23rd June 2025.
Dear Gosport Society Members,
The Gosport Society AGM, earlier this month, was well attended by members, the Community Hub being an excellent venue.
Once the formalities were concluded, a very relaxed informal social evening took place, and a chance to speak to members with light refreshments available, ensured it was a very enjoyable evening.
Our President, The Worshipful Mayor Cllr. Kirsten Bradlay, presided over the AGM, here photographed with her Consort Jonathan Bradley, together with members of the Gosport Society Executive Committee.
Our President is very keen to support Gosport Society, and encouraged members to resolve the current problems of vacant positions on the Executive Committee, which was fully explained in the AGM Chairmans Report.
Planning Matters.
Richard Harrison, our Planning Secretary has been refreshing Gosport Society Planning Consultations pages on our new Gosport Society Website, www.gosportsociety.co.uk
Despite being on holiday, Richard found time to update the Website, which is very much appreciated.
Currently, the Planning Team are dealing with some very important planning applications, including the redevelopments at Daedalus and redevelopment of The Rum Store in Clarence Yard.
Please find time to read our Gosport Society responses on our new website www.gosportsociety.co.uk , which make vital contributions of opinions on planning applications, for GBC Planning Officers to consider on behalf of the community.
Fort Blockhouse – Sea Defences Update
As announced at the AGM, our Planning Team have been following the progress (or lack of progress) with GBC and the Jacobs Report promised by the MOD.
Although the Jacobs Report has not been released, (a structural report on the condition of the sea defences at Fort Blockhouse), we are encouraged from the following response received from GBC.
Extract from GBC response to Gosport Society Planning Team – 11th June 2025
‘Without demonstrating that the site can be made safe now, and for the lifetime of the development, we are unable to allocate the site in the Local Plan or grant planning permission.
This is one of the most important considerations in relation to the progress of the emerging Local Plan’
‘The nature and costs of the necessary flood defences as well as ownership and on-going maintenance arrangements will need to be factored into the eventual flood risk assessment. ‘
‘The matter will also be a major concern for the Environment Agency and the forthcoming Planning Inspector.’
Gosport Society Planning Team, therefore, will continue to monitor the situation on behalf of Gosport Society and the local community.
Mulberry Harbours Memorial
As part of the new D- Day Memorial, which was recently opened on Stokes Bay seafront 5th June 2025, the D- Day Fellowship asked if Gosport Society would repair the damaged memorial.
Gosport Society organised the installation, over 20 years ago.
At relatively short notice, we invited 5 companies to carry out the refurbishments, including a crack in the marble memorial, unfortunately, no company was able to undertake the works.
Not daunted, we repaired the memorial ourselves, referring to ‘U-Tube’ for advice, skilfully applying epoxy resin grout to the damaged marble, re-bedding the marble to the stone supporting base in epoxy resin.
Repolishing the marble, using ‘Baking Powder’ and detergent, as recommended on the internet. So, when passing, please admire our handywork!
Bayfest 2025. 17th July – 11-30am to 13-30pm
Baycroft School Stubbington PO14 2SA.
Bayfest is a celebration of musical talent across all ages genres, bringing together students, staff, and the wider community for a day of vibrant performances and collaboration. This year promises to be especially exciting, featuring:
Performances from the school ensembles and soloists Guest appearance from Camm Hill Soul Band, food, activities, and a festival atmosphere for all ages.
Gosport Society has been in recent years helping to support Baycroft School, it would be very much appreciated if members would attend to represent Gosport Society.
HELP
In redesigning our new Gosport Society website, we were helped by Annelis James to produce the introduction video to Gosport Society, which we hope you agree is visually very good.
Annelies has asked if we can introduce her to a local historian who has knowledge of ‘The Criterion’ history, also to any member who has memories of attending there, that can be used in producing a video about the building.
We would appreciate any help you are able to provide, in helping Annelies succeed in this project. Please contact, Richard by email – secretary@gosportsociety.co.uk or 07542-515014. Or a note to 40 Gomer Lane PO12 2SA.
TURK TOWN
We have also been asked by Tery Rhodes / Bee Schmid for any information regarding two Imperial Ottoman Navy ships visiting in November 1850, the Mirat-l-Zafer & the Sirag-i-Bahri.
They were anchored off Hardway and greeted twice by Queen Victoria.
Can any member, recall any local knowledge or details of their visit, many local families were invited on board the ships, likewise the crew went ashore for civic events or just to experience the communities welcome.
We have checked our archives, regrettably we do not hold any records, therefore any nuggets of information would be appreciated.
Please contact Terry Rhodes E – info@gosportheritage.co.uk
Bee Schmid E- turktown@mail.com
MICHEALMAS FAYRE 27th September 2025
At our Gosport Society stand in Green Lane Alverstoke, we will be promoting Gosport Society, together with the sale of the De-Gomme 1867 prints of fortified Gosport Town & Gosport Society Publications.
We have two unfilled time slots, which we would appreciate your help in staffing our stand.
2pm to 3pm.
3pm to 4pm.
Please come along, and enjoy the afternoon
Contact Richard – 07542-515014
Mike Williams Article
Henry Cort: Many of you will know Henry Cort owned a small Iron works rear of Gosport High Street; for those that didn’t know – Henry Cort owned a small iron works in Gosport! Local people got fed up with the noise and mess of his iron works so he moved north to Titchfield. You may also know the rapid bus route through Gosport is named Henry Cort in memory of this iron man.
Henry Cort, born 1740: died 23 May 1800, was an English ironware producer who made small iron product for the Royal Navy, small chains, nails, brackets and the like. Henry began refining iron from pig iron to wrought iron using innovative production systems known as puddling and rolling. This was so good that the navy used this system for iron production and saved a fortune in costs buying iron from Sweden. That’s the good news. The bad news is the man called Adam Jellico, who worked in the Dockyard pay Office, leant Henry money to develop his ideas. Jellico did not have the authority to make the loan and all of Henry’s assets, including copyright for his puddling techniques, were seized by the Admiralty leaving Henry to die in poverty. The second bit of bad news is about the origins of his ‘new’ technique. Some believe Jamaica had the idea and Henry brought their idea to Uk. It’s even possible the iron working ideas originated in Africa.
Perhaps our GS restoration team (note Mulberry Harbour memorial repairs) may visit and refurbish this ‘Blue Plaque’.
After all it is an important part of Gosports history.
Sue and I hope you are enjoying the fine weather, currently we are in Helensburgh Scotland, 14 degrees today & raining! Gosport 21 degrees!
What more can we say!
Kind regards,
Richard C. Acting Hon. Secretary.