Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Portchester

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OS grid reference
  
SU6105

Country
  
England

Post town
  
FAREHAM

Local time
  
Friday 2:14 PM

Dialling code
  
0.017306245297215951

Region
  
South East

Sovereign state
  
United Kingdom

Shire county
  
Hampshire

District
  
Borough of Fareham

UK parliament constituency
  
Fareham

Portchester

Population
  
7,045 (2011 Census. Ward)

Weather
  
13°C, Wind NE at 24 km/h, 68% Humidity

Portchester castle uk drone footage in spectacular 4k


Portchester is a locality and suburb 6 km (4 mi) 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.

Contents

Map of Portchester, Fareham, UK

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Name

Portchester is derived from its former Latin name Portus Adurni and the Old English suffix ceaster ("fort; fortified town").

History

The fort of Portus Adurni is considered the best-preserved Roman fort north of the Alps. It is sometimes identified as the Cair Peris listed by the 9th-century History of the Britons as among the 28 cities of Britain. The mediaeval Portchester Castle was built within the Roman fort.

Amenities

As well as the castle, its parish church St Mary's is listed as a Grade I protected building. There are also many historic houses in Castle Street. This suburb is well placed for waterfront leisure activities, only a short distance from the UK's 3rd-largest marina at Port Solent, from the historic city of Portsmouth, and from the market town of Fareham.

Public open spaces

  • Portchester Castle
  • Portsdown Hill - Including Portchester Common a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
  • Wicor Recreation Ground - Home to A.F.C. Portchester and Wicor Skate Park.

    • Schools

  • Portchester Community School, a mixed comprehensive community school for 11- to 16-year-olds.
  • Wicor Primary School
  • Northern Infant School
  • Northern Junior School
  • Red Barn Primary School
  • Castle Primary School

    • Crematorium

    Opened in 1958, it is on the lower slopes of Portsdown Hill. It is owned by a Joint Committee representing the City of Portsmouth and the Boroughs of Fareham, Havant and Gosport. It has two chapels, the North (added 1969) and South (original). Those cremated there include two World War I Victoria Cross recipients, Norman Augustus Finch and James Ockendon who both died in 1966.

    Sport and leisure

    Portchester has a Non-League football club A.F.C. Portchester, which plays at Wicor Recreation Ground.

    Notable residents

  • Neil Astley, publisher and founding editor of Bloodaxe Books, born in Portchester
  • Emily Farmer, watercolour painter
  • Neil Gaiman, author, born in Portchester
  • Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive, Virgin Atlantic Airways
  • Mike Hancock, former MP for Portsmouth South and former Councillor for Fratton ward, has lived here for over 30 years

    • Rail

    Portchester railway station 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.

    Bus services

    First Hampshire & Dorset services to Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Titchfield, Locks Heath and Warsash

    Road

    The A27 road 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

    Sister Cities

    Portchester is twinned with:

  • Port Chester, New York (2010–present)

    • References

    Portchester Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA