Gordon Knowles

Review of New Theatre Royal

In May 2018 I visited Portsmouth and walked round ...

In May 2018 I visited Portsmouth and walked round most of the city visiting the Historic dockyard also. I parked in the Park and Ride car park and jumped on a bus into Portsmouth. The first stop being St. Johns Catholic Cathedral in Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth PO1 3HQ. Followed by the Victoria Park an oasis in the middle of a built up city, 3 Stanhope rd, Portsmouth PO1 3QL Portsmouth then next was the City Council buildings Civic Offices, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2AL. There are so many interesting places to see around this part of Portsmouth.
The city's history can be traced back to Roman times. A significant naval port for centuries, Portsmouth has the world's oldest dry dock and was England's first line of defence during the French invasion in 1545. Special Palmerston Forts were built in 1859 in anticipation of another invasion from continental Europe. By the early-19th century, Portsmouth was the most heavily fortified city in the world, and was considered the world's greatest naval port at the height of the British Empire. The world's first mass production line was set up in the city, making it the most industrialised site in the world. During the Second World War, the city was a pivotal embarkation point for the D-Day landings and was bombed extensively in the Portsmouth Blitz, which resulted in the deaths of 930 people. In 1982, a large proportion of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands deployed from the city's naval base. Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia left the city to oversee the transfer of Hong Kong in 1997, which marked for many the end of the empire.
Portsmouth is one of the world's best known ports. HMNB Portsmouth is considered to be the home of the Royal Navy and is home to two-thirds of the UK's surface fleet. The city is home to some famous ships, including HMS Warrior, the Tudor Mary Rose and Horatio Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory ( he world's oldest naval ship still in commission ) The former HMS Vernon naval shore establishment has been redeveloped as a retail park known as Gunwharf Quays. Portsmouth is among the few British cities with two cathedrals: the Anglican Cathedral of St Thomas and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. The waterfront and Portsmouth Harbour are dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, one of the United Kingdom's tallest structures at 560 feet ( 170 mtr ). Nearby Southsea is a seaside resort with a pier amusement park and medieval castle.
Victoria Park was the first public park to be opened in Portsmouth. When the fortifications around Portsea were levelled, land was obtained by the Corporation from the War Office for a peoples park. Victoria Park was designed by Alexander McKenzie and was opened on 25th May, 1878. Situated just to the north of Portsmouth Guildhall, across the railway lines, is this beautiful Park. This park covers almost 15 acres and is planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. Victoria Park is flanked to the west by the towering glass clad ex Zurich Insurance building. To the south by the Guildhall and University buildings formerly the Municipal College. To the east, across Anglesea road are more University buildings and Naval establishments and finally to the north on Edinburgh Road is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John.
Guildhall Walk has many beautiful old buildings such as The Isambard Kingdom Brunel pub, Brewhouse and Kitchen pub, New Theatre Royal, The Astoria Night club then onto the modern buildings of University of Portsmouth University House, Winston Churchill Ave, Portsmouth PO1 2UP. Hampshire, England.