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© 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
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© 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