City Museum these days.
@@TCHorwood-xq7mwThat’s good to know
I remember the laughing sailor 😊
I remember that when I was a kid :D was outside Clarence Pier if I remember correctly.
Canoe Lake is a natural salt water lake and is the only surviving part of a once very marshy area of Southsea. The lake is actually still linked to the open sea with an underground culvert which keeps the lake topped up with salt water. The culvert also explains how salt water crabs got into the lake and live there and why swans don't drink the salty lake water.
That is fascinating, I had no idea and that would explain the group of swans drinking from the puddle! Thanks very much
Interesting. I live here and I didn't know that!. Great video. One of the things you missed is the art and crafts kiosks installed beneath the arches under the sea wall. All pretty good, and always worth a visit.
There is a fresh water tap outside the toilets at the lake. Folks bring plastic tubs to fill with fresh water for the wildlife.
Very true. The marsh was called the Great Morass I believe.
Ooh, bit of trouble with some Tees there.
I was born and bred in Portsea, Portsmouth, thank you Jack for reminding me of my childhood days and school summer holidays getting up to mischief at Billy Manning's fair ground, swimming at sallyport and jumping off the 'Hotwalls' and eating a dagistino 99 ice cream to end up the day before walking back home where me mum was waiting to ask me where I've been all day and tell me my dinner was cold!...miss those days so much...
Thank you very much Stephen that’s exactly why I do the videos, brings back the memories for people 😃
Great video , shame the sun wasn't out for you , love walking along southsea seafront.
Old Portsmouth is my favourite place for a drink 💙
Thank you! I was gutted about the weather but at least it didn’t rain too much 😄
Old Portsmouth is not part of Southsea. It’s its own area.
First time viewer to your channel because its Southsea. Born and grew up there, you are right, Southsea has a totally different vibe to the rest of Pompey and is a beautiful seaside prom walk.Will visit again soon no doubt. Good job Jack and some great aerial footage.
Thanks so much for the very kind comment 👍
Thank you for the great review of my home city, fantastic place always lots going on. ❤
Thanks so much I’m glad I did it justice 😎
I love living in Southsea.
You missed out the natural history museum which is free and next to the model village. Also you should have visited the dockyard which you can wander round free. You only pay to go into the museums. Portsmouth museum and art gallery is also free to visit. Then theres Gunwharf quays where the Spinaker tower is with its shopping centre, dozens of restaurant and bars, a bowling alley and multi screen cinema.
Thank you so much, I had planned to do a part 2 next year with the historic dockyard and Gunwharf quays 🤗
I live in Portsmouth. Those viewing platforms are mostly used to watch naval ships coming in or out of port. The seafront is packed in the summer. Every year we have Victorious festival on the common too
Thanks for commenting! I love those viewing platforms. It’s such a shame the weather was bad when I visited compared to the weather now!
If you go again you have to do a harbour tour, especially if you’re interested in naval ships, plenty of which are built or maintained at HMNB Portsmouth.
Inside of Southsea Castle you can walk around the outer defensive wall. On the seaward side of this wall is a brick tunnel that leads out under the beach to the water's edge. When this tunnel was first built, the plan was to extend it under the Solent all the way to France. Unfortunately, this forerunner of the Channel Tunnel leaked too much and so the scheme was abandoned.
That is very interesting, thanks a lot
Yes, thanks for the video. I was 'brought up' there, living on the sea-front from lived there from 1948 to 1960, swimming daily in sweet waves, and visiting what-was-then an indoor aquarium behind the canoe lake with a huge turtle as its startling main attraction. Growing up in what you also feel is a giant village, sailing boats on the Canoe Lake. In the USA now, but my first visit whenever back will be Southsea. John.
Thanks very much John and it’s so good to hear of your memories. I hope you can get back to the UK and Southsea at some point soon 😃
Thank you for showcasing what Portsmouth has to offer. I love living in Southsea and I'm tired of the bad mouthing this place sometimes receives.
