Portsmouth & Arundel Canal and the Chichester Ship Canal: A Portrait
Portsea Canal
Distance: Milton to Halfway Houses 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Background
This length of canal crossed the southern part of Portsea Island to give boats access to the town of Portsmouth and the naval dockyard. Construction of the Portsea Canal started in 1818 and it was opened on 19 September 1822.
The canal was built to what were then small ship canal standards to accommodate sailing vessels of up to 150 tons. There were the two locks at the entrance from Langstone Harbour at Milton that admitted boats up to 101 feet x 24 feet 1 inch (30.8 x 7.3m) raising them 12 feet (3.6m) above off-spring high water level. All seven bridges along the canal were originally cast iron swivel (or swing) bridges to allow masted vessels to pass. It appears that was a towing path on each side of the waterway.
By 1824, the canal company had become embroiled in disputes with the contractors who built the waterway complaining that work had not been completed satisfactorily and withholding payments. This eventually led to the contractors refusing to carry out remedial work.
There were soon complaints about local fresh water supplies being contaminated with salt water seeping from the canal. The company had insufficient funds to stop this leakage so it was forced to stop pumping and drain the canal in 1827. The canal had been abandoned by 1830 as the canal company had turned to making Portsbridge Creek navigable to gain access to Portsmouth Harbour (see the page about the Portsbridge Creek).
Proposal for the Portsea Canal
This map formed part of the proposals for the line of the canal drawn by the brothers Netlam & Francis Giles under the direction of John Rennie.
Image date: 1815. Image from Wikipedia. Centre of map: Approx NG Ref: SZ660997. Approx WGS84: 50° 47′ 35″ N, 1° 03′ 54″ W.
Proposal for the Portsea Canal
This map formed part of the proposals for the line of the canal drawn by the brothers Netlam & Francis Giles under the direction of John Rennie.
Image date: 1815.
Centre of map: Approx NG Ref: SZ660997.
Approx WGS84: 50° 47′ 35″ N, 1° 03′ 54″ W.
(47.2KB)
Map: Portsea Canal
This map dates from 1833 soon after the canal was abandoned. Already the basin at Halfway Houses had been filled in.
Image date: 1833. Image from Wikimedia. Centre of map: Approx NG Ref: SZ661999. Approx WGS84: 50° 47′ 45″ N, 1° 03′ 45″ W.
Map: Portsea Canal
This map dates from 1833 soon after the canal was abandoned. Already the basin at Halfway Houses had been filled in.
Image date: 1833.
Centre of map: Approx NG Ref: SZ661999.
Approx WGS84: 50° 47′ 45″ N, 1° 03′ 45″ W.
(67.5KB)
Milton Locks
There were the two locks at the entrance from Langstone Harbour at Milton. The remains of the entrance lock at Milton are still visible and are Grade 2 listed - contemporary documents refer to this structure as Sea or Second Lock. The site of the other lock, referred to as First or Upper Lock, seems to have been overbuilt in the 1960s. This area is still known locally as Milton Locks.
The head of Sea Lock
The remains of the upper gates at Sea Lock seen in about 1900 with Lime Kiln Cottages beyond. The cottages were demolished in the late 1960s.
Image date: c1900. © 2023 Yahoo News UK. Image from The changing face of Milton in 36 photos. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 19″ W.
The head of Sea Lock
The remains of the upper gates at Sea Lock seen in about 1900 with Lime Kiln Cottages beyond. The cottages were demolished in the late 1960s.
Image date: c1900.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 19″ W.
(69.2KB)
The head of Sea Lock
The remains of the upper gates at Sea Lock retain some of the water in the canal.
Image date: Before 1914. © 2020 Portsmouth Historic Environment Record. Image from Facebook. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 21″ W.
The head of Sea Lock
The remains of the upper gates at Sea Lock retain some of the water in the canal.
Image date: c1900.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 21″ W.
(40.9KB)
Remains of Sea Lock, Milton
This is the Grade 2 listed remains of the tidal lock that was the entrance to the Portsea Canal.
Image date: 14 Feb 2015. © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
Remains of lock, Milton
This is the tidal lock that was the entrance to the Portsea Canal.
