Gosport

Whilst predominately urban, Gosport offers a significant amount of open space. This coupled with its waterfront makes Gosport an attractive location. With such great access to the water, it is inevitable that sailing and other watersports are in abundance.

Gosport is a seaside town with miles of coastline, rich naval history and commanding views of historic Portsmouth harbour, the home of the Royal Navy.Aside from the naval connections, Gosport is a haven for boaters and yachts, with excellent marina facilities, access to the Solent and beyond and state-of-the-art waterside developments.

If you like the water and sailing, Gosport has everything you could wish for. And just a short hop on the ferry, and you are in Portsmouth with its architecture, history and some of the best shopping anywhere in the UK.

Gosport has a population of around 90,000 people, and the borough consists of commercial and residential buildings nestled alongside open spaces like the Alver Valley and Browndown, with miles of unspoilt countryside and rivers.

The transport links are excellent, with the A32 and the Bus Rapid Transit route taking you straight to Fareham and beyond. The ferry across Portsmouth harbour is one of the most picturesque commutes in the country, with regular crossings every 15 minutes.

Gosport's History

You can trace Gosport’s history back to the Anglo-Saxons, who built the first settlement in Rughenor (modern-day Rowner). The word means a rough bank or slope. Along with Alverstoke, so named because the River Alver meets the sea at Stokes Bay, both settlements are mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Gosport has long been a naval town, with HMS Sultan and the Naval Armaments Facility, along with the Naval Stores at Weevil Lane and St. Georges Barracks, all built to supply the most powerful navy in the world.

The town has strong royal connections. The railway station was built on a grand scale because Queen Victoria regularly travelled from London on the Royal Train, passing through Gosport Station. Her carriage continued along a private stretch of the track into St. Georges Barracks. From here, she would hop into a waiting carriage and make her way to the jetty at the end of Weevil Lane to board a boat to the Isle of Wight.

In more modern times, Gosport was a key training and preparation ground for the D-Day Landings. Most of the troops used Stokes Bay to practice landing on the beaches. The large floating pontoons were also constructed on the beach.

Thankfully, times are not so turbulent, and Gosport continues to be a haven for those seeking a vibrant place to live, where the sea, land and colourful history combine to make it a great place to settle.

For all the latest market trends, up-to-date information and just downright friendly advice, call, drop in or email our team at the Gosport office.