Southsea Castle

undefined, Solent News

Southsea Castle was built in 1544 on the orders of Henry VIII as part of a chain of coastal fortifications designed to protect the south coast from French and Spanish invasion. The castle commands the eastern entrance to Portsmouth Harbour and the anchorage at Spithead, and it was from a vantage point near here that Henry watched the Mary Rose sink during the Battle of the Solent in 1545. The castle has been modified and strengthened over the centuries, serving variously as a garrison, a military prison, and a coastal defence battery. During the Second World War it was fitted with anti-aircraft guns and played a role in the defence of Portsmouth Harbour. The castle was handed to Portsmouth City Council after the war and is now open as a free museum and heritage attraction. The castle sits at the western end of Southsea seafront, surrounded by a dry moat and open lawns. The interior houses exhibitions on the castle's history and the Tudor defences of the Solent. The ramparts offer views across Spithead, and the castle grounds are a popular gathering point for locals and visitors.