The Canal that became a Railway. The Portsea Canal, Portsmouth, Hampshire

[@cheralgeen3214]

I agree, fantastic video. Photography in sink with narration. Very knowledgeable, helpful to follow. No loud music to spoil it. No swinging around, photography. I grew up in Southsea, re kindled many memories. Thank you, from a 87yr old, far far away now, in Australia.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@cheralgeen3214 thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@PieAndChips]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this, thanks for sharing!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you for watching

[@anthonymoore6009]

Great historical research and very professional in its delivery. All the hard work that goes into these films puts you in the elite league for good watchable history.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you. Part 2 to do soon between Portsea and Hayling!!! you up for it?

[@anthonymoore6009]

Naturally

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@anthonymoore6009 get a boat ready then.

[@anthonymoore6009]

I believe you mock me 🤪

[@stevebeckwith5523]

What a fantastic video. Great in-depth explanation and exploration of the old canal route. The brickwork was in superb nick considering the battering it takes from the sea and weather. Lucky that the tide was out so you could see it all in its finery. Keep up the great work Pastfinder.

[@chriswalford9228]

Had my first pint in the Old canal inn. Me and my mate Graham rode our bikes down from Baffins aged 16 in 1973 to get a pint, got served without any questions . It's flats now like a lot of Pompey pubs

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@chriswalford9228 superb, like most places, the memories have been destroyed

[@sueweston502]

As a young child when my late father used to tell us the train was running along the route of the canal as we approached Portsmouth I put it down to the eccentricities of the older generation (he'd have been about 40!). Thank you so much for such a clear & entertaining explanation of the Po rtsea canal at Portsmouth. Now as an oldie myself I'm very interested in canal history & a member of my local canal society at Chichester. I really hope you can cover some more of the route in future videos!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks for your kind comments & thanks for watching

[@nigelparker5886]

Hello Sue? Like your comment content, which includes the LDB store which I remember well as a Pompey lad!(76 now)! The Landport word,… did that infer a mini Canal Port in-land itself I’m wondering? Cheers

[@southdown278]

Hi. At 13:12 the wall that you talk about is all that remains of the old Byngs Coaches depot. You will see the street sign is Coach House Mews

[@jeepjockey9219]

My father kept a boat at the Locks in the 1950s. I spent a lot of time cycling around the area. Then, the frames of the lock gates could still be seen.

[@merikblackmore]

There was a lot more of the gates there 30 years ago.

[@r2trogly]

I enjoyed your video of the canal. The pump house was the building you suggested. It was the home of my great grandparents, back in the day.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@r2trogly wonderful, so much history with a story too. Thanks

[@davidupton4730]

If you walk down Goldsmith Avenue on the left hand side with your back to Fratton bridge, just before the Layland paint building there is an old cobbled slipway down to where the canal used to be.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@davidupton4730 Never noticed that. Thanks David, I'll look out for that next time in the area.

[@mark.mcghie3065]

brilliant video .. i knew there was a canal i Portsmouth from Milton locks and into the city but i never knew where it was .. loved this

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@mark.mcghie3065 Thanks Mark, lots of hidden stuff in every town. Thanks for watching

[@JohnJones-cp4wh]

If you stand on Langston bridge looking towards Chichester you can see the cut of the canals path, it goes across the top of Hayling Island, it`s marked by posts either side, the original cut and flow of the wate you will notice as it follows the mainland coast line. At low tide you can see where it cuts through the Roman walkway from Langston to Hayling Island.

[@ameliaashton-brooke2454]

Brilliant video, thank you

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@ameliaashton-brooke2454 thanks and thank you for watching

[@PB-wr8pz]

Apologies if already mentioned... At 13 mins, where you suspect a bridge previously. I think name Iron Bridge Lane is a big clue 👍. I'm a member of the boat yard at the sea lock😊

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Yes it's been pointed out, but thank you anyway. Obvious stuff always passes me by no matter how thoroughly I explore.

[@tonywise198]

This area has changed enormously since 1958 when I moved into the area as a 12 year old. Great video and info. Thank you.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks for watching Tony. Alas most places have changed unrecognisably. Inevitable I suppose.

[@privs1711]

Really enjoyed this, and ticked my local history geek box! Well presented, and some great footage too!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@privs1711 cheers Mark. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@barryheath8123]

Very good video.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@barryheath8123 Cheers Barry, thanks fir watching.

[@newfishbourneops]

Excellent video and very informative. Your presenting style is just right. First one of yours I have watched, but I have bookmarked some more to watch later.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you for watching. Appreciated. Hope you enjoy my other films.

