On May 9, 2001, the editors of the Aldington and H.D. websites (Paul and Heather) visited Portsmouth in search of RA's birthplace. We visited the Records Office hoping to find some record of the Aldingtons around the time of RA's birth in 1892. A search through the city directories revealed that 50 High Street was registered to David Wandsworth Smith, Bookseller and Stationer, from 1890-1892. The directory for 1894 shows the address registered to David Seaton, Stationer and Bookseller (there was no directory for 1893). Some time later that address was occupied by Thomas Batchelor, the registrar who signed RA's birth certificate.
A bombing map at the public library's local history department showed that 50 High Street had not been bombed in WWII (nor had the street been rerouted). Researchers at History In Portsmouth, however, found that 50 High Street had indeed been destroyed by bombing. Upon seeing the building currently at number 50, it is obviously not the same as the 19th century building seen in the illustrations seen on this page. The space is now occupied by small 1950's era apartment building, but directly across the street from his birthplace was (and is) the oldest building in town, the Old Cathedral.
