© Elizabeth Beston 2019gohistory.co.uk

SOUTHSEA CASTLE

Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, HampshirePO5 3PA

This castle was built

for King

Henry VIII in 1544 -

1545It’s said the King designed it himself!

The Battle of the Solent

The English vs The French

This is when the famous Mar

y Rose sank

Henry VIII was said to be at the c

astle during the battle

1627

There was a fire in the

keep

It was not repaired until 8

years later

Fortified ce

ntre of the

castle

It was also u

sed as accom

odation

and storage

when first b

uilt

For how many years was

Southsea Castle in Military service?

a) Less than 100 years b) 250 years c) Over 400 years

an

sw

ers:

c,c

,b,c

July 1545

© Elizabeth Beston 2019gohistory.co.uk

English Civil War

(1642 - 1651)

Parliamentarians were

fighting against

the Royalists (supporte

rs of Charles I)

3 September 164

2:

Parliamentarians in

vaded the castle w

ith over 400 men

The guy in charg

e of the castle a

t the time was Ca

ptain Chaloner

The castle surre

ndered without an

y deaths.

This surrender

almost didn’t hap

pen. Why?

a) The Parliame

ntarians were p

repared to blow

the whole castle

up

b) The men in

the castle slep

t through the w

hole thing

c) The Captain

was really, real

ly drunk

1759There was an accidental explosion that killed 17 people (including some children)

The damage was very bad and the castle was almost demolishedBut instead, the castle was renovated in 1814

Lots of additions added during

periods of threat and at other

times the castle was neglected

What was the castle used for in Victorian times? a) A nightclub b) A military prison c) A private home

On-siteWhat is the passageway that goes under the dry m

oat

from the castle to the Counterscarp Gallery?

A lighthouse was a

dded in 1820 to

help ships enter t

he harbour.

When did it stop bei

ng used?

a) 1821

b) 1921

c) It’s still in use

today!

1960Purchased by Portsmouth

City CouncilNo longer in military use