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Description: | Portchester had become an important port in Roman times but the growing prosperity of Britain attracted the attention of the piratical Saxon tribes of northern Europe and by 300 the southern and eastern coasts of Britain were a regular target for raiders. The Romans then built a line of defences along the coasts and these forts, including Portchester, were known as the forts of the Saxon Shore. The original Roman walls of the fort still remain to a large extent although later altered and used by successive rulers. Both the Land Gate, leading to Castle Street and the Water Gate leading to the shore can be seen. The water gate, situated next to the graveyard, was supplied by ships bringing men and goods which could tie up just a few feet away.
St Mary's Church is in the foreground surrounded by the walled Roman fort. It was built by Henry 1 as a priory for Augustinian monks in 1133, leaving however for Southwick by 1145. Over the years it had been used as a prison on several occasions so it was in a poor state of repair.. It was restored during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne and again in the 1880's. It celebrated its 850th anniversary in 1983.
Opposite the church is the Norman Castle built mainly by Henry 1. The great keep dominates the inner bailey and was built in the 1120's, although it was later heightened. It was intended both as a stronghold and as a place of temporary royal residence. In the reign of Richard 11 (1377-1399) the castle was remodelled in two stages. The first remodelling was carried out by Sir Robert Assheton, who was resident Constable of the castle from 1376-1380. He made himself comfortable quarters in the eastern part of the inner bailey and built Assheton's Tower. This tower is situated to the right of the keep in the inner bailey. Much more substantial work was carried out by Richard 11 himself in 1396-1399 creating a small, well appointed palace within the south western part of the inner bailey. Ruins of this still survive, showing the outlines of the Great Hall and Great Chamber. The gatehouse to the inner bailey was remodelled several times during the life of the castle.
Portchester castle was sold by the government in 1632 but in later years was leased as a prison for Dutch and French prisoners of war. It became an ancient monument in 1926.
References:
1. Emery, John. 1985. Fareham in old picture postcards, p. 93-94.
2. Lloyd, David W. 1974. Buildings of Portsmouth and its environs, p. 53-54. | Format: | image/jpeg | License: | http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=gateway&f=generic_sitetext%2ehtm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&cms_con_core_subtype%3acms_con_text_what=copyright&%3acms_sys_group=%22sopse%22 | Rights holder: | The News, Portsmouth | Subjects: | King Henry 1 Assheton's Tower street Queen Elizabeth 1 architecture house aerial photograph churchyard Roman Norman Castle Street building church Saxon Shore St Mary's Church fort gate tower Assheton. Robert prison Portchester Castle castle Queen Anne King Richard 11 wall | Temporal: | start=1986-10-01; end=1986-10-31; | Source: | Sense of place SE | Creator: | The News, Portsmouth | Identifier: | http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | image/jpeg | Go to resource |
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