The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.2 | Sept 2023

Local Group Programmes

substantially more. Thomas’s legitimate daughter Frances marries Peter Jewell junior in 1773 and in the early 1780s both the Jewell men and Thomas Rogers are churchwardens, so are pillars of the community. This talk emphasises the challenges of eighteenth-century records, their completeness and where to find them. Richard also covered morality issues of the times and we were encouraged to vote and give opinion on circumstances around some of these. The talk was indeed a tale of scandal and intrigue, bringing family history to life and keeping the attendees entertained.

Contact: Tony Sinclair Tel: 07518 183211 winchester@hgs-online.org.uk

Winchester

Meetings are normally at 7:15pm on 3rd Thursdays in the Littleton Millennium Hall.

(April) Portsmouth - Harlots, Dung & Glory – Andrew Negus Andrew Negus had everyone completely absorbed by the facts and graphics. Andrew is undoubtedly a brilliant speaker who did not disappoint with the tales of how Portsmouth grew from nothing. It was made a borough by Richard I in 1194 and grew from then, with several small villages, such as Copnor and Froddington, now called Fratton. Over the following years it became what we now know as a big city. The area was the gateway back to France for the Normans. Andrew told of Portchester Castle which was built in 1100 by Henry I and the Domus Dei or St Nicholas Hospital now known as the Royal Garrison Church. The term hospital was not as we would understand today but somewhere for visitors to stay on their way back from a pilgrimage. In 1215 King John created the Dockyard, which was important in maintaining ships ready for war. There were regular hangings, which were quicker and cheaper than prison. 1338 saw the start of the 100 years war with French attacks which saw Portsmouth burned down twice. To prevent the French invading, Henry V built the Round Tower, using French stone with a chain of iron from here to the corresponding tower in Gosport. The chain was tightened to stop the French getting in. Henry VII created a new Dockyard so that Portsmouth could build ships in here, which saw the start of the Royal Navy. Henry VIII and his Tudor workers continued building and extending the defences, with one being Southsea Castle which was built too low to avoid fire from foreign ships. Henry had many ships built here whereas Elizabeth I preferred to use Chatham. Ships from the East India Company anchored at Spithead with a lot of trades being started on Point. Over the following years, the murder of The Duke of Buckingham (George Villiers) by John Felton was particularly gruesome both the murder and the treatment of the murderer who was tried and gibbeted. The Duke was buried in Westminster Abbey with a large memorial in Portsmouth Cathedral.

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