The Portsmouth lake built for torpedoes and... ejection seats | Nostalgia

Horsea was originally two islands, Great and Little Horsea, the former large enough to support a dairy farm.
By Deborah Croker
Published 12th Feb 2021, 19:20 BST
Updated 12th Feb 2021, 19:20 BST
Horsea Island undated. Picture: (120633-750)Horsea Island undated. Picture: (120633-750)
Horsea Island undated. Picture: (120633-750)

The islands in Portsmouth Harbour were joined to form a torpedo testing lake in 1889, using chalk excavated from Portsdown Hill by convict labour.

But rapid advances in torpedo design and range made it all but obsolete by the First World War.

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When the lake was no longer used for torpedoes it came in handy for testing the first ejector seats for aircrew of Fleet Air Arm planes after a series of accidents involving them landing on aircraft carriers.

Horsea Island from Portchester Castle, 1886. Picture: Barry Cox collection.Horsea Island from Portchester Castle, 1886. Picture: Barry Cox collection.
Horsea Island from Portchester Castle, 1886. Picture: Barry Cox collection.

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Related topics:PortsmouthPortsmouth HarbourPortsdown Hill

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