Thanks very much I absolutely love it
Born in Southsea but living elsewhere now, I still go back, as you say, there's something about the place...great video
Thanks so much, it’s definitely one of my new favourite places 😄
I was born in Portsmouth...so have been along the seafront many times....But the last time I was there was in 2005...to see "Faith No More" & "The Sundays" in concert....The year before I was there for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day...I assisted the Beverley Sisters with their luggage into the Castle where they were staying...Since 2006 I have been living in Scotland and have never returned to Portsmouth...It has changed alot since then...Nice to see the seafront again...The next concert I attended after "Faith No More" ...was "BAND-MAID" in Tokyo, Japan in 2023.
As a side note..an ancestor was killed by the last bomb to fall on Portsmouth in WWII..It was a V-1 Flying bomb (doodlebug)...It came down in the Stamshaw area.(Newcomen, Winstanley Road)
Thanks so much for sharing
I have lived in Portsmouth for the last 44 years I love walking along with my dog along by the sea I was born in London and we move to Horndean when I was a child the move to southern when I got married I love the place in the winter a warm coat a hot drink you don't much more to enjoy life from Linda in portsmouth
I worked on the Clarence Pier Fair in the summers of 71 & 72. I worked in one of the gift shops on the outside of the fair with my boyfriend I cut my knuckle to the bone one day retrieving a ball. I had to run over to the conveniences to run it under the tap and put a plaster on it. Still have the scar
Thank you for sharing, love it!
Lovely! Thanks for the video Jack
Thanks Lin!
Pompey born and bred. Excellent video of part of our city, and love the drone shots too :-)
Thank you very much mate, appreciate it
I live in central Portsmouth near the train station and totally love my city. Best place in the world.
Love it!
My Dad's family (Goble) were from Pompey. They lived in Eastney, which is quite near Canoe Lake. When you walked down Broad Street after leaving the coffee shop the second house from the corner on your right , number 31, was where my Grandmother, Martha Maslin grew up.
Thanks very much
Beach all open now, looking great. Southsea Castle is free to enter and there's a popular cafe inside. Walking inland from the castle Southsea is really bustling with cafes' bars and restaurants.
That’s great, I filmed this video at the end of May so I probably missed it by just a few days! 😞
Lived in gosport on snd off for 40 yrs almost. Love the location. It’s not till u see a vlog like yours that I realise how very very lucky I am. Thank you. Please do come to the gosport peninsula with Lee on Solent. Stokes bay. Etc. Thank you. 🙏
Thanks very much I appreciate it. Will defo come and have a look at Gosport next year 👍
i live in southsea and i love it .. great video , come back on a sunny day lol , and i know what you mean about those steps at the round tower ,
Cheers Mark defo going back there this month, unlucky I chose a rubbish weather day to film 😭
Enjoyed this, nice pace and friendly chat
Hey thank you so much, that’s very kind
I really enjoyed your video and have subscribed.
We were in Southsea the other week to visit the D-Day Museum as my Dad was on a LCA and was at Gold Beach.
We were frequent visitors a few years ago as my younger son was at Portsmouth Uni and we loved exploring the area.
That’s great, thanks so much for your comment and for subscribing 🤩
I lived in southsea from 1960 to 1985, and some parts are exactly the same as then. Interesting to see the changes along the sea front, but not progress in my eyes. Thanks for the tour, I will look at more.
Thanks very much Richard and interesting to hear some parts are exactly the same! That part of the seafront they closed near the castle in this video is now open again and looks great
Hi Jack. Many thanks for this one, I really enjoyed it. I stayed in the Royal Beach Hotel when I visited Southsea back in 1984. It was a nice hotel then hooe it's still operating. I remember it was called the Hospitality Inn at one point. I've just subscribed, at last!!
Ah thank you very much, that’s so kind of you, good to hear from someone who stayed at that hotel although apparently it’s not in good nick nowadays 😖
Very interesting video. I live near there but never taken that walk. You have inspired me to do so.
And yes you are the biggest anchor iscthe south. Lol
Ha ha ha love it. Thanks very much for watching 👍
If I was you, I would go back when Portsmouth/Southsea is open
I enjoy off-season more
I really love Portsmouth and Southsea. Best place in England.
Love it
Get a grip. It’s a dump.
