Millennium Promenade - Point

Welcome to the Point, Spice Island - a stylish place to live and a popular place for people to meet and watch the world float by. It is an ideal vantage point to view the international maritime events in the harbour. From here you can also see Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower.

Point was largely uninhabited in the early years of the settlement. The area was a low-lying spit of land projecting north-west into the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, creating a narrow, defendable passage and a natural haven hosting the earliest landing place, later to be known as the Camber.

In the 16th century, Point was separated from the town by Point Gate (later King James’s Gate), part of a wider scheme of fortifications. By the 17th century it had gained a reputation for lawlessness and loose living due to the number of pubs and brothels in the area. They were frequented by sailors and soldiers on leave or billeted in local houses.

The area became known as ‘Spice Island' due to its seedy reputation, it was ultimately reintegrated into the town when King James’ gate was removed in the 1860s.

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