Portsmouth has been associated with shipbuilding for over 500 years but yesterday BAE Systems brought the curtain down on the city and the dock’s illustrious history of shipbuilding.

The decision by BAE Systems to close Portsmouth as a hub for shipbuilding brings to an end a wonderful era, that saw the city’s prominence first rise as a pivotal shipbuilding centre and harbour in Henry VIII’s reign. One of Portsmouth’s most famous ships was King Henry VIII’s Mary Rose, believed to have been named after his sister Mary Tudor. It was constructed between 1509 and 1511 but sank in 1545 while attacking a French invasion fleet. It was raised from the seabed in 1982 and now rests in a new museum in Portsmouth.

Most famously of course Admiral Horatio Nelson set sail on HMS Victory from Portsmouth harbour on his way to the Battle of Trafalgar. Today HMS Victory lies majestically in dry dock in Portsmouth.

Record Press is a music blog, but the Record Press editor has more than a passing interest in history and wanted to mark this sad occasion in true Record Press tradition with a Top 5 Best Songs about this proud port city –

Top 5 Best Nautical Songs

1) Robert Wyatt – Shipbuilding ( 1982 )

2) Mike Oldfield – Portsmouth ( 1976 )

3) Otis Redding – Dock of the Bay ( 1967 )

4) Roger Whitaker – Last Farewell ( 1975 )

5) Rod Stewart – Sailing ( 1975 )