Hi Jack, new to you're channel, after watching this video, i absolutely love Portsmouth and Southsea, great memories of family holidays when i was a kid, even now when i visit i still love it. Love the hovercraft. You went to the rock Gardens which are amazing, but did you know next to the model village, they have a rose garden which always smells nice and looks wonderful if you go at the right time and season. Great video. Loved it. 👍
Ah thanks so much Charlie and welcome! I’m gutted literally didn’t go any further than the model village now, but I’ll definitely be going back next month while the weather is like this! Thanks again
My family are from here Clarendon Road, George Hamilton was a composer for military bands and owned a tobacconist there. He owned the first car in Southsea
Love it!
Royal Beach Hotel will be turned into homes with a neighbouring modern block of flats. You pointed out the Aquarium, which is alright, not very big but alright.
I used to spend a day in Portsmouth, when going to visit the Isle of Wight the next day. I remember going up the Spinnaker Tower, is has a glass floor at the top. You get such amazing views.
I’ve never been to the top of Spinnaker but it’s definitely on my list of things to do 😄
Go back on a summers evening at twilight into night, with all the lights coming on and the ferry plus pleasure craft traffic that place has a real buzz about it and head towards Gunwharf Keys and try it time and when an aircraft carrier is coming into or out of harbour
Thanks very much for the comment and I will most certainly do that 👍
That Tunnel you walked through, in the old defense walls, was the one Admiral Lord Nelson walked through to board HMS Victory to go fight, win and meet his end in the battle of Trafalger.....
That’s amazing, thanks Michael
The fair ground used to be very large when I was younger. I live the Eastney end of the beach. I used to cut through the. Marine Barracks as a short cut to the beach. I am Pompey born and bred as we say. Now in my 70’s.
Brilliant vid I enjoyed it
Cheers Neil
Viewing platforms with seats are for
relatives to wave & welcome their beloved sailors back from deployments or off to deployments. And watching our siblings Aircraft Carriers HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Queen Elizabeth stationed here sail pass in and out of the Port. ❤
Love it, thanks for sharing
I remember when the 1st hovercraft left from there to the island it was an SRN 6 (If I remember rightly) way back in the mid 60s. Portsmouth/Southsea sea fronts in my day were much less "touristy". People used to use Canoe Lake (once locally known as Swan Lake) to sail their remote controlled model ships. My nan used to live in Southsea so I spent many summers there upto the early 70s. Where that arcade is there used to be a Night club called the Dolphin. That Common was the site of a Medieval Chuch/Hospital for plague victims (Time Team excavated it about 30 years ago.) "Modern" Portsmouth/Southsea looks nothing like it did in it's hayday, to many it's just a Southend (A derogatory term) now, but it seems popular with the modern tourist who just wants more of the same.
Many locals who wanted to enjoy long sandy beaches etcm instead of the shingle beachesm used to go to nearby Hayling Island, but even that has turned into a tourist trap now according a friend who had been there fairly recently. There is a "secret" beach in Portsmouth down by the Fort, a right sun trap.
Thanks very much for your comment, it’s very interesting to hear about what it used to be like
Thank you for tour 😊
Thanks my friend
Nice vid brought back lots of good memories.
Thanks Ashley!
Love Southsea❤
My daughter got married at Southsea castle. If you love your history, give it a go! Loved it and the wedding was great.
Wow what a great wedding venue!
Jack you stopped in front of the LCT 7074 but you never mentioned the D day Museum. When my wife was alive we would often drive down to Southsea for a few hours.Take a picnic and grab some chips as well then walk down to Spice Island for a pint.Watch the ships go by.Saw a Viking Longship once.Amazing.The cobbled streets of Old Portsmouth must have seen some action of all sorts in the old days..Our only gripe was the hefty parking charges.
Ah thank you for your comment and for sharing your memories. I’m gutted to say I completely missed the museum, but that’s helpful to know for next time
Great video,very interesting
Thanks David
Those buildings you pointed out in the beginning are stunning 😭😍 I have to check em out!
Omg I know I absolutely love buildings like that on the seafront! Exactly kind of place I’d like to live one day
I took some friends back to the sealife centre back in the summer, and was hugely disappointed at how run down and shabby it was. Okay for young kids, I guess, but still very expensive for what you get, unless you want a big gift shop full of ‘tacky’ cuddly toys!
