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?
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...
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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
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.
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. 🙏
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.
I am a pompey girl loved southsea growing up i went to craneswater school not far from canoe lake i chose to leave 12 year's ago i don't go back as much as i should 80% of my family are still living there great video.
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.
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.....
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
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
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 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.
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
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.
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!!
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
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
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.
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. ❤
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.
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
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
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 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 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.
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.
@@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!
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 👍
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!
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 😭😂
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
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
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.
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. th-cam.com/video/MOfBfQ_zC7k/w-d-xo.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....:-))
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.
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?
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
Come back in summer , I’ll show you around and even take you to the best music hot spots and art venues. Also you can do the street art walk :-) we are the biggest city in terms of street art , it’s an awesome city
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.
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 😃
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.
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.
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 🤗
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 👍
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 😃
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 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!
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.
Strange but amazing place, fascinating. Really interesting. And to think there is Portsmouth and isle of Wight. Attractive.
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
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 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 love living in Southsea.
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
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
I really love Portsmouth and Southsea. Best place in England.
Love it
Get a grip. It’s a dump.
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 😄
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 central Portsmouth near the train station and totally love my city. Best place in the world.
Love it!
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! 😞
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 am a pompey girl loved southsea growing up i went to craneswater school not far from canoe lake i chose to leave 12 year's ago i don't go back as much as i should 80% of my family are still living there great video.
Thanks so much for your comment and for watching, I’d say it’s defo worth going back there now especially as you grew up there
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.
If I was you, I would go back when Portsmouth/Southsea is open
I enjoy off-season more
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
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!
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
Love Southsea❤
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 😭
Lovely! Thanks for the video Jack
Thanks Lin!
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 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 😄
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
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.
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 😖
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
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
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
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
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.
Great photography thank you
Thanks very much
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!
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 👍
Brilliant vid I enjoyed it
Cheers Neil
Enjoyed this, nice pace and friendly chat
Hey thank you so much, that’s very kind
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 👍
The Rose Garden is beautiful and haunted 👻
Great video,very interesting
Thanks David
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 👍
Lived there my entire life and wouldnt wanna be anywhere else
Love it
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
A lovely place with a lovely name 😊
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
Lovely video
Thanks Glen
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 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 👍
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
Next to the landing craft is the excellent D Day museum.
Thank you I missed that completely!
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 👍
Thank you for tour 😊
Thanks my friend
You missed the rose garden and the Japanese garden behind the model village 😊
Thanks a lot I’ll look out for those next time
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 🤩
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
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!
Nice vid brought back lots of good memories.
Thanks Ashley!
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
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
Just done two vlogs from the area myself. Thought I’d have a look at what else was on TH-cam.
Nice one I’ll have a look 👍
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
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 !! 🤯
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 😭😂
Nice one Jack!
Thank you!
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
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
You should have visited the royal armouries in the fort on top of the hill.. its free and amazing.
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.
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.
th-cam.com/video/MOfBfQ_zC7k/w-d-xo.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....:-))
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
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
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?
Great place to live. Thanks for the vid.
Thanks a lot
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 👍
Loved this video. Looks an amazing place. 😊
Thanks Donna!
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
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!
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.
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 😩
They are doing the Ocoen hotel up now into apartments
Great view across the solent
That’s the main thing I love about this place!
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✌️
I live in Southsea. I love it here :)
It looks such a nice place to live!
Come back in summer , I’ll show you around and even take you to the best music hot spots and art venues. Also you can do the street art walk :-) we are the biggest city in terms of street art , it’s an awesome city
Helloh I am lockall I has gone to Southsea many times with family 😊😊😊
It’s a lovely place 😄
The big anchor was an original off of the Victory.
That’s amazing
Where the hell have you paid £6-£7 on the water pistols at the Arcade?
Cool vid fella
Thank you mate 😃