Product Ref: MH-046
Portsmouth in the past by William Gates (second Hand)
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Portsmouth in the Past by William Gates is a richly detailed and warmly written exploration of the city’s long and eventful history, crafted by one of Portsmouth’s most dedicated chroniclers. Gates draws on decades of research, archival material, early maps, engravings, and his own deep familiarity with the streets and shoreline to recreate the Portsmouth that existed before modern redevelopment reshaped it. His narrative moves confidently through the centuries, beginning with the medieval town clustered around its church and market, then following the rise of the Royal Navy and the transformation of the harbour into a centre of national power. He lingers on the growth of the dockyard, the ebb and flow of local trades, the character of Old Portsmouth, and the many buildings, lanes, and communities that have since vanished.
Gates writes with clarity, affection, and a strong sense of place, making the city’s past vivid without overwhelming the reader. The book is enriched by a generous selection of illustrations that bring long‑lost scenes back into view, offering a visual anchor for anyone tracing family roots or researching the social fabric of the area. It is a volume that appeals equally to genealogists, local historians, collectors of Hampshire material, and readers who simply enjoy a well‑told story grounded in real landscapes and real lives.
Sought after for its blend of narrative warmth and historical precision, Portsmouth in the Past stands as an ideal introduction to the city’s heritage and a companion to Gates’s larger works. It remains a favourite among those who value books that preserve memory, illuminate place, and offer a window into the everyday world of earlier generations.
ISBN : 0715810634