As a Pompey lad, who still lives in the area your video reminded me of some great places I’ve not been to for years. Nice job. Thanks
Thanks very much for the comment Neil, to be fair any sea life centre I’ve been to in the last few years has been a bit run down which is sad to see
Nice one👍🏻
This brought back memories from when my grandparents would take me there in the summer holidays for a week as a kid.
I'm sure the amusements next door to Clarence pier had a bad fire and was closed for quite some time in the 90's.
You've made me want to take my kids there for the day after watching this!
Ah brilliant, thanks and I hope you do take the kids down there. It really is great nowadays and probably even better if the weather is nice
Jack it is such a shame that the very short crossing to the Isle of Wight is the most expensive crossing in the world per mile. Jack the David Essex film That'll Be The Day was filmed on the Isle of Wight and Clarence Pier Southsea. Look forward to your next video 👍😁😎
I was a student at the Poly when they filmed Tommy there. The Pinball Wizard sequence was filmed at the Kings Theatre and Ken Russell burned down South Parade Pier.
3:19 I've lived in Portsmouth for the past 20 years and try to get down to that section of the beach every day in the summer and early autumn for a swim. (Because it's supposed to be dog free but it generally isn't. Grrr!) I've often wondered what happened to the top floor of that building on the right. There's a wall with windows but behind it is the roof. Was it built like that or was the top floor demolished and the roof lowered?
A lovely place with a lovely name 😊
Nice one Jack!
Thank you!
The Rose Garden is beautiful and haunted 👻
In 1969 there use to be the Hovercraft on the beach it went to the Isle of wht about three or more times a day.
Oh yes it’s still there!
It's literally in the video!
Can't be bothered to watch? oh well, lets comment anyway...
@@JohnDoe-tx8lq Jack even managed to video the hover arriving from one side, and leaving from the other! Like you, I can't understand why anyone would comment before watching the video - I mean, it's only 15 mins!
At the beginning you see a line of masts sticking out of the water going out to sea. This is a relic of WW2 and they mark a submarine barrier that stopped U-Boats sneaking into the harbour. There is a small gap marked by two of the mast close together that let’s yachts go along the coast.
Thanks for pointing that out Mark that’s great 👍
Loved this video. Looks an amazing place. 😊
Thanks Donna!
Hi there, I am grateful that I live in Southsea, right by Canoe lake that you showed. Sadly Southsea has been in decline since about 2010, imho, the precinct, like many others around the UK are mostly boarded up. Thanks for coming though
Thanks very much for your comment I loved the Canoe Lake park. Such a shame about the decline
Great place to live. Thanks for the vid.
Thanks a lot
my dad's parents were from here,i remember going there as a kid ,i remember the funfair
Oh yes the funfair looks great I wish I had gone when I was younger
Lived there my entire life and wouldnt wanna be anywhere else
Love it
Where you had your coffee in old portsmouth used to be the Ferry Office ,where you catch the Ferry to iow
Ah wow I can’t believe that! Very interesting cheers
I never really got the chance to walk around Southsea when I was visiting the Portsmouth area before. It's now on my list for next year when I plan to go around there, the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Gosport.
I was the same I had been through Portsmouth so many times but never actually looked at the seafront area of Southsea 👍
I was the same I had been through Portsmouth so many times but never actually looked at the seafront area of Southsea 👍
Lovely video
Thanks Glen
I feel a real affinity with the place but I've only ever been to Portsmouth three times. The first time when I was 6years old with mom and Dad, I went there on my own when I was at college, and just before covid with my wife. I'd really love to go there again.
Thanks for your comment, I really hope you do go back there one day 👍
Next to the landing craft is the excellent D Day museum.
Thank you I missed that completely!
The only passenger hovercraft service in the world. It's not cheap though.
Oh yes it certainly does look unique, I want to experience it one day but I’m always getting the ferry instead
You missed the rose garden and the Japanese garden behind the model village 😊
Thanks a lot I’ll look out for those next time
Moved to Southsea from London in 1985 . Portsmouth is home now. Down to earth people and I'd never go back to London. Still have my London accent. 😊👍
And I’ve kept my Yorkshire accent! I love Southsea.
Good old working class city Pompey.
