In the upper reaches of the harbour, Whale Island was until 1845 covered at every spring tide and presented the appearance of a whales back, hence its name. By successive deposits from excavations from the Dockyard, the surface was raised several feet and the Admiralty bought it in 1861 for £1,000.

Portsmouth Town Hall was built at a cost of £137,098 and was opened on 9th August 1890 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. "You have every reason to feel proud of this fine building, worthy of the largest naval port in the United Kingdom, and of the architectural beauties which it displays" said the Prince.

On the night of 10th January 1941, the whole of the interior was destroyed by a German fire bomb but it has been restored to its former splendour, with new additions including a theatre.