Southsea Castle

Built in 1544 by Henry VIII, Southsea Castle defended Portsmouth from French and Holy Roman Empire threats. Positioned on Portsea Island, it featured an angular design, a square keep, and gun platforms. Quickly constructed, it housed brass and iron artillery.

In 1545, a French fleet landed troops on the Isle of Wight, leading to the Battle of the Solent, where the Mary Rose sank. Henry, present in Portsmouth, was depicted visiting the castle. The French withdrew, but fortifications were strengthened. Edward VI inspected the castle in 1552.

By the 1600s, Southsea Castle had deteriorated, lacking guns and supplies. Fires in 1626 and 1640 damaged the keep. During the Civil War in 1642, Parliamentarian forces captured it, leading to Portsmouth’s surrender.

Later strengthened under Charles II, it gained new fortifications in the 1680s. In 1688, it changed hands during the revolution against James II. A 1759 explosion killed 17, prompting the construction of an external powder store.

The castle’s importance grew during the Napoleonic Wars, leading to expansion in 1813. A lighthouse was added in 1828, active until 2017. It served as a military prison from 1844 to 1850. New defenses were installed in the 1850s, but by the 1890s, they were obsolete. Breech-loading guns and searchlights were added to counter torpedo boats. Meanwhile, Southsea Common developed into a seaside resort, limiting artillery practice by 1884.

In the early 20th century, Southsea Castle was part of the "Fortress Portsmouth" defense plan, equipped with heavy artillery. During World War I, it was manned by Royal Garrison Artillery units, later replaced by volunteers. A 3-inch anti-aircraft gun was added to counter zeppelin threats. By 1929, it had become a tourist attraction, with visitors watching practice firings. Portsmouth City Council purchased Southsea Common in 1922, turning it into a park.

In World War II, the castle served as the headquarters for Portsmouth’s coastal defenses, manned by regular army and home guard units. The batteries on either side were re-activated and modernised. Despite poor living conditions, it withstood incendiary bomb attacks. In 1940, tensions with French naval vessels led to an armed standoff, but British forces seized the ships under Operation Grasp.

Declared obsolete after the war, the castle was sold to Portsmouth City Council in 1960, restored, and opened as a museum in 1967. Today, Southsea Castle remains a tourist attraction, housing historic cannons and protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Geni