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Open Ya Mouth CIC from Portsmouth have announced an exciting new heritage project today dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Southsea. The project, which has been made possible thanks to a £134,641 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is supported by Portsmouth City Council, will share the lesser known story of Southsea and bring it to life through a range of activities and events for the community. The project coincides with the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Southsea, a significant historical event that unfolded over the course of a four-day struggle between the Portsmouth Corporation and the town’s residents over public access to the beach via Southsea Common. The project stands as a testament to the power of collective action and public protest in preserving cherished communal spaces.
Commenting on the award, Steve Pitt leader of Portsmouth City Council said: “We’re delighted at the announcement of this project and what it means for Portsmouth, with this money it will bring a largely unknown aspect of Portsmouth’s rich heritage to life. Projects like this are important unless told it will be lost for future generations.” Local people will be able to engage with their
history through a heritage research project, with volunteers needed to help uncover new information about the Battle of Southsea and help produce a pop up exhibition to share the story. As well as this art workshops with schools and community groups led by Splodge Design, a documentary film re-telling the story produced by Trash Arts Ltd and a permanent monument in collaboration with local artist Pete Codling will be produced as part of the projects legacy. Jackson Batchelor from the Battle of Southsea Historical Society said: “The Battle of Southsea, which unfolded in
August 1874, was a turning point in the history of Portsmouth.
It was a four-day struggle between the Portsmouth Corporation and the town’s residents over public access to the beach via Southsea Common. This significant event led to the common being
freely accessible to the public. Regrettably, the historical significance of this common is not widely known locally, despite its continued use by thousands of residents each summer. Our mission is to unveil this captivating local history, which remains an integral part of Portsmouth’s heritage.” There will be a public event on Saturday 3rd August 2024 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Southsea in collaboration with The Castle Road Community Association CIC. If you are interested in being involved with the project, please contact battleofsouthsea@gmail.com
Further information
In 1874, a significant historical event unfolded in Southsea, Portsmouth, known as the Battle of Southsea. This four-day riot was triggered by the decision of the Portsmouth Corporation to bar the public from accessing Southsea Common, a move perceived as a precursor to private redevelopment. The locals vehemently opposed this decision, and their outrage led to widespread unrest. As tensions escalated, the situation took a particularly volatile turn. In response to the ban on public access, the people of Southsea ignited a series of protests and demonstrations. These actions included the burning of barriers placed to restrict access along the seafront between Clarence Pier and the adjacent assembly rooms, effectively blocking the route from Old Portsmouth.
The protests continued for several days, during which the situation grew increasingly confrontational. In an effort to maintain order and quell the unrest, law enforcement, and eventually the military, were summoned to the scene. This led to a notable historical moment: the last instance in which the Riot Act was read in Portsmouth. The Battle of Southsea ultimately resulted in
a victory for the local populace. The Portsmouth Corporation was compelled to abandon its plans for private redevelopment, and Southsea Common was once again accessible to the public, reaffirming its status as common land.
This event stands as a testament to the power of collective action and public protest in preserving cherished communal spaces. About Open Ya Mouth CIC Open Ya Mouth CiC is is a community
organisation from Portsmouth dedicated to encouraging arts and culture in overlooked communities in Portsmouth and the surrounding area. They have built an extremely diverse audience and built cultural bridges across many groups. Open Ya Mouth have organised multiple community arts fairs, highlighting local art and culture and they were recently awarded an £80,000 Arts Council grant for a multi-cultural arts festival in coordination with the Victoria Parks Rejuvenation Project. Open Ya Mouth has been a starting point for many musicians, poets and performers to reach out to bigger venues and festivals, and in many cases receive regular paid work.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment. The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
www.heritagefund.org.uk.
For further information, images and interviews please contact battleofsouthsea@gmail.com
