2000BC Earliest settlers

          Iron Age settlements 

          Romans arrive in Portishead

1086  Portishead in the Domesday book

1300's  St Peter's Church constructed

1804  First St Peter's Church School

1830  Royal Hotel built

1830's  Adelade Terrace constructed

1832   St Peter's School constructed

1867  Docks constructed

1867  Rail link from dock to Bristol

1869  Pier built

1879  Dock opened to shipping

1900's  Nautical School built

1907  Light railway reached Portishead!

1907  Approach golf course

1910  Marine Lake excavated

1911  Mustad's Nail Factory built

1912  Nautical School Chapel built

1923  Cinema opens

1927  Portishead Radio Station built

1929  'A' Power Station opened

1931  Battery Point lighthouse

1950's  Albright & Wilson built

1950's Oil storage depot built

1953 Portishead to Bristol railway line     closed to passengers

1959  'B' Power Station opened

1961  Open Air Pool opened

1964  Railway closed

1978  Portishead Radio closed

1981  Portishead to Bristol railway line closed to freight

1982  Nautical School closed

1987  Nail factory ceased production

1989  Twinning with Den Dungen

1992  Twinning Schweich an der Mosel

1992  Port ceased to function

1992  Fedden Village opened

1999  Albright & Wilson demolished

The earliest documented information is to be found in the Domesday Book, which states that

Portishead is worth 70 shillings and has 13 men, farming and fishing with a mill, which indicates that there may have been a resident population of up to 50 people.

Earlier signs of habitation were discovered in 1910 whilst unemployed people from Bristol and Portishead were excavating the Marine Lake where they unearthed polished flint axe-heads dating back as far as 2000BC. Visible evidence remains of Iron Age settlements around the hills of the Gordano Valley, the biggest and best known being Cadbury Camp on the eastern side of the valley, another is on Woodhill in East Wood on the hill above Portishead. It is also clear that the Romans also visited the area and may have used the pill below East Wood to reach the land. Roman building remains were found in the grounds of Gordano School in 1956. Pottery and coins were found on the site, and similar items were also discovered in other areas of Portishead as well as a site near to Cadbury Camp.

From the early days of farming, fishing and the one mill, Portishead continued to grow mainly due to its position by the pill which opened onto the Bristol Channel and which was sheltered by the headland and had splendid views across the channel. The mill was originally powered by the Welhay stream and the pill allowed the tidal waters to flow into the Gordano Valley. Due to this twice a day event most of the surrounding area was marshland and was not useful for grazing or dwellings.The pill was probably used for local trading voyages as well as having a share in the smuggling trade.

Due to its close proximity to the Channel entrance to Bristol, the headland was used as a prime position for guarding the King Road ( the waters around the headland ). As far back as the Roman times defences have been positioned on the point. During the Civil War a fort was built on Battery Point and then during the Second World War guns were installed on the point to protect the prime targets of the docks and power station.

Unlike the first mill in Portishead which used the Welhay stream to turn its wheel, future mills used the tidal water and probably all the mills were around the location of todays White Lion Inn on the High Street.( An original mill stone can be seen on the side of the Inn ). The stream was later dammed in an effort to provide fresh water to St Peter's Church and the other dwellings around it.

Although there had been previous work carried out to build sea walls which were constructed up to the White Lion pub to help prevent the high tides flooding the high street the valley and local farmland, it was not until the early 1800's that the outer sea wall was built which then ensured that the marshes of the Gordano Valley were drained properly. Portishead then continued to prosper as it increased its farming and fishing activities.

During the 1600's the wealthy businessmen of Bristol started to take interest in Portishead as a potential place to live and spend time at the weekends and for its close access to the Channel. The City of Bristol started to buy land and in 1616 purchased the Manor of North Weston ( today's The Grange )and then later the Manor of Portishead ( today's Court Farm )

During the next 100 years the City of Bristol acquired most of Portishead. In the early years of the nineteenth century Bristol decided to develop the area as a seaside resort as well as a retreat for Bristol businessmen. At the same time it was also agreed to expand the areas industries. This became the starting point for the expansion of Portishead into a thriving town and its development as a tourist attraction. This was then the starting point from which the towns population began its slow, but continuous growth.

The Victorian period brought the construction of the dock, pier and the rail link to Bristol which encouraged the people of Bristol to visit the area. Day trips could be taken by rail or steamer to the developing seaside resort. The Royal Hotel was built by the pier in 1830's to provide accommodation and catering for travellers on the steamers from Bristol, Wales and Ireland. As Clevedon was connected to the Bristol - Exeter Railway this made it the more popular resort and made Portishead develop its commercial activities rather than its tourism. Some of the first industries to be brought to the dock were a Flour Mill, Grain, Fuel storage and Timber. The Light Railway finally reached Portishead in 1907, linking Weston, Clevedon and Portishead. Seaside attractions continued to be constructed with the Approach golf course being opened in 1908 and the Marine Lake being completed in 1910. But industry was continuing to grow and in 1911 Mustad's Nail factory was built followed by the Portishead Radio Station in 1927.In 1926 the construction of the first of the Electricity Power Stations on the dock was started. It was commissioned in 1929. The second was opened in 1959. The surrounding landscape was dominated by the 4 large chimney stacks which had the final 2 demolished in 1992. Albright & Wilson built their Phosphorus works in the 1950's which eventually saw its remaining silos removed in 1999 in preparation for the Portishead Quays development. The final train ran in 1964 but the track is still visible in places. 1978 saw the 3 main masts removed from the Portishead Radio Station after sending its last message.

As the industries closed the housing developments started to expand and turned the town into a commuter town for Bristol. Many new houses have been built with the newest being the Portishead Quays development around the Marina. Also the town is now attracting new office developments and shops to the area. The town's biggest employer is now the Avon & Somerset Constabulary Headquarters. Waitrose supermarket, Travel Inn and Brewsters Restaurant have also moved to the town.