The Battle of Southsea , at Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new exhibition, The Battle of Southsea, at Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery, marking the 150th anniversary of this extraordinary historical event. This free exhibition is now open to the public and offers an engaging and interactive experience for visitors of all ages.

The exhibition explores the compelling story of the Battle of Southsea, enriched by newly uncovered insights from our dedicated volunteer research group. Alongside detailed historical displays, it includes fun and immersive features such as a selfie border, props, and costumes, inviting visitors to step back in time and capture their own memories of this fascinating moment in Portsmouth’s history.

A key highlight of the project is a short film, created in collaboration with Trash Arts and inspired by John Field’s pamphlet When the Riot Act Was Read. This film brings the historical narrative to life, presenting it in a fresh and engaging way for modern audiences.

Throughout the project, we’ve worked to connect local communities with this fascinating piece of Portsmouth’s past. Highlights have included an anniversary parade featuring stunning large-scale puppets of characters from the iconic mural on display at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, as well as pop-up exhibitions that have brought the story to new audiences in creative and accessible ways. These events added vibrancy and intrigue to the celebration—an effort we hope to make an annual tradition.

Looking ahead, we are excited to establish permanent memorials to the Battle of Southsea. Four memorial pavement coins will be placed between Castle Road and Clarence Pier, marking key locations tied to the event. Additionally, a beautiful mosaic created by Pete Codling will further commemorate this historic moment. To deepen understanding, we are also producing a documentary that will provide a detailed insight into the events surrounding and during the Battle of Southsea.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to National Lottery players, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Portsmouth City Council for their generous support, which has made this project possible.

– Battle of Southsea Historical Society