Image date: 14 Feb 2015.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
(68.4KB)
Lock Gate
This piece of wood is said to be the last surviving timber of one of the original lock gates at Sea Lock.
Image date: 26 Nov 2022. © 2023 Tim Sheerman-Chase (cc by 2.0). Image from www.flickr.com. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
Lock Gate
This piece of wood is said to be the last surviving timber of one of the original lock gates at Sea Lock.
Image date: 26 Nov 2022.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
(106.0KB)
Portsea Canal at Milton
Running inland, this and the lock are the only remaining parts of the canal that contain water (at high tide). The second lock was opposite the Old Oyster House pub and its site has been built over.
Image date: 14 Feb 2015. © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
Portsea Canal at Milton
This and the lock are the only remaining parts of the canal that contain water (at high tide).
Image date: 14 Feb 2015.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
(82.0KB)
Canal in water
Boats of the Langstone Harbour Fishermen’s Association afloat when the canal floods at high tide above Sea Lock.
Image date: 26 Nov 2022. © 2023 Tim Sheerman-Chase (cc by 2.0). Image from www.flickr.com. NG Ref: SZ678999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
Canal in water
Boats of the Langstone Harbour Fishermen’s Association afloat when the canal floods at high tide above Sea Lock.
Image date: 26 Nov 2022.
NG Ref: SZ678999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 02′ 20″ W.
(49.3KB)
Milton Creek
This post card shows the pound above Sea Lock seen from near the Upper Lock.
Image date: Before 1927. Image from postcard posted in 1927. NG Ref: SZ677998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 22″ W.
Milton Creek
This post card shows the pound above Sea Lock seen from near the Upper Lock.
Image date: Before 1927.
NG Ref: SZ677998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 22″ W.
(48.2KB)
The Thatched House
A pub called the Thatched House has stood between the canal and the tidal Milton Lake for at least 200 years although the present pub, which is not thatched, stands a little east of the site of its predecessor.
Image date: 25 Sep 2011. © Steve Daniels (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ677998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 02′ 25″ W.
The Thatched House
A pub called the Thatched House has stood between the canal and the tidal Milton Lake for at least 200 years.
Image date: Sep 2011.
NG Ref: SZ677998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 02′ 25″ W.
(53.8KB)
Site of Upper Lock
The site of Upper Lock lies under the block of three houses on the right and a small part of the grounds of the building of The Society of St James beyond.
Image date: Jul 2019. © 2023 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ676998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 31″ W.
Site of Upper Lock
The site of Upper Lock lies under the block of three houses on the right and a small part of the grounds of the building of The Society of St James beyond.
Image date: Jul 2019.
NG Ref: SZ676998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 31″ W.
(50.7KB)
Old Oyster House pub sign
This 1930 pub, on the north side of Locksway Road near the site of Upper Lock, replaced another of the same name dating from the early 19th century. The pub sign portrays the Sea Lock.
Image date: 17 Sep 2012. © Shazz (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ676998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 28″ W.
Old Oyster House pub sign
This 1930 pub, on the north side of Locksway Road near the site of Upper Lock, replaced another of the same name dating from the early 19th century. The pub sign portrays the Sea Lock.
Image date: 17 Sep 2012.
NG Ref: SZ676998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 40″ N, 1° 02′ 28″ W.
(42.7KB)
Milton Locks to Eastney Road
As at Ford on the “Barge Canal”, there was a pumping station powered by a 40 horsepower steam beam engine to raise water to fill the canal, in this case from a well linked to the tidal Eastney Lake. This engine was just under a quarter of a mile (0.3km) from the Sea Lock and on the south side of the former canal just west of the modern road Waterlock Gardens.
Next to the engine, lie what was a pair of semi-detached houses adjacent to the former pumping station for the lock keeper and the pump engineman built in 1820-21. These houses still stand (now as a single private dwelling) and called “The Engine House”. For many years these were thought to be the pumping station.
