Portchester
Encyclopedia
Portchester is a locality
and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth
, England
. It is part of the borough of Fareham
in Hampshire
. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation
between Portsmouth and Southampton
, on the A27
main thoroughfare. Its population according to the 2001 Census
was approximately 17,000 residents.
The fort of Portus Adurni
, now Portchester Castle
, is considered the finest example of a Roman
fort in Western Europe, and saw continued use over the next sixteen centuries. The Roman walls enclose a Norman
keep and a church. The name Portchester is of partly Roman origin, from Latin portus (a harbour) and Old English ceaster (Roman town or castle).
As well as the castle, its parish church St Mary's and the abundance of historic houses in Castle Street, this suburb is well placed for waterfront leisure activities, being only a short distance from the UK's third largest marina at 'Port Solent
', and from the historic city of Portsmouth
and the market town of Fareham
.
is managed and operated by South West Trains
with frequent Southern Railway
services. Services run along the coast to Southampton
, Fareham
, Portsmouth
, Havant
, Chichester
and Brighton
. London services to London Waterloo (via Fareham) and London Victoria (via Barnham) also stop at the station.
services to Portsmouth
, Havant
, Fareham
, Titchfield
, Locks Heath
and Warsash
cuts through the centre of Portchester running east/west between Fareham and Cosham on the northern outskirts of Portsmouth. Access to the M27 motorway
is via Junction 11 at Fareham or Junction 12 at Port Solent
Locality
Locality may refer to:* Locality, a.k.a. human settlement* Locality of reference in computer-science data-access issue* Locality * Locality * Locality, physics concept re principle of locality* Locality in astronomy...
and suburb 10km northwest of 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...
, 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...
. It is part of the borough of Fareham
Fareham (borough)
Fareham is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Fareham. Other places within the Borough include Portchester, Stubbington, Hill Head, Titchfield, Warsash, Locks Heath, Sarisbury and half of Whiteley...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
between Portsmouth and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, on the A27
A27 road
The A27 is a major road in England. It runs from its junction with the A36 at Whiteparish in the county of Wiltshire. It closely parallels the south coast, where it passes through West Sussex and terminates at Pevensey in East Sussex.Between Portsmouth and Lewes, it is one of the busiest trunk...
main thoroughfare. Its population according to the 2001 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
was approximately 17,000 residents.
The fort of Portus Adurni
Portus Adurni
Portus Adurni was a Roman fortress in the Roman province of Britannia. Listed in the Notitia Dignitatum, it is generally accepted as having been located at adjoining Portchester in the English county of Hampshire and was later converted into a medieval castle known as Portchester Castle...
, now Portchester Castle
Portchester Castle
Portchester Castle is a medieval castle built within a former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire. Probably founded in the late 11th century, Portchester was a baronial castle that was taken under royal control in 1154. The monarchy controlled...
, is considered the finest example of a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
fort in Western Europe, and saw continued use over the next sixteen centuries. The Roman walls enclose a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
keep and a church. The name Portchester is of partly Roman origin, from Latin portus (a harbour) and Old English ceaster (Roman town or castle).
As well as the castle, its parish church St Mary's and the abundance of historic houses in Castle Street, this suburb is well placed for waterfront leisure activities, being only a short distance from the UK's third largest marina at 'Port Solent
Port Solent
Port Solent is an area of Portsmouth, Hampshire, comprising a marina and luxury housing estate. The development is located on the western side of Horsea Island, in the north of Portsmouth Harbour, and was built in the 1980s on reclaimed land formerly used as a landfill site...
', and from the historic city of 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...
and the market town of Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
.
Schools
- Portchester Community SchoolPortchester Community SchoolPortchester Community School is a mixed comprehensive community school for 11–16 year olds in Portchester, England.- External links :***...
- mixed comprehensive community school for 11–16 year olds.
Notable residents
- Neil AstleyNeil AstleyNeil Astley is a British publisher, editor and writer.-Life and work:Astley grew up in Fareham, Hampshire, and was educated at Price's School, Fareham , the Alliance Française, Paris , and Newcastle University...
, publisher and founding editor of Bloodaxe Books, born in Portchester - Emily FarmerEmily FarmerEmily Farmer was an English watercolour painter.She was one of three children of John Biker Farmer, who worked for the East India Company, and his wife Frances Ann...
, watercolour painter - Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, author, born in Portchester - Steve RidgwaySteve RidgwayStephen Ridgway CBE is the chief executive officer of Virgin Atlantic Airways.-Early life:He grew up on a farm in Bantham near Salcombe. He went to school in Kingsbridge, south Devon, and later prep school in Tavistock and at Newton Abbot College.He gained an Economics BSc degree from Oxford...
, Chief Executive, Virgin Atlantic Airways - Mike HancockMike HancockMichael Thomas Hancock, CBE , known as Mike Hancock, is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South and a City councillor for Fratton ward.-Early life:...
, MP for Portsmouth South and Councillor for Fratton ward, has lived here for over 30 years.
Rail
Portchester railway stationPortchester railway station
Portchester railway station is situated to the east of Fareham in Hampshire, England. It was first opened by the LSWR in 1848 on their line from Fareham to Portsmouth.- Services :...
is managed and operated by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
with frequent Southern Railway
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
services. Services run along the coast to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
, 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...
, Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
, Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
and Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. London services to London Waterloo (via Fareham) and London Victoria (via Barnham) also stop at the station.
Bus services
First Hampshire & DorsetFirst Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset is a subsidiary bus company within FirstGroup, which operates buses and trains throughout Great Britain.First Hampshire & Dorset has its head office in Empress Road, Southampton and operates bus services in the Weymouth and Bridport areas in Dorset; and services in...
services to 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...
, Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
, Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
, Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
, Locks Heath
Locks Heath
Locks Heath is a western residential suburb of Fareham, in the south of Hampshire, England. It lies to the southeast of Sarisbury east of Warsash, to the west of Titchfield, and to the south of Park Gate and Swanwick...
and Warsash
Warsash
Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club...
Road
The A27 roadA27 road
The A27 is a major road in England. It runs from its junction with the A36 at Whiteparish in the county of Wiltshire. It closely parallels the south coast, where it passes through West Sussex and terminates at Pevensey in East Sussex.Between Portsmouth and Lewes, it is one of the busiest trunk...
cuts through the centre of Portchester running east/west between Fareham and Cosham on the northern outskirts of Portsmouth. Access to the M27 motorway
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
is via Junction 11 at Fareham or Junction 12 at Port Solent
Port Solent
Port Solent is an area of Portsmouth, Hampshire, comprising a marina and luxury housing estate. The development is located on the western side of Horsea Island, in the north of Portsmouth Harbour, and was built in the 1980s on reclaimed land formerly used as a landfill site...
See also
- Portchester Community SchoolPortchester Community SchoolPortchester Community School is a mixed comprehensive community school for 11–16 year olds in Portchester, England.- External links :***...
- A.F.C. PortchesterA.F.C. PortchesterA.F.C. Portchester is a football club based in the Portsmouth suburb of Portchester, Hampshire, England.-History:The club was established in 1976 as Wicor Mill F.C. playing in local leagues. They joined the Hampshire League in 1998 after having a number of previous applications rejected...
- Trafalgar Wharf, Portchester, PortsmouthTrafalgar Wharf, Portchester, PortsmouthTrafalgar Wharf is a shipyard in Portsmouth accommodating marine engineering businesses ranging from sailmakers and boat brokers to boat builders. It was formerly the VT Halmatic shipyard, owned by VT Group and latterly by BVT Surface Fleet.-History:...