Portchester Castle

Portchester Castle is a medieval castle and former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire. It is located at grid reference SU624045, occupying a commanding position at the head of Portsmouth Harbour. The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and a Grade I listed building. The castle has been in the ownership of the Southwick Estate since the 17th century but is managed by English Heritage and open to visitors throughout the year. It is the only Roman fort in northern Europe with the majority of the walls and bastions complete and still standing.

The Norman church, St. Mary's, which stands in the south-east corner of the grounds, falls within the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth.

Roman fort

Main article: Portus Adurni

It is thought likely the fort of Portus Adurni mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum is Portchester Castle and may have been a base of the Classis Britannica. It was built on the site of the British fortification Caer Peris, possibly during the 3rd century to protect the southern coastline of Roman Britain (litus saxonicum, the Saxon Shore), from Saxon raiders.

There are many different opinions of when exactly the fort was constructed, but coin excavations suggest that the castle was built by Marcus Aurelius Carausius on the instructions of emperor Diocletian between AD 285 and 290.

Medieval castle and palace

Around 1090, William Mauduit, the lord of the local manor, built a small Norman castle in the north-west corner of the fort, with a single storey stone keep and wooden palisade on two sides. The old Roman walls became the outer bailey. William Pont de l'Arche acquired the castle in 1130 and founded the priory in the south-east corner of the outer bailey. By 1158, the castle had reverted to the Crown and, about 1180, the palisade was replaced with stone walls surrounded internally by domestic buildings. King John often stayed at Portchester Castle and was there when he heard of the loss of Normandy in 1204. There was major rebuilding work during the 14th century and Edward III assembled his 15,000 strong army there before leaving for France and victory at the Battle of Crecy. Richard II turned the castle into a magnificent palace, and Henry V spent the night at the castle before travelling to Southampton, thence France and the Battle of Agincourt. He undertook a Fleet Review at Portchester before leaving.

Decline to Napoleonic prison

After Henry VII founded the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, the castle lost its importance. It was last used in the 19th century as a gaol for over 7000 French prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars. Hospital Lane (formerly Seagates Lane), which flanks the western side of the castle, was the location of the prison hospital which survives today as Portchester House, a private residence. Those that died in captivity were often buried in what are now tidal mudflats to the south of the castle, their remains occasionally disturbed by storms.

Today

Today Portchester Castle is used mainly for recreation: the inner section of the castle accommodates displays and exhibits. The castle is a popular venue for school outings, while the sea front is frequented at high tide by anglers in pursuit of flounders and bass.

References

Further reading

  • Goodall, John (2008), Portchester Castle, London: English Heritage, ISBN  

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Team Locals
6 August 2014
As close as you'll get to the origins of Portsmouth. Built by Romans in the 3rd century AD and later taken over by Saxons, this castle sparked the settlements which became the city of Portsmouth.
Martin Queen
25 June 2020
Was a shame the castle was closed owing to covid but nice exercise walk great veiw of the bay
Carl Griffin
26 November 2015
Roman fort turned into Norman castle. Nice church within the walls.
Laydp 87
4 August 2012
Beautiful place, visit it
David Aleu
12 February 2011
Surroundings very muddy, be prepared if you come down here after a few days of rain.
Carlos Daniel Sundberg Perez
Amazing. Un lugar lleno de magia
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.3/10
55,214 people have been here
Map
0.1km from Church Lane, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 9QW, UK Get directions
Wed 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Fri 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sat 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Portchester Castle on Foursquare

Portchester Castle on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Portsmouth Marriott Hotel

starting $213

Premier Inn Portsmouth Port Solent

starting $74

Trafalgar Guest House

starting $83

Premier Inn Gosport

starting $86

Royal Maritime Club

starting $111

Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays

starting $285

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fort Brockhurst

Fort Brockhurst is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hilsea Lines

The Hilsea Lines are a line of 18th and 19th century fortifications

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
HMS Victory

HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mary Rose

The Mary Rose was an English Tudor carrack warship and one of the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
HMS Warrior (1860)

HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armour-plated warship, built

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fort Rowner

Fort Rowner is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England. It is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Spinnaker Tower

The Spinnaker Tower is a 170 m (557 ft 9 in)–high tower in Port

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Portsmouth Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, commonly known as

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tynemouth Castle and Priory

Tynemouth Castle is located on a rocky headland (known as Pen Bal

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wolvesey Castle

Wolvesey Castle is a ruined castle in Winchester, Hampshire, England.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Old Sarum

Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St Augustine's Abbey

St Augustine's Abbey was a Benedictine abbey in Canterbury, Kent,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Etal Castle

Etal Castle is a medieval English castle situated at Etal, Cornhill on

See all similar places