Eastney
Encyclopedia
Eastney is a district located in the south east corner of Portsmouth
, England
on Portsea Island
.
Eastney started out as a small hamlet
. In 1867 a barracks
for the Royal Marines
was built in the hamlet. The small hamlet and surrounding farmland was developed and absorbed into Portsmouth in the period 1890-1905, with a network of streets built to house Marines and their families which spread west from the barracks site. The streets were mostly named after famous military and naval engagements in which the Royal Marines had taken part. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was and still remains a concentration of pubs in the area; two actually opposite the former barracks gate, one named the Royal Marine Artillery. Other pubs in the area include The Alma and The Three Marines.
Due to the heavy bombing suffered by Portsmouth
during the Second World War many displaced people found refuge along the north shore of Eastney Lake. Living in makeshift houseboats, converted railway carriages and fisherman huts. Many of these homes lacking the basic amenities of electricity and plumbed water supplies. The community survived into the mid and late 1960s when the City Council finally began to decant families onto its newly built housing estates in Leigh Park
and Paulsgrove
.
The area is home to the Royal Marines Museum
and Eastney Beam Engine House
.
Eastney is also home to an unofficial Naturist Beach, although it may be under some threat from property development.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on Portsea Island
Portsea Island
Portsea Island is a small, flat and low lying island just off the south coast of England. The island is totally within, and contains a large proportion of, the city of Portsmouth. It has the third-largest population of any island in the British Isles, after the mainlands of Great Britain and...
.
Eastney started out as a small hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
. In 1867 a barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
for the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
was built in the hamlet. The small hamlet and surrounding farmland was developed and absorbed into Portsmouth in the period 1890-1905, with a network of streets built to house Marines and their families which spread west from the barracks site. The streets were mostly named after famous military and naval engagements in which the Royal Marines had taken part. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was and still remains a concentration of pubs in the area; two actually opposite the former barracks gate, one named the Royal Marine Artillery. Other pubs in the area include The Alma and The Three Marines.
Due to the heavy bombing suffered by Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
during the Second World War many displaced people found refuge along the north shore of Eastney Lake. Living in makeshift houseboats, converted railway carriages and fisherman huts. Many of these homes lacking the basic amenities of electricity and plumbed water supplies. The community survived into the mid and late 1960s when the City Council finally began to decant families onto its newly built housing estates in Leigh Park
Leigh Park
Leigh Park is a large suburb of Havant, in Hampshire, England. It has four electoral wards: Battins, Bondfields, Barncroft and Warren Park ....
and Paulsgrove
Paulsgrove
Paulsgrove is an area of northern Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Paulsgrove existed as a small hamlet on the old Portsmouth to Southampton road for many years. During the early twentieth century Paulsgrove Racecourse was built north of the village on the slopes of Portsdown Hill and a halt built...
.
The area is home to the Royal Marines Museum
Royal Marines Museum
The Royal Marines Museum is located in Eastney , England, and is open to the public every day of the week throughout the year apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day...
and Eastney Beam Engine House
Eastney beam engine house
Eastney Beam Engine House is a Grade II -listed Victorian engine house in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Dating from 1887, it contains two 150hp James Watt & Co. beam engines. The pumps were built as part of a plan to improve Portsmouth's sewage system. The other element of the plan was large...
.
Eastney is also home to an unofficial Naturist Beach, although it may be under some threat from property development.