However, the recent discovery of Rennie’s original drawings show that the pumping station building was of a different size and design - virtually identical to the pumping station at Ford. The valuable beam engine and pump would almost certainly have been sold when the canal was abandoned and it is likely this involved demolishing the building which would have formed part of the structure of the engine and pump. An Ordnance Survey map of 1860 shows a well about 20 yards or so north-east of the houses which is likely to have been the pump’s site.
Continuing south-westwards, the line of the former waterway follows the south side of Locksway Road where most of the houses are built on the canal bed.
When Locksway Road bends to the west, a public footpath follows the line of the towing path along the north side of the canal, the bed of which is now occupied by housing. There used to be a second towing path on the south side of the canal but some parts, particularly at the eastern end, are no longer passable. Only a short length of it near Eastney Road is designated as a public right of way although some other parts are well used.
Half a mile (0.8km) from Sea Lock, the canal crosses a road which is today called Ironbridge Lane and indeed the canal was crossed here by means of a cast iron swing bridge. On an OS map revised in 1896 this road is called Enginehouse Lane. The original survey of this map dating from 1865 shows a road or track along the south side of the canal to the Engine House but this access was no longer shown on the later map.
After a further third of a mile (0.5km), the path reaches the junction of Milton and Eastney Roads (A288) and Goldsmith Avenue (formerly part of the A2030 but now designated B2153).
The Engine House
This white building, built in 1820-1, was long considered to have housed the 40HP steam engine and pump complete with living quarters but this is now considered incorrect. It is quite likely that pumphouse was around 20 yards/metres to the east.
Image date: 30 Nov 2022. © 2023 Tim Sheerman-Chase (cc by 2.0). Image from www.flickr.com. NG Ref: SZ674997. WGS84: 50° 47′ 37″ N, 1° 02′ 37″ W.
The Engine House
This white building, built in 1820-1, was long considered to have housed the 40HP steam engine and pump complete with living quarters but this is now considered incorrect.
Image date: 30 Nov 2022.
NG Ref: SZ674997.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 37″ N, 1° 02′ 37″ W.
(89.1KB)
Locksway Road, Milton
Looking east along Locksway Road, the houses on the right are built over the bed of the canal. The road is on the north side of the former northern towing path.
Image date: 8 Dec 2013. © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ674998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 02′ 41″ W.
Locksway Road, Milton
Looking east along Locksway Road, the houses on the right are built over the bed of the canal.
Image date: 8 Dec 2013.
NG Ref: SZ674998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 02′ 41″ W.
(61.5KB)
Towing path of the Portsea Canal
This is a view south-westwards along the course of the towing path that ran along the north bank of the canal.
Image date: 14 Feb 2015. © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ672997. WGS84: 50° 47′ 36″ N, 1° 02′ 51″ W.
Towing path of the Portsea Canal
This is a view south-westwards along the course of the towing path that ran along the north bank of the canal.
Image date: 14 Feb 2015.
NG Ref: SZ672997.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 36″ N, 1° 02′ 51″ W.
(64.5KB)
Ironbridge Lane
A southward view of the site of a swing bridge across the canal in Ironbridge Lane between the two blocks of houses where the roadway narrows.
Image date: Aug 2021. © 2023 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ670997. WGS84: 50° 47′ 36″ N, 1° 02′ 58″ W.
Ironbridge Lane
A southward view of the site of a swing bridge across the canal in Ironbridge Lane between the two blocks of houses.
Image date: Aug 2023.
NG Ref: SZ670997.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 36″ N, 1° 02′ 58″ W.
(50.5KB)
Old Canal Inn
This pub lies about 150 yards (140m) south of the course of the canal at the junction of Shirley Avenue and Maurice Road. Not built until 1930, it is reported closed.
Image date: 17 Feb 2012. © Shazz (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ670996. WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 02″ W.
Old Canal Inn
This pub lies about 150 yards (140m) south of the course of the canal and was not built until 1930, but is reported closed.
Image date: 17 Feb 2012.
NG Ref: SZ670996.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 02″ W.
(58.2KB)
The end of Pleasant Road
Looking eastwards, the site of the northern towing path can be seen on the left whilst at the other end of the block of houses lies the southern path in use at this point.
