PORTCHESTER CASTLE
The earliest reliable evidence of a fort at Portchester is in the late third century, there are some traces of a first century settlement
but there is no documentary evidence to support this.
The walls and defencive towers (bastions) which form the the outer courtyard (bailey) of Portchester Castle, are the remains of a large fort
built during the last quarter of the third century.
At that time the northern provinces of the Roman Empire were threatened by pirates and babarian forces, so a coastal defensive position was
required.
In AD 285 Carausius was given command of the fleet to clear the sea of barbarian raiders, he realised the importance of Britain and seized power,
but his rule was short lived as he was assassinated in AD293. Coins found at Portchester suggest that the castle was built after AD260-268
approximately at the start of Carausius' campaign against the raiders.
The fort walls defended by twenty bastions enclosed an area of 8.5 acres and were surrounded by a double ditch.
After its intial use, the fort doesn't appear to have been occupied on a regular basis until the end of the century.
In AD904 Portchester became the property of King Edward the Elder, the fort was then used as a defencive base to help protect Wessex from
Viking attacks.
By 1086 Portchester was one manor granted to William Mauduit a Norman supporter of King William. By the time of Mauduit's death in 1100 the
inner bailey had been constructed, the landgate rebuilt and the first phase of the keep as a single storey structure took place.
The keep was expanded to a two storey building in the early part of the twelth century by Williams son Robert.
Robert was drowned in 1120 at which time the castle reverted to the crown.
William Pont de l'Arche, the sherrif of Hampshire aquired the castle along with Robert Mauduits daughter in about 1130. He founded a
priory at the castle in approximately 1128. The canons of the priory later moved to a new site at Southwick around 1148.
William Pont de l'Arche died at about 1148 and the castle seems to have passed through several hands until returning to the crown in about 1158.
The castle was used for the shipping of bullion to Normandy in 1163-4, Henry II stayed at the castle on several occasions.
In 1173 Henry's son the 'Young King' rebelled against his father and the castle was armed and repaired, a garrison of knights
were stationed at the castle.
A considerable amount of building took place at this time two single storey building on the western side, a hall at the northern side and a
single storey range next to the gatehouse. After this building work was completed by about 1181, very little was then changed for the next century.
King Richard came to Portsmouth and Portchester on his two visits to England, he had the castle further fortified when it was feared
that his brother John might invade England.
When he became King, John often stayed at Portchester, he was at the castle when Normandy was lost in 1204.
The French army captured Portchester and Chichester in 1215 with no resistance.
In a survey of the castle in 1275, it is described as old and ruinous, unsuitable for habitation.
During the Hundred Years War in the forteenth century, the castle was constantly refurbished and the defences upgraded in fear of
attack from the Channel. Edward III stayed at the castle whilst assembling his army of 15,000 men, before embarking to victory at Crecy.
The development of Portsmouth largely made the castle redundant and it eventually passed into civil ownership in around 1639.
The castle was used to house Dutch prisoners of war from 1662-5.Up to 7,000 French prisoners of war were held here during the Napoleonic
wars of 1794 - 1763 within the Keep and other temporary buildings in the enclosure.
