In 1815 the Russell family bought a small peninsula of land and 18 acres (7 ha) of mudflats off the SE corner of Farlington Marshes.
In 1819 they built this famous local house, The house remained there for over 150 years, and the family created and grew a successful oyster farming business.
Demand for local oysters stopped abruptly for a while in 1902 when The Very Reverend William Stephens, Dean of Winchester, died after eating contaminated oysters from nearby Emsworth at a Mayoral Banquet.
Despite this catastrophe, commercial oyster production continued until the 1950s.
Did You Know?
The Russell family’s income was also supplemented by the proceeds of smuggling, if local rumours are to be believed!
To withstand the winter weather and harbour wind and waves, the brick walls were covered with tar to waterproof them. In 1895 both the house and causeway show up on local maps. In 1919 and 1960 maps, they are still both still featured, with the house appearing to be attached to the land.
Did You Know?
The Oyster House, Farlington, was also known at various times as as Oyster Cove, The Oyster Water House, Oyster Watch House, The Lone House, The Black House and the Old Black House. The area of water surrounding where the house once stood is still known as ‘Russell’s Lake’.
The house served as a WW2 decoy site to protect Portsmouth from being bombed. It fell into ruin after that, with only the low foundations visible at low tide today.
Did You Know?
In the Burial Register for 1841 to 1906 the Parish records show “man found drowned in mud near Oyster House”. What a horrible way to go!
- See the full Farlington and Broadmarsh trail map – click here
- Find out more about oyster farming in the harbour – click here
- What happened to the Dean of Winchester in 1902? – click here