Image date: Aug 2023. © 2023 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ669996. WGS84: 50° 47′ 35″ N, 1° 03′ 06″ W.
The end of Pleasant Road
Looking eastwards, the site of the northern towing path can be seen on the left whilst at the other end of the block of houses lies the the southern path in use at this point.
Image date: Aug 2023.
NG Ref: SZ669996.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 35″ N, 1° 03′ 06″ W.
(55.6KB)
Route of canal at Eastney Road
The canal, much of which was infilled in 1896, crossed Eastney Lane (as it was then known) under a swing bridge.
Image date: 11 Sep 2016. © 2024 Google. Image from Google Earth. NG Ref: SZ665996. WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 28″ W.
Route of canal at Eastney Road
The canal, much of which was infilled in 1896, crossed Eastney Lane (as it was then known) under a swing bridge.
Image date: 11 Sep 2016.
NG Ref: SZ665996.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 28″ W.
(102.6KB)
Eastney Road to Fratton
Almost the whole of the road was built along the line of the canal much of which was infilled in 1896. At the roundabout with Fratton Way, Goldsmith Avenue, when built, diverged slightly from the the line of the canal in order to cross a bridge over the Southsea Branch railway via a dog-leg. The railway had been opened in 1885, closed at the start of war in 1914 and was dismantled in 1923. The bridge seems to have been demolished in 1925 and the road was straightened to its present course. Westwards, the road ran along the north side of the former canal. Just west of Fratton Station, the canal’s course crosses Goldsmith Avenue to join the line of the railway passing under Fratton Bridge.
Eastney Road crossing
A view from the west of the point where the canal was crossed by a swing bridge carrying Eastney Road, 200 years ago known as Eastney Lane.
Image date: 28 May 2019. © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SZ665996. WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 28″ W.
Eastney Road crossing
A view from the west of the point where the canal was crossed by a swing bridge carrying Eastney Road, 200 years ago known as Eastney Lane.
Image date: 28 May 2019.
NG Ref: SZ665996.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 32″ N, 1° 03′ 28″ W.
(55.3KB)
Goldsmith Avenue
This road was built along the line of the canal, which was infilled in 1896, for just over three quarters of a mile (1.3km).
Image date: May 2017. © 2022 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ662997. WGS84: 50° 47′ 37″ N, 1° 03′ 41″ W.
Goldsmith Avenue
This road was built on the filled in line of the canal for just over three quarters of a mile.
Image date: May 2017.
NG Ref: SZ662997.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 37″ N, 1° 03′ 41″ W.
(61.4KB)
The next swing bridge
At the next crossroads, next to which The Shepherd’s Crook pub now stands, there was another swing bridge.
Image date: Aug 2023. © 2024 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ661997. WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 03′ 44″ W.
The next swing bridge
At the next crossroads, next to which The Shepherd’s Crook pub now stands, there was another swing bridge.
Image date: Aug 2023.
NG Ref: SZ661997.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 38″ N, 1° 03′ 44″ W.
(57.4KB)
Former canal beside the road
By the roundabout at Fratton Way the course of the road leaves the line of the canal to run just to the north of it. The petrol station and Lidl just beyond it sit on the course of the waterway.
Image date: Aug 2023. © 2025 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ657998. WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 04′ 06″ W.
Former canal beside the road
By the roundabout at Fratton Way the course of the road leaves the line of the canal to run just to the north of it.
Image date: Aug 2023.
NG Ref: SZ657998.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 41″ N, 1° 04′ 06″ W.
(57.9KB)
Fratton Station
South-west of Fratton railway station, these new flats on the left sit on the site of the canal but where the road curves left, the waterway's straight course crosses Goldsmith Avenue to join the railway line on the east side of Fratton Bridge.
Image date: Mar 2022. © 2025 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SZ653999. WGS84: 50° 47′ 45″ N, 1° 04′ 26″ W.
Fratton Station
South-west of Fratton railway station, these new flats on the left sit on the site of the canal but where the road curves left, the waterway's course crosses Goldsmith Avenue to join the railway line on the east side of Fratton Bridge.
Image date: Mar 2022.
