Cosham
Encyclopedia
Cosham is a northern suburb of Portsmouth
lying within the city boundary but off Portsea Island
. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book
of 1086 along with Drayton
and Wymering
(mainland) and Bocheland (Buckland
), Frodington (Fratton
) and Copenore (Copnor
) on the island.
The name is of Saxon
origin (shown by the -ham suffix) and means "Cossa's homestead". It was predominantly pronounced ˈ until the latter half of the 20th century, since when standard usage has become ˈ. Until the 1920s it was a separate small village surrounded by fields (including on the north end of Portsea Island
).
Extensive suburban growth then expanded around the village and both east and west along the slopes of Portsdown Hill
. It has been for many years a local route centre; Cosham railway station
was also the terminus for City tram
s and trolleybus
es from the south and Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
trams to the north (until 1938). The High Street is a significant local shopping centre. Few traces of the original village now remain; the oldest houses (Chalk Cottage of 1777 and Mile Stone Cottages of 1793) were demolished in the 1960s and replaced by a car park, but the old milepost showing mileage to London
, Petersfield
and Portsmouth
remains. The interior of St Philip's Church (1938) in Highbury is cited as a fine example of Ninian Comper
's work.
Cosham is also home to the UK headquarters of IBM
UK Ltd. The site known as 'North Harbour' was built in the 1970s, the location being selected due to the job cuts by the Royal Navy
during the time.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
lying within the city boundary but off Portsea Island
Portsea Island
Portsea Island is a small, flat and low lying island just off the south coast of England. The island is totally within, and contains a large proportion of, the city of Portsmouth. It has the third-largest population of any island in the British Isles, after the mainlands of Great Britain and...
. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 along with Drayton
Drayton, Portsmouth
Drayton is a residential area of the city of Portsmouth in the English county of Hampshire. Together with Farlington it makes up one of the administrative districts of the city....
and Wymering
Wymering
Wymering is a residential area of the city of Portsmouth in the English county of Hampshire. Unlike the majority of Portsmouth, it is located on the mainland rather than Portsea Island....
(mainland) and Bocheland (Buckland
Buckland, Portsmouth
Buckland is a residential area of the city of Portsmouth in the English county of Hampshire.Buckland, then known as Bocheland, was one of the three settlements on Portsea Island mentioned in the Domesday Book. The Manor of Bocheland was purchased by Jean de Gisors...
), Frodington (Fratton
Fratton, Portsmouth
Fratton is a residential and formerly industrial area of Portsmouth, Hampshire. It consists of mostly Victorian terraced houses, and is typical of the residential areas in the city...
) and Copenore (Copnor
Copnor
Copnor is one of the administrative districts of Portsmouth, England, located on the eastern side of Portsea Island. As Copenore, it was one of the three villages listed as being on Portsea Island in the Domesday book....
) on the island.
The name is of Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
origin (shown by the -ham suffix) and means "Cossa's homestead". It was predominantly pronounced ˈ until the latter half of the 20th century, since when standard usage has become ˈ. Until the 1920s it was a separate small village surrounded by fields (including on the north end of Portsea Island
Portsea Island
Portsea Island is a small, flat and low lying island just off the south coast of England. The island is totally within, and contains a large proportion of, the city of Portsmouth. It has the third-largest population of any island in the British Isles, after the mainlands of Great Britain and...
).
Extensive suburban growth then expanded around the village and both east and west along the slopes of Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill is a long chalk hill in Hampshire, England, offering good views over Portsmouth, The Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. The hill is on the mainland, just to the north of Ports Creek, which separates the mainland from Portsea Island, on which lies the...
. It has been for many years a local route centre; Cosham railway station
Cosham railway station
Cosham railway station serves the former village of Cosham, today a northern suburb of the city of Portsmouth in southern England.Opened in 1847 by the London and South Western Railway , it is located on the West Coastway Line which runs between Brighton and Southampton...
was also the terminus for City tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es from the south and Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway
The Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway was a tram service that ran initially from Cosham to Horndean in Hampshire, England....
trams to the north (until 1938). The High Street is a significant local shopping centre. Few traces of the original village now remain; the oldest houses (Chalk Cottage of 1777 and Mile Stone Cottages of 1793) were demolished in the 1960s and replaced by a car park, but the old milepost showing mileage to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Petersfield
Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road. The town has its own railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line, the mainline rail link connecting Portsmouth and London. The town is situated on the...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
remains. The interior of St Philip's Church (1938) in Highbury is cited as a fine example of Ninian Comper
Ninian Comper
Sir John Ninian Comper was a Scottish-born architect. He was one of the last of the great Gothic Revival architects, noted for his churches and their furnishings...
's work.
Cosham is also home to the UK headquarters of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
UK Ltd. The site known as 'North Harbour' was built in the 1970s, the location being selected due to the job cuts by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the time.