That is great to hear, I bet it’s a fantastic place to live
I was born here, grew up at havant and emsworth and then moved back here 21 years ago. Portsmouth and Southsea has lost some of its character. Tricorn has gone and classic shops have shut (u need us, debenhams, john Lewis, etc..). Loads of properties have been made into student accommodation so it's harder for single people to find a place to live. They have just finished the walkway and sea defence along southsea beach (took them around three years!). It used to be a really nice walk along there passing by Henry 8th's castle. You could look out at the Isle of Wight in the dark and see the orange lights of Ryde over the water. I think the new walkway there has lights now so that's probably ruined it (I haven't walked there at night yet so I could be wrong - I doubt I am though!)
That said, this vid is a good reminder of how much southsea has to offer. It's a great place. In the summer so much happens here. It's so alive with people, festivals, people banging drums on castle field and around the bandstand and waving to the ferries etc..
Good video. Nice one 👍
I worked as an a apprentice here in the 70s as a gardener.
Love it
AWESOME! My cousin and i took the hovercraft from Dover to Calais in the 80s. It was exciting but it drizzled! lol😅
Love it, I really want to try the hovercraft sometime
Im pretty sure the event on southsea commen was for the D-day anniversary that was attended by the royals. Was also live on BBC 1
Yes I think you’re right and I did see this recently, how silly I was thinking they were having a 90s festival there !! 🤯
A few years ago Time Team did a dig next to that Royal Garrison Church, I forget what they were digging for though
Oh man that’s so cool. Walking the same earth as Tony Robinson!
Digging for remnants of an old Hospital dating back to the 1200's, built by monks. The church was built on the old site, so they were excavating for evidence of the former hospital.
ua-cam.com/video/MOfBfQ_zC7k/v-deo.html
@@jackryanmiller I went to see Tony Robinson about 20 years ago, he was performing a one man show around the country. Briefly met him afterwards and wanted to chat but was too introverted and ended up saying nothing! Anyway, he seemed like a nice guy....:-))
You said imagine living there. (Tower House) I Did live there and yes it was amazing. The Royal Yacht, when we had one, sailed past the house and we got a wave from the late Queen. Submarines also used to sail past.
That’s amazing! I am envious 🤩
Just done two vlogs from the area myself. Thought I’d have a look at what else was on UA-cam.
Nice one I’ll have a look 👍
Excellent video Jack 👍😁😎 I use to holiday in Southsea back in the 1970s, back then South Parade was full of amusements & Cafes. A trip to the Royal Marine Museum at Eastney is great 👍😁😎 look forward to your next video
Thanks so much Lee I’m glad you enjoyed. I bet in the 70s it really was a classic English seaside vibe!
@@jackryanmiller it certainly was Jack 👍😁😎
Museum has closed unfortunately and the collection stored awaiting a new home.
@benkeen Thank you for sharing. I had no idea it closed.
@@LeeJohn70it’s a real shame as they sold the building for a hotel but Covid came along and it sits empty.
Interesting facts as I live here, opposite the Garrison church is an underpass that leads to the beach and is said is where Lord Nelson got into a long boat to join HMS Victory for The Battle of Trafalgar, another one, Southsea Castle, at the top Henry the 8th watched his beloved flagship, The Maty Rose sink, ive got lots more but don't want to bore your audience
Thanks very much, that is interesting. I want to visit the historic dockyard soon to see the Mary Rose
Southsea does get more busy over the summer and you found some great places to go to. It is also worth going to Gunwarf Quays and the Historic Dockyard. Clearance Pier can be fun with wristbands. There is still some clues there about past rides like the Prehistoric, Jurassic 2000 ride and this aquarium called The Seahorses.
Thanks a lot Martin that’s helpful. I was thinking about going back to film a ‘part 2’ over the historic dockyard side so that’s a great suggestion
Great view across the solent
That’s the main thing I love about this place!
Two of the forts have been recently sold at auction. You didn't even get to Gunwharf Quays
Oh yes I’m actually planning another video of the historic dockyard and Gunwharf which is why I didn’t show that here 😀
I seem to remember one of them is called Spitbank Fort, can anyone confirm?
@@katewolfspirit6722 Spitbank Fort, Horse Sand Fort, St Helens Fort and No Mans Land Fort
You should have visited the royal armouries in the fort on top of the hill.. its free and amazing.
