castle castle historically known south castle castle artillery fort originally constructed henry_viii hampshire formed king device programme protect invasion france defended eastern approach portsmouth castle square central rectangular gun platforms east west angled rear early english example trace style fortification popular continent depicted henry_viii visiting castle despite fires remained service saw brief action start english civil war stormed parliamentary forces castle expanded sir period neglect 18th century redesigned napoleonic wars brief period use military prison 1840s fortification expanded 1850s 1860s additional gun batteries east west sides defences upgraded century fears french invasion formed plan defending portsmouth world war interwar years fortifications stood castle saw service second world war involved operation grasp seizure french naval vessels portsmouth harbour obsolete sold restored appearance opened tourist attraction receiving visitors history 16th century castle built consequence international tensions england france final years reign king henry viii traditionally crown left coastal defences local lords communities taking modest role building maintaining fortifications france empire remained conflict maritime raids common actual invasion england unlikely modest defences based simple towers existed south west sussex coast impressive works north england general fortifications limited scale henry broke pope long standing marriage catherine catherine aunt took personal insult resulted france empire declaring alliance henry pope encouraging countries attack england invasion england appeared certain response henry issued order called device giving instructions defence realm time invasion construction forts english coastline immediate threat passed resurfaced france threatening invasion channel backed allies scotland henry issued device improve country defences particularly south coast castle built southern end protect deep water channel running royal naval base portsmouth work began early overall direction sir governor portsmouth supported dean captain garrison appointed master mason uncertain designed castle described majesty device typically indicated king taken personal role design abandoned earlier use semi circular fully covered flanking fire supporting walls instead angular design forming early imperfect adoption trace style fortification use work carried quickly risk french attack july brass guns mounted site cost came proceeds chalk stone timber brought neighbouring castle completed october formed fortification square rectangular gun platforms east west angled rear appointed new captain team soldiers gunners porter castle armed seven brass artillery pieces cannon cannon iron guns french invasion emerged admiral crossed channel arrived ships july landing troops henry fleet brief sortie resulting english flagship lost retreating safely protective fortifications henry present portsmouth time battle depicts visiting castle french expedition moved coast july bringing end immediate invasion threat henry gave orders additional improvements fortification summer including construction stone timber guard potential infantry attack spent night castle defences portsmouth 17th century early england peace france spain result coastal defences received little attention survey found ill prepared defence guns mounted walls stocks powder march fire broke destroyed interior generated panic ships moored nearby damage repaired loads timber sent use work fire broke causing damage store rooms start english civil war fighting broke portsmouth royalist forces led colonel command colonel held royalist captain supported small garrison men guns decided attack fortification infantry troops cavalry assault took place early hours morning september garrison positioned guns point inland attackers stormed moat demanded garrison surrender drinking heavily night refused discuss asked return later day fresh assault began garrison surrendered loss life capture castle meant left portsmouth position town surrendered significant garrison installed castle castle primarily prison early days restoration concerns potential dutch attack grew king charles_ii commissioned dutch born master engineer sir carry major scheme improve defences portsmouth including funding poor organisation meant work begin included constructed castle new castle gate projecting turrets redesign central large stone plaque gatehouse entrance bearing charles coat arms dated opposition grew catholic king military establishment portsmouth controlled king illegitimate son duke revolution broke period portsmouth defences important king potential exit route france late december route longer needed baron hand control protestant captain carter december portsmouth surrendered revolution days later traveller visited castle observed fine think little strength service 18th 19th centuries east castle badly damaged explosion august caused cooking sparks fell gunpowder stored castle men women children killed probably consequence event new powder store called built outside north castle second half century castle poor condition according contemporary account garrisoned old sergeant men sell master general ordnance duke richmond reported bad form deserve expense necessary repair proposed building modern fort coast instead end century coastal erosion destroyed 18th century grand battery outbreak revolutionary napoleonic wars end 18th century castle importance increased french invasion appeared imminent castle action pounder pounder guns available poor condition work begun expand castle direction fisher work carried mixture soldiers civilian contractors arguing easier contain costs prevent union activity project cost estimated fort extended north feet interior bailey redesigned brick moat rebuilt built round edge work finished final elements completed lighthouse commissioned admiralty constructed western gun platform rising feet base atop walls lighthouse keeper housed castle looked management military offenders south england decided bring use military prisons reduce pressure civilian area provide suitable military environment prisoners prison holding offenders supervision sergeant oversaw remaining artillery defences introduction shell guns steam ships 1840s created new risk french successfully attack south coast closure prison seven inch guns mounted walls brick concerns defences auxiliary batteries built alongside castle house additional guns end war large review fleet attended queen_victoria numerous tourists naval launched mock attack castle responded firing volley inch guns causing chaos crowds watching base fortification fresh worries france combined development rifled cannon iron clad warships led defence united_kingdom expressing fears security portsmouth lieutenant colonel oversaw broader programme work country supported lieutenant colonel fisher new gun batteries underground magazines constructed west east sides castle form acre complex enclosed defensive wall old castle range direction finding house weapons left slowly decline site armed rifled muzzle loading guns design praised visiting russian military engineer 1890s castle defences obsolete development torpedo boats superior breech loading guns response pounder quick firing guns installed deal torpedo boat threat east battery converted hold breech loading guns cost government taken possession surrounding castle ensure remained open accessible fort guns deployed fill marshes onwards surrounding area began develop urban centre seaside facilities established start century 1840s new private housing built edge common military naval officers construction railway line london enabled settlement named castle turn prosperous resort leased local government population grew practising firing castle guns difficult 20th 21st centuries start 20th century formed fortress portsmouth plan defending east battery equipped inch guns inch guns west battery armed pounders inch gun world war castle manned number company later units transferred france replaced response threat german raids inch cwt anti aircraft gun added castle castle remained active military use conflict tourist attraction visitors able watch castle garrison carry practice sea common bought turned park west battery disarmed second world war occupied castle war castle manned range units including coastal artillery regular army home guard east battery armed inch mark guns living conditions poor described member cold wet horrible castle protected barrage balloons hit bombs little damage war castle involved armed stand french naval vessels fall france french ships way british ports including portsmouth fears rose warships leave fall german hands june castle ordered man guns prepared fire french navy prevent departure gun albeit ready action fleet french destroyer responded aiming guns castle shooting ensued july british forces boarded seized ships ending confrontation obsolete post war years sold council carried restoration work archaeological surveys removing later features landscaping surrounding area opened museum lighthouse remained operation west east batteries partially demolished council 1960s 21st century castle operated tourist attraction council received visitors castle houses collection cannon pounder inch ton gun location grounds castle pounder pounder cwt rifled pounder breech dating castle protected law scheduled ancient monument
Southsea Castle