[@nealstanton9955]

Great video I have lived in the portsmouth area my whole life and have visited the city centre many times never even realising there was once a canal right under my feet let alone not really paying attention to the large stones were part of it ! Many thanks for a great educational video

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@nealstanton9955 Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@judys6663]

AHHHH Thank You my family live in Milton and so interesting . Regards Judy.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you for watching

[@PeterBrookshaw-t9h]

Hi I intend to follow the route as described on this video tomorrow, having already explored the rest of the walkable canal route from chichester harbour area to where it meets the Arun river near Ford. Hopefully your video has helped me plan my route for this Portsmouth to Langstone end. Who knows I might even try to follow the walkable bits to pick up the Thames/Kennet & Avon Canal sections into London sometime in the future. Thanks

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@PeterBrookshaw-t9h brilliant, thanks for watching. Hope you enjoyed the walk.

[@PeterBrookshaw-t9h]

@@PASTFINDERexploring The walk went very well today. Your video was extremely useful as it showed a number of reference points, without it would have been a lot harder to follow this “lost” route. Thanks… 👍

[@NarrowboatBoy]

Nice video. Reminded me of a walk I did in the 80s when I lived in Southsea. I was inspired by Anthony Triggs book Portsmouth History in Hiding. This book has some excellent pictures of the canal. After Milton Park and past what was then my college was a stretch of towpath that ran alongside a caravan park. I see that is all housing now. I also paddled by kayak from Milton lock, which still had some remains of the lock gates, to Chichester Harbour and the canal in water there. I vaguely remember there being boats in that part of the canal then. Happy days!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Jon, very much changed from your memories. For the purposes of exploration It's often a good thing, It makes the research and searching more interesting.

[@grahambarrett5569]

What an absolutely brilliant video. I have always been fascinated by the history of the canal. Thanks for this great video.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Graham, glad you enjoyed it.

[@pompeyjim]

Great video mate. It's amazing how many people here are unaware there was a canal. Same goes for the old Fratton to Southsea railway. When you were on the alley way in Milton which was the northern towpath, there's actually another one in places which I always assumed would be the southern bank. There's a pub called the Artillery Arms situated on it but I'm not sure if it was there at the same time. Interestingly there was a pub up until a decade or so ago called The Old Canal. This one was a little bit off of Iron Bridge Lane to the south. It's always baffled me why the Old Canal pub and the Artillery Arms weren't the other way round considering the locations.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Jim. You're right, so few traces of the past left but the clues are always there if you look for them.

[@ianjenkinson3585]

The beginning of your film you had a large shop, Debenhams, alongside the large stone blocks in Arundel Street. Prior to becoming a branch of Debenhams it was called "Landport Drapery Bazaar". The reason that Arundel Street carries that name is because it was the way to Arundel via the canal. For the same reason that the road going north that leaves Portsmouth is called London Road. There is often more clues in the names than is immediately appreciated

[@stefano700]

Thank you for sharing, I know the spots you mentioned well, I had no idea there was a huge canal in the city.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@stefano700 Thanks Stefano

[@idiotusmaximus2643]

13:13 you are on a raod i believe called "Ironbridge lane" so perhaps the bridge you are thinking about was in fact an iron one 🤔

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi, thank you. Yes you are correct. Alas info arrives at my feet after the film has been made.

[@idiotusmaximus2643]

@PASTFINDERexploring lol.. it don't matter- you aren't expected to know everything about out collective pasts.. you are doing us a great service by using your extensive knowledge to show people a past that has almost succumbed to the sands of time ;)

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Another excellent film!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks. Your comments are very welcome.

[@nigelparker5886]

Great entertainment to be had here from your thorough research and keen investigative interest! Job well done and as a Pompey boy I need to go back and see what I never have before! I used to windsurf across from the ferry area to virtually this spot and never took any notice! Shame on me! 😢! Thanks for your excellent work! Cheers

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Nigel, appreciate your comments.

[@joeweston3252]

interesting l was on a walk last year we passed the milton lock l had no idea it went right into the shopping area and on the now railway line great work bob thank you for making this one.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Joe, I always thought it went into Portsmouth harbour until I researched it.

[@179077]

Great - really interesting & will look at Portsmouth with new eyes!

[@steveharwood5824]

Absolutely fascinating Bob ! Thoroughly enjoyable viewing mate 👍🏻

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Steve. Your kind comments are very welcome, thanks for watching.

[@neilfurby555]

Superb work and so well presented. Thank-you.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you, your comments are appreciated

[@JamesonEst1780]

A very interesting video Bob! As always, your informative and interesting style captivates and educates your audience! Well done and thank you for taking the time to make them!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Mark, Glad you enjoy them as I enjoy making them.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Great video. That sea lock is amazing. Not easy to research canals as you say as often they don't appear on maps of the time. Thanks.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Bob, don't think there's too many sea locks still in existence in the uk.

