Portsmouth in Hampshire, situated on the south coast of England and close to France, was founded in approximately 1180 by a wealthy Norman lord, Jean de Gisor, lord of Gisors in Normandy.

• Jean de Gisor was a merchant and plied his trade across the English channel, so, a safe, sheltered harbour, as offered by the land on the south west side of Portsea Island was an obvious choice.
• He bought the Manor of Buckland, on the island of Portsea, from where he could manage his fleet of ships. De Gisors gave land to the monks of Southwick Priory, with instructions to build a chapel to honour St Thomas of Canterbury, this would become Portsmouth cathedral.

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