Mudlarkers a book compiled by Margaret Foster
to give A fascinating glimpse into a lost world of children earning a few pence by ingenious means, to better themselves and their families in a world of poverty, only a generation ago
Growing up in Portsea was a safe haven for children and a really nice place to live. It has had many famous people live there. Lots of historic places have long since gone, because throughout the war Portsea bombed, along with lots of other parts of Portsmouth.
The spirit of a warm friendly community still lives on in Portsea today. It’s one of very few close knit communities where most people know each other and would still help a distressed family.
We now have our Spinnaker Tower alongside our famous Dockyard which is visited from people from all around the world. We will soon adding our own Solent Wheel, which over the years will attract of people from near and far. This will add another famous land mark to Southsea sea front.
We in Portsea will be adding our local mudlarks statue outside our beloved Dockyard. Thousands of people that have now left the area come back to Portsea, just to view our statue, because it will remind them of their of their childhood.
Happy days, frolicking about earning money, by begging in the mud flats at low tide below the bridge down at the Hard. To the visiting people this activity was entertaining and they would stand and watch the children below until they had to get a boat or train or coach or bus to their destination, but of course before they left they would throw money down to the children below, known as mudlarks.
Margaret Foster