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New Inn, Sarisbury
Holly Hill House, Sarisbury
Coldeast Hospital, Sarisbury
Bus Station, West Street, Fareham.
Portchester Castle, 18th century
The Bugle, West Street, Fareham
Castle Street, Portchester
Castle Street, Portchester
Portchester Castle and Barracks, Portchester, early 19th century
St Mary's Church, Portchester
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| Portchester Castle from the lake |
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| Brief Description: View showing Roman walls and Norman keep of Portchester castle from the lake with rowing boat, oarsman and passenger with top hat, about 1840. |
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| Subject Date: About 1840 |
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| Creator: E Fudge; (Copied by: Dine, Derek; Hampshire County Library;) |
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| Owner: Hampshire Library and Information Service |
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| Contributor: Hampshire Library and Information Service |
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| Full Description: Portchester Castle stands on the tip of a promontory, with a good view over the whole of Portsmouth harbour. It is in essence, a Roman fortress. The outer walls are laid out in an almost perfect square with the gateways precisely in the centre of each wall, twenty rounded bastions at absolutely regular intervals and a wall walk and parapet ran around the whole enclosure. The walls were further defended by a system of V-shaped ditches. Though many times repaired, it remains the only one in southern Europe standing complete and with the walls to their full height. The Roman fortress was one of several built to defend Britain against an Anglo-Saxon invasion. Unlike the forts of the early empire, they contained little in the way of solidly built installations but the headquarters building, the commanders house and a bath block were usually of stone. The first military occupation of Portchester probably ceased about 296, having lasted less than twenty years. By 300 the fort was squalid and overcrowded and full of squatters or refugees with rubbish piling up against the walls. However it was again in military use by 340 but again by 370 the fort was abandoned and remained vacant until the final withdrawal of the Roman forces about 410.
The Saxons then occupied the fort in the early 6th century for many generations. Under Alfred and his son Edward, Portchester became one of a series of strongholds across southern England to defend the coast against the Vikings.
During the 12th century the fort was transformed into one of the great royal castles on the south coast. The castle fashioned out of the Roman fort was intended both as a stronghold and as a place of temporary royal residence. The Roman walls were maintained as outer defences, and most of the original fort became the outer bailey or yard of the castle. This was done mainly during the reign of Henry 1 (1100-1135) possibly under his direct command. Henry also founded an Augustinian priory within the walls in 1133.
The priory moved away between 1145 and 1153 to Southwick but seemed to have maintained a cell at Portchester until the 15th century before finally demolishing the buildings.
Many members of English royalty have visited the castle over the years. Henry 11 stayed in 1163 and housed his treasure in the keep. Both King John and Henry 111 are said to have visited on several occasions and Edward 111 used it as his headquarters whilst preparing for the battle of Crecy. Henry V111 and Anne Boleyn stayed here in 1535. Queen Elizabeth 1l held court there and Charles 11 came about 1626.
References:
1. Emery, John. 1985. Fareham in old picture postcards, p. 90-93.
2. Rigold, S E. 1985. Portchester Castle.
3. Lloyd, David W. 1974. Buildings of Portsmouth and its environs, p. 53-54.
Copy photograph of a painting. |
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| Place: Portchester, Fareham Borough, Hampshire |
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| Subject: castle, Portchester Castle, building, fort, keep, Norman keep, walls, Roman walls, lake, Portchester Lake, river Wallington, transport, rowing boat, dinghy, forest, Forest of Bere, Saxon, Viking |
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| Name Subject: King Alfred, King Edward the Elder, King Henry 1, King Henry 11, King John, King Henry 111, King Henry V111, Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth 1, King Charles 11 |
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| Content Type: Photograph |
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| Location: Fareham Library |
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| Local Ref: 327/4/1 |
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| Unique ID: hs-hl-hs2365-i-00-000.jpg |
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| IPR: Hampshire Library and Information Service - Hampshire County Council |
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