Archives Records and Collections
Royal Navy Submarine Museum Gosport
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport provides a unique opportunity to explore a part of maritime history that most of us know little about, operating deep beneath the oceans surface, submarines are hidden from the world. Across the water from Portsmouth, take a walk through the streets of Gosport and it doesn’t take long…
Read MoreHurst Castle
A Bracing walk along Hurst Spit is rewarded with the chance to explore one of King Henry VIII’s strategically built castles, Hurst Castle Hurst Castle was built in the perfect location from which to defend the western approach to the Solent. The castle was just one of a chain of castles built to defend the…
Read MoreOld Portsmouth Photograph Commercial Road Hampshire UK
Here is just an example of genuine old photographs available in our Hampshire History Archives…
Read MoreThe Tudor House Southampton
The Tudor House Southampton The Tudor House is one of the oldest and most spendid, buildings in Southampton built in approximately 1495 when King Henry VII was on the thrown and was commissioning the world’s first dry dock in nearby Portsmouth. The site originally belonged to John Whytegod, a wealthy merchant and property owner, who,…
Read MorePortsmouth Harbour 1782
The artist Dominic Serres painted the scene at Portsmouth Harbour in 1782 as HMS Foudroyant and Pegase come into the harbour after their battle in the English Channel.
Read MoreSelborne
Selborne in Hampshire, an ancient place in the beautiful Hangars of Hampshire. Home to the naturalist Gilbert White and backdrop to the notorious swing riots, the village has a plethora of magnificent buildings to admire. Take the historic Selborne walk, immerse yourself in the writings of Gilbert White or partake of refreshment in one of the lovely Hampshire Pubs, full of history themselves.
Read MoreCowdray Engravings of Portsmouth
The Cowdray Engravings reveal great detail of King Henry VIII’s French campaign and the sinking of the Mary Rose but it is the work done by a team from the Geography department of the University of Portsmouth that has revealed even more
Read MoreJohn Young Dean of Winchester 1616
What connection can be made between Winchester Cathedral and Exton, a small village in the Meon Valley? Can you solve the chronogram found on the memorial to Dean Young and how does it all connect with the village of Soberton. More intriguing Hampshire history.
Read MoreSamuel Pepys and the Commissioner of The Dockyard Portsmouth 1665
This snippet relates to correspondence written by Thomas Middleton in 1665 (the time Of Newton) regarding the lack of seamen to man the ships in Portsmouth, as with many correspondents throughout the ages Mr Middleton appeared to actively dislike Portsmouth… “For my part to you as a frinde I declayre I intend not to make…
Read MoreWinchester Bible
It is thought Henry de Blois commissioned the stunning Winchester Illuminated Bible. From the text to the illuminations, it is quite possibly the most beautiful piece of C12th artwork in Europe
Read MorePetersfield’s Ancient Charter
The ancient charter granting Petersfield in Hampshire the right to hold a market owes its existence to William Earl of Gloucester
Read MoreBishop Woodlock’s Ring
The ring of Bishop Woodlock was found in his grave in Winchester Cathedral and is considered to be the finest Gothic Episcopal ring in Europe
Read MoreHampshire ‘Feet of Fines’
‘Feet of Fines’ documents for Hampshire date back to 1199 and give surnames and placenames of people living in Hampshire in the Medieval period. These are important resources for Hampshire History and help to build a picture of community and settlement in the county.
Read MoreHampshire Domesday
The history of C11th Hampshire is contained within Domesday, which gives a rich picture of life in the county nearly a thousand years ago
Read MoreKing Edward the Confessor grants Hides at Micheldever to New Minster 900
example of the King granting via Royal Charter land to the Church at Micheldever in the 10th Century with link to the original Old English
Read MoreDipnol Dipnall Dipnell Family Name of Hampshire
Dipnalls from whence do they hail? Where does the name originate from and does it have place and family history significance that is relevant and prevalent in Hampshire, here is a quick introduction, find out how to find more information and how we are looking to find out names that are local and significant in Hampshire Family History, as far back as we can trace…
Read MoreDesmaretz Map Portsmouth 1744
Demaretz was an engineer and map maker who spent most of his career fortifying the south east coast of England
Read MoreThe Shaftsbury Bowl
The Shaftsbury Bowl, the only complete piece of late Saxon glass in England, can be found in Winchester Cathedral museum
Read More