NG Ref: SZ653999.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 45″ N, 1° 04′ 26″ W.
(81.3KB)
Fratton Bridge
Seen on a misty day, Fratton Bridge over the railway is the site of the fourth swing bridge over the canal which was known as Keith Bridge.
Image date: 22 Feb 2019. © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU653000. WGS84: 50° 47′ 46″ N, 1° 04′ 27″ W.
Fratton Bridge
Seen on a misty day, Fratton Bridge over the railway is the site of the fourth swing bridge over the canal.
Image date: 22 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU653000.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 46″ N, 1° 04′ 27″ W.
(79.2KB)
Fratton to Halfway Houses
West of Fratton railway station, the railway was built along the canal in the 1840s almost as far as Portsmouth & Southsea station. On the north side of the railway runs a road (part pedestrians and cyclists only) which may have replaced the northern towing path when the railway was built. The western part of this road is called Canal Walk.
Today, two bridges cross the railway west of Fratton. The eastern bridge is modern and carries Holbrook Road over the railway. Just west of this is an older bridge built by the railway company that carries Somers Road which joins Canal Walk. This replaced a swing bridge known to the canal company as Turner Bridge when the road it carried was known as Green Lane.
When Canal Walk bears away from the railway, it follows the line of the canal. The canal ran just on the east side of what was to become Upper Arundel Street before turning westward to run into the terminal basin at a place that used to be called Halfway Houses. This basin was east of what is now Commercial Street and on the south side of Arundel Street. Both of these roads are now pedestrianised in this area. Arundel Street was laid out when the basin was filled in for development in 1829-30. It has been suggested that the road gained its name from the name of the canal company.
The basin’s dimensions are said to have been 517ft x 77ft (157.6m x 23.5m) and extended for most of today’s pedestrianised length of Arundel Street and between it and Lower Church Path. However, the canal’s locks could accommodate vessels up to about 101 feet (30.8m) in length which means such boats would have been unable to turn round. It is highly unlikely that skippers would happy with being towed backwards for nearly 2½ miles with their vulnerable rudder pointing forwards. So at least part of the basin must have been wider to allow ships to be turned around. A sketch map drawn in 1823 shows the basin was not rectangular.
When the canal was being planned, it was envisaged that a second basin would be required but in the event it was not constructed. The basin would have been built in the area around Upper Arundel Street and north of the road that later became named Railway View and is now part of Bridport Street. A toll office was built at the junction of these two roads and would have been at the south end of this proposed second basin to enable the toll collector to deal with all vessels entering and leaving the basins. Used as a shop for some time, this toll office survived until 1960 when the area was subject to slum clearance.
Railway was once a canal
This section of railway west of Fratton Bridge was once part of the Portsea Canal.
Image date: Sep 1994. © 2022 The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society. Image from Mark Richards. NG Ref: SU648001. WGS84: 50° 47′ 50″ N, 1° 04′ 51″ W.
Railway was once a canal
This section of railway west of Fratton Bridge was once part of the Portsea Canal.
Image date: Sep 1994.
NG Ref: SU648001.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 50″ N, 1° 04′ 51″ W.
(110.1KB)
Somers Road Bridge
Looking east from Canal Walk at the 1847 railway bridge that replaced the Turner Swing Bridge over the canal.
Image date: Jul 2023. © 2024 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SU648001. WGS84: 50° 47′ 51″ N, 1° 04′ 54″ W.
Somers Road Bridge
Looking east from Canal Walk at the 1847 railway bridge that replaced the Turner Swing Bridge over the canal.
Image date: Jul 2023.
NG Ref: SU648001.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 51″ N, 1° 04′ 54″ W.
(61.9KB)
Canal Walk
About 300 yards (270m) short of Portsmouth & Southsea station the canal swung towards the north-west and Canal Walk also swings beside its course.
Image date: Mar 2022. © 2023 Google. Image from Google Streetview. NG Ref: SU646001. WGS84: 50° 47′ 51″ N, 1° 05′ 01″ W.
Canal Walk
About 300 yards (270m) short of Portsmouth & Southsea station the canal swung towards the north-west and Canal Walk also swings beside its course.
