WELCOME!

Welcome to the new blog for the Portsmouth Heritage Research. 

The Solent, and the surrounding Wessex area has a rich array of history. Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, home to world famous ships such as the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world, and provides a window into the life of sailors throughout the ages and how this has shaped the City today. The Isle of Wight has proved to be one of the richest sources of dinosaur fossils in all of Europe,  and has earned it the title of the UK’s Dinosaur Capital. Fishbourne Roman. Palace in Chichester is the largest Roman residential building to have been discovered in Britain, and offers a unique glimpse into the life of  Britons following the Roman conquest. And of course, Portsmouth will today play host to Royalty and international leaders to celebrate its part in the D-Day landings in Normandy, one of the most important operations in World War II.

Within and around Portsmouth there are diverse communities each with their own heritages that help to promote belonging and well-being. Understanding these different heritages and histories can help to promote understanding and the ways in which heritage can enhance community well-being and resilience. 

Both tangible and intangible heritage in Portsmouth is under threat as sea levels rise, climate changes and the imperatives of economic development impinge on communities. This blog highlights current research to understand heritage in the light of these risk as well as the potential for heritage to help to combat them. 

A useful website to catch pu on such research is at the University of Portsmouth Heritage Hub.