[@davidberlanny3308]

¡Brilliant! That truly is my old neck of the woods. I used to live in Trevis Road which ends on the old towpath, you would have walked right past this!! I would often walk the towpath (as it is now) in both directions I have a book in my collection which contains a number of photos including a 1930s photo of the Milton Locks with the remains of the lock gates in the closed position and a photo of the pump houses that you identified. Another clue to the canal can be found just off the towpath, that is the Old Canal Inn, now sadly closed as a pub. Last time I was home I went out to take some photos of the locks and it was high tide, a small launch was exiting the locks. Nearby the little bridge there are the remains of one of the lock gates. You will find some of the photos posted end of September, I must go and have a look at those granite blocks in Arundel Street next time I go back Well done perfectly presented and traced from start to end, thoroughly enjoyed this one Good luck from Spain!!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks David for your kind comments. Looking at Portsea today it's so hard to imagine the history that was there before the houses. More from there to come. The Suthsea railway branch to name one.

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@PASTFINDERexploring Hi Bob, lots to see in Portsmouth and surrounding area. The branches into the dockyard, there were two, are really interesting as would be the whole dockyard system. The Southsea branch fits in well with the canal video that you have just done though. My first adventures were with my Dad exploring the forts on Portsdown Hill. At that time they were abandoned. They can be visited today. Railmaps shows me that there was a small spur leading off towards the hill probably for loading a light railway to take building materials to build the forts. I think evidence of the spur still exists. Worth looking at Portsdown tunnels. It's dedicated to the hill. Another often forgotten part of the island is the old airport. I can just about remember it when it was operational, I know my Dad had the chance to fly from it. Long gone now, but clues abound!! Have a great weekend.

[@bobt305]

Brilliant and although like many I knew where the canal was (now the railway) but I didn't know about the basin in Arundel Street. Once leaving the Milton Locks didn't the 'waterway' go across Langstone Harbour and under the 'Hayling Billy' wooden tressle bridge and across towards Chichester Harbour. I always understood that to the east of the Hayling Road bridge there used to be a causeway from the cottages to Hayling Island? Well done. Look forward to more. 👍

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Bob, the route went around the North of Hayling and through Thorney islands.

[@davefrench3608]

That is indeed the pump house. I’m sure I remember the rotten remains of the sea lock gates in the early 70s Really good video, exactly as I’ve researched it too, using sea water was the only solution but polluting the city’s water supply was inevitable Doomed before it was open.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@davefrench3608 Thanks Dave,

[@lyndarlehane582]

Excellent presentation. Well done. Thankyou.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you. Appreciated

[@timeast6412]

The Grand Imperial Ship Canal. I was born and lived near Ashtead Station (Surrey),but only recently found that a plan existed in 1825 to build a canal to connect London via Surrey going through Ashtead then via Sussex to Arundel and Portsmouth.This maybe could have used an improved version of the Wey and Arun. It never happened but maybe ties into the Portsea canal?

[@Juan_Kossov]

When you were looking at Towpath Mead, you were on IronBridge Lane.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi John. I realised that after I'd put the film out and had another look at the map.👍

[@timeast6412]

Very interesting video and even where nothing remains your commentary makes it seem real.

[@ambient675]

Excellent video, very interesting.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you so much for watching

[@paulmessis1094]

This is brilliant you've got to do the wey and arun, rother navigation and Petworth canal....brilliant research.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Paul, thanks for watching. Always up for new ideas for new films. I've thought about continuing towards the Chichester section and then the Wey & Arun. Lot of work involved but it'd be doable.

[@salse8185]

My family had a brand new council house (1930s) in Milton- a relative told me the canal was literally the road outside the house and they would go swimming in it. The newer houses across the road used to flood all the time because of it being part of the canal.

[@PompeyChris71]

Somers Rd bridge is called Turners bridge . Originally the road was known as Green Lane.

[@grahamrowntree5573]

Also near the Somers Road bridge was a piece of grafitti on some substantial brickwork of the canal. It had been there for years and read "Vietcong out" so you can imagine when the "artist" applied it.

[@grahambarrett5569]

Now subscribed 👍

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Great stuff, appreciated

[@JohnJones-cp4wh]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJa2noaPeKlkr7M Has some views of what woodworks were there in 1937. I can remember them just after the war.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

John, thank you so much for sending that film. Superb! Even back then the lock gates were in a poor state. I'm assuming the wooden stubbs that remain today are from those in the film.

[@JohnJones-cp4wh]

Here`s another I`ve just come across @ 7.11 with a bit more woodwork. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYvKlmeMpp6dldE

[@sk13ppy]

I was really looking forward to watching this. If you want hearing impaired people to enjoy your videos then please don't have music playing when you are narrating. Play music when you're not talking. I couldn't even watch this for 2 minutes, then I quit.

[@Juan_Kossov]

What music????? There is no music!!!!

[@jefg8327]

great vid

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Jef, glad you enjoyed it.