Image date: Mar 2022.
NG Ref: SU646001.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 51″ N, 1° 05′ 01″ W.
(61.9KB)
The site of Burrell Swing Bridge
The present day junction of Canal Walk, Railway View on the right, Bridport Street and Upper Arundel Street to the left of the hedge. The bridge was in the vicinity of today’s hedge.
Image date: Jul 2023. © 2024 Google. Image from Google Maps. NG Ref: SU645002. WGS84: 50° 47′ 53″ N, 1° 05′ 07″ W.
The site of Burrell Swing Bridge
The present day junction of Canal Walk, Railway View on the right, Bridport Street and Upper Arundel Street to the left of the hedge. The bridge was in the vicinity of today’s hedge.
Image date: Jul 2023.
NG Ref: SU645002.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 53″ N, 1° 05′ 07″ W.
(81.2KB)
Old toll house
The old canal toll house at the junction of Upper Arundel Street and Railway View (now part of Bridport Street). It remained in situ as a shop for many years after the canal’s demise and was demolished in 1960 during slum clearance operations.
Image date: Before 1960. © 2023 National World Publishing Ltd. Image from The News, Portsmouth. NG Ref: SU645002. WGS84: 50° 47′ 53″ N, 1° 05′ 09″ W.
Old toll house
The old canal toll house at the junction of Upper Arundel Street and Railway View (now part of Bridport Street).
Image date: Before 1960.
NG Ref: SU645002.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 53″ N, 1° 05′ 09″ W.
(42.7KB)
Proposed basins at Portsea
This map formed part of the proposals for the canal. It shows two basins but the eastern one was never built.
Image date: 1815. © 2005 P A L Vine. Approx NG Ref: SU644003. WGS84: 50° 47′ 57″ N, 1° 05′ 12″ W.
Proposed basins at Portsea
This map formed part of the proposals for the canal. It shows two basins but the eastern one was never built.
Image date: 1815.
NG Ref: SU644003.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 57″ N, 1° 05′ 12″ W.
(48.1KB)
Sketch map showing the canal
This is a portion of a sketch map of Portsmouth, Portsea and the dock yard made the year the canal opened. It shows just one basin and that this was not rectangular.
Image date: 1823. © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (CC-BY-NC-ND). Approx centre of map: NG Ref: SU646003. WGS84: 50° 47′ 55″ N, 1° 05′ 05″ W.
Sketch map showing the canal
This is a portion of a sketch map of Portsmouth, Portsea and the dock yard made the year the canal opened. It shows just one basin and that this was not rectangular.
Image date: 1823.
NG Ref: SU646003.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 55″ N, 1° 05′ 05″ W.
(69.6KB)
The site of the basin in 2023
A view looking west from a point near the former entrance to the canal’s terminal basin. It was in this vicinity that the last swing bridge stood. It seems likely that this area will be redeveloped in the near future.
Image date: Jul 2023. © 2024 Google. Image from Google Maps. NG Ref: SU643003. WGS84: 50° 47′ 57″ N, 1° 05′ 15″ W.
The site of the basin in 2023
A view looking west from a point near the former entrance to the canal’s terminal basin. It was in this vicinity that the last swing bridge stood. It seems likely that this area will be redeveloped in the near future.
Image date: Jul 2023.
NG Ref: SU643003.
WGS84: 50° 47′ 57″ N, 1° 05′ 15″ W.
(61.5KB)
Site of the terminal basin
The site of the basin at the end of the canal is under this now closed branch of Debenhams and other stores south-east of the junction of Arundel Street and Commercial Road.
Image date: Oct 2016. © 2023 Google. Image from Google Maps. NG Ref: SU642004. WGS84: 50° 48′ 01″ N, 1° 05′ 25″ W.
Site of the terminal basin
The site of basin at the end of the canal is under this now closed branch of Debenhams and other stores south-east of the junction of Arundel Street and Commercial Road.
Image date: Oct 2016.
NG Ref: SU642004.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 01″ N, 1° 05′ 25″ W.
(91.9KB)