John Pounds was a humble shoemaker, but with a heart. He took it upon himself to give a basic education to 'ragged' children, in other words, those that did not have clothes good enough for even Sunday School. He started this teaching in 1818 and over time became quite a folk hero in his home city of Portsmouth. It was decades before formal education became available to all.

A few years ago, a replica of his workshop was constructed at the side of the John Pounds Church in the High Street.

The name has some curiosity to me, for my great grandfather is noted as a visitor to the 'John Pounds Institute' in the 1891 census. This was close by, but I don't know the actual nature of the place, but wonder if it was some kind of hostel.