This is funny. You picked the right day. That ‘festival’ looked like the DDay event for the TV rather than Victorious which is Aug bank holiday. Royal Beach isn’t a hotel as such anymore. Lots of car parks, good spot, parking is a great vote winner.
Cheers Andy, so funny I googled at the time what festivals were happening in Southsea and the 90s festival I mentioned was actually taking place at Tokyo Joe’s 😭😂
I am born and bred in Portsmouth and I think you tend to become blind to how the city appears to visitors as for residents it is far less appealing. However we do have some amazing visitor attractions- you mentioned and saw the LCT, recently put in pride of place just outside the D-Day Museum which is just by Southsea Castle. Oft forgotten as not in the Dockyard, as is the Royal Marines Museum-both fascinating to visit.
When you looked over towards Gosport, the building you are looking right at what used to be HMS Dolphin which was a big Navy Submarine Base. The Royal Naval Hospital Haslar was just beyond it when it was open.
My son is about to start UOP so I'm binging on everything I can. Great content Jack👏🏻 I don't think your an Anchor ⚓ at all😉
Ha ha thank you very much Mark, I appreciate that✌️
It's a shame you've not come on a sunnier day, Southsea is a different place when it's sunny.
Yeh I’m gutted but I still loved it! Will come back soon when weather is more like this!
I love living in pompey yes it has it's problems like most cities but imo the walk along the front by far outweighs it especially in the summer
Totally agree 👍
Have you been to brighton it’s a really nice place i recommend you to go there
I have and I love it 😄
@@jackryanmillerI mean Brighton pier is the best part
I used to like it, but it's too woke for me now 😩
I live in Southsea. I love it here :)
It looks such a nice place to live!
The big anchor was an original off of the Victory.
That’s amazing
They are doing the Ocoen hotel up now into apartments
Yes, that was Gosport over there!
Thanks 🙏
That hotel at the start is used to hose refugees We used to stay there we booked and they said a week before our stay ,that they had to cancel for building works it was a lie. We normally stay in the Queens hotel which is on the front. A magnificent old hotel
Jack the 2 forts recently went to auction and sold for just over 1 million pound each. Too be honest that was a bargain. A number of years ago they were worth about 4 million each. How times have changed. I also read recently that Portsmouth & Southsea have the most amount of pubs in the country.
No way 1 mill! That does sound like a bargain. If I win the lottery I’ll buy one off of them 🤪
There's probably a reason why the forts are so cheap. Possibly it's too difficult to make a profit from their usage.
@@MrRQBQ Also if there was a War. I would imagine the Government would reclaim them from the owner.
@@LeeJohn70 Maybe, although in modern war conditions I doubt they'd make a very effective defence mechanism.
Cool vid fella
Thank you mate 😃
Bit confused, video says 4 months ago which would have been July, there's no way the fair rides would have been closed and the seafront abandoned in that month 🤔
Hi mate, I filmed this at the end of May and posted it on my channel in June, also filmed in the early evening / early morning when it was a lot quieter😄
@@jackryanmiller It's still surprising to see it so quiet on the seafront. Another local here - I get down to the seafront pretty regularly and it's rare to see it like that, even when the weather is rotten. Come back in Jan/Feb and brave the wind and waves overtopping the walls at Old Portsmouth!
Of course to me it's all very familiar, but it's always good to have an outsider's perspective. My friend from Germany spent a couple of weeks trying out different coastal towns between Bournemouth and Brighton and ended up staying here for a couple of years! She loves sitting on the beach listening to the waves - finds it very relaxing :)
I suspect the good old UA-cam algorithm has directed so many local people to this video - I've not come across this channel before.
The three sea Forts were built along with Forts on the hill during Victorian times incase of another war with France. They were known as Palmestones follies, so named after the then Prime minister as they were never needed. They did have anti aircraft guns during WW2.
Thanks very much for the info
Your welcome mate. The sea Forts were empty and derelict for decades. I think it was only twenty years ago two were spruced up. They went for millions of pounds. One was a night club, then hotel for awhile. @@jackryanmiller
Ive been to Portsmouth but i dont remember it as i was just a tich, very young. 1960s
I would have loved to see it in the 1960s!
Helloh I am lockall I has gone to Southsea many times with family 😊😊😊
It’s a lovely place 😄