Portchester Castle

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Portchester Castle is one of the most remarkable fortified sites in Europe, combining the most complete Roman fort walls in northern Europe with a medieval castle built within their enclosure. The Roman fort, known as Portus Adurni, was constructed around 280 AD as one of the Saxon Shore forts defending the south coast from seaborne raiders. The massive flint and stone walls, with their distinctive D-shaped bastions, still stand to nearly their original height on all four sides. After the Norman Conquest, a castle was built in the north-west corner of the Roman enclosure, with a great tower added in the twelfth century. The castle served as a royal residence, a garrison, and a marshalling point for armies departing for France. Henry V assembled his forces here before the Agincourt campaign in 1415. In later centuries the outer bailey was used as a prisoner-of-war camp during the Napoleonic Wars, and the graffiti carved by French prisoners can still be seen on the walls. The castle is managed by English Heritage and is open to visitors throughout the year. The keep offers views across Portsmouth Harbour, and the Augustinian priory church of St Mary, founded within the fort walls in the twelfth century, remains in use as the parish church.