| Static Image Name: | St Michael and All Angels Church, Hempsted Road, Paulsgrove (August 2017) (2).JPG |
| Static Image Caption: | St Michael and All Angels Church |
| Country: | England |
| Official Name: | Paulsgrove |
| Population: | 56,116 |
| Population Ref: | (2020 Census. Paulsgrove Ward)[1] |
| Unitary England: | Portsmouth |
| Region: | South East England |
| Lieutenancy England: | Hampshire |
| Constituency Westminster: | Portsmouth North |
| Post Town: | PORTSMOUTH |
| Postcode District: | PO6 |
| Postcode Area: | PO |
| Dial Code: | 023[2] |
Paulsgrove is an area of northern Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Initially a small independent hamlet for many centuries, it was admitted to the city limits in 1920 and grew rapidly after the end of the Second World War.
Paulsgrove existed as a small hamlet on the old Portsmouth to Southampton road for many years. During the early twentieth century Paulsgrove Racecourse was built north of the village on the slopes of Portsdown Hill and a railway halt built to cater for raceday traffic.[3] The area was incorporated into the city of Portsmouth in 1920.
Towards the end of World War II it became clear that to the City Council that a massive programme of house building was needed to replace those homes destroyed by bombing. As part of this programme, land in Paulsgrove was purchased and building began in 1945. The initial housing was prefabricated but later houses were built more conventionally.
In August 2000, Paulsgrove made the national and international news as mobs of local residents attacked residences of suspected and convicted child sex offenders and other sex offenders. These disturbances came shortly after the News of the World put pressure on the government to give parents the right to know if their children are living close to a convicted sex offender, in response to the murder of Sarah Payne.[4] [5]
Paulsgrove Lake, a navigable water channel to the south of Paulsgrove in Portsmouth Harbour was named after Paulsgrove. However, an eastern section of Paulsgrove Lake was reclaimed during the 1970s and later developed into the Port Solent residential estate and marina basin, which opened on 29 July 1988.[6] [7]
The population of the Paulsgrove Ward at the 2011 Census was 14,010.[1] [8]
Southampton Road was built in 1958, replacing Medina Road as the main route between Portsmouth and Fareham.
A strip of open land was left throughout the estate during its construction in the 1950s to make way for the subsequent M27 motorway.
Paulsgrove Secondary Modern School opened in 1952 – it became King Richard School in 1975. In 2007 the school officially became an arts college. This means it is now a performing arts specialist. King Richard has also won and been runners up in the Rock Challenge. In 2006 students from King Richard School won Rock Challenges' stage crew of the year. In 2018 the school was renamed Castle View Academy.
Paulsgrove Primary School opened in the early 1950s to serve a new housing development made necessary by the number of people made homeless through bombing during the Second World War. It was opened by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth (England), Sir Denis Daley on 24 October.[10] In January 2013 it changed its name to Beacon View Primary Academy, and had a remodelled exterior look.
Paulsgrove F.C. was formed in 1987, and currently play in the Hampshire Premier league at Paulsgrove Social Club, Marsden Road. In October 2007 the club gained a bye in the Hampshire Cup under somewhat unusual circumstances: drawn at home to play Kingston Arrows (a side composed entirely of long-stay prisoners[11]), their opponents were unable to fulfil the fixture.[12]
Paulsgrove is believed to be named for St. Paul who, according to apocryphal legend, landed at the site at the start of his visit to Britain when it was part of the Roman empire. However a more likely explanation is revealed by certain old maps which show the area as PALS GRAVE, and is probably a reference to the last resting place of a (perhaps Saxon) local chief.