Celebrating our Archive

Tucked away behind the scenes, The Portsmouth Grammar School Archive preserves almost three centuries of the School’s history and the stories of the people who have shaped it. From its early foundations to the present day, the archive offers a remarkable window into school life, education, and the wider history of Portsmouth. 

As Portsmouth marks its centenary year, it is a fitting moment to reflect on the shared history between the city and the School. For nearly 300 years, PGS has been part of Portsmouth’s story — educating generations of young people who have gone on to contribute to the life of the city and beyond. 

Among the highlights of the collection are early governance records which detail the strategic decisions made to ensure the future of the school, historic correspondence and a plethora of photographs. The archive also holds admission registers, records of the curriculum, photographs, school magazines, and prize lists, many of which bring to life the experiences of past pupils across generations. For Old Portmuthians, these records often provide powerful points of connection—names, faces, and moments that resonate decades later. 

Visual material is a particular strength of the collection. Photographs of buildings, staff, sports teams, and school events chart the physical and social development of the School, while issues of The Portmuthian capture pupil voices and achievements over time. Together, these materials form a rich and evolving portrait of the PGS community. 

Over many years, successive archivists have carefully catalogued, preserved and interpreted the documents and artifacts to ensure they are both easy to locate and kept safe for future generations.  

Importantly, the archive is not a closed or static collection. It continues to grow as new material is added from the school, and as former pupils, families, and staff generously share items, memories, and documents. As we look ahead to the School’s 300th Anniversary in 2032, the archive will play an increasingly important role in helping us reflect on three centuries of education, community and change — and in shaping how that story is told for future generations. 

The Portsmouth Grammar School's archive exists to preserve, protect, and share this heritage. Whether supporting historical research, responding to alumni enquiries, or inspiring current pupils, it remains a living collection—rooted in the past, but still very much in the making.  

If you are interested in learning more about the archive and exploring its collections, please do get in touch with the School Archivist, Sarah Speller, at s.speller@pgs.org.uk. We are always delighted to hear from former pupils, families and members of the wider PGS community who would like to reconnect with the School’s history or contribute to its growing story.