"So Carnehan weeds out the pick of his men, and sets the two of the Army to show them drill and at the end of two weeks the men can manoeuvre about as well as Volunteers. So he marches with the Chief to a great big plain on the top of a mountain, and the Chiefs men rushes into a village and takes it; we three Martinis firing into the brown of the enemy".
Kipling "The Man Who Would Be King"
...and so a local history mini project starts... π
Back in the day Portsmouth (my local city), was far smaller than it is now.. so small, and important a site in fact, that they were able to surround it with a defensive wall. This was mostly to protect the dockyard supply depots, ammunition stores, and the inhabitants of the city a lot of whom who would have either worked in, or supported, the dockyard. To give access to the city there were four ornate gateways - so I thought it might be fun to go and visit them in turn..
First though some preamble....
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1797 Ordnance Survey map - the walls were well developed and encompassed both city and dockyard in almost a single uninterrupted length by this point in time.. |
The defences of the city went through multiple stages of development (of course π) - and given this is about the city gates, I have focussed purely on the city defences, rather than work also done to defend the dockyard..
- Earthen ramparts protecting the land side of the port were first built in the 14th century
- These were strengthened by Henry VIII in the 16th century as part of a general improvement in the area (Southsea Castle was built about the same time, and was famously where he was supposed to have been when Mary Rose sank) - by 1542, Portsmouth was surrounded by defensive ramparts and towers built from earth and wood.
- Improvements continued through Elizabeth's reign with many of the towers being converted to stone, and in some cases becoming full on bastions
- By far the most significant update to the fortifications was done during the 17th Century though, when in 1665, Charles II ordered Bernard de Gomme to begin the reconstruction of Portsmouth's fortifications. I think from my reading, De Gomme was a military engineer on a par with with the (probably) better known Vauban. Among many other things
- The city walls were rebuilt.
- A (second) moat was also added with a new defensive line being constructed between the two moats.
- A ravelin was added at Landport where the London road entered the city (see map below).
- About 1730 the double moat system used around Portsmouth was abandoned with the outer moat being filled in - the sheer number of men required to defend it was too much
- In the 18th century, as Portsea continued to expand and grow around the dockyard a further series of ramparts and moats were constructed to protect this new settlement in the 1770s - the 1797 Ordnance survey above gives a view of the fortifications at the time .
In 1760 it was decided that for defensive purposes it made more sense to have the this gate in the centre of the northern ramparts rather than were it was (you'll note in de Gomme's map that the ravelin is not central to that stretch of wall, and the military mind was ever ordered.. π) so the old gate at the end of the High Street was dispensed with, and the Landport Gate constructed half way between Town Mount Bastion and Guy's Bastion (the two bastions at either end of the wall).
The design of the gate has been attributed to Nicholas Hawksmoor, though it was constructed after his death. It features a simple stone arch built of Portland stone with octagonal turret above. It would originally have been flanked by ramparts, and had a drawbridge which led to the Landport Ravelin, from which a smaller drawbridge would lead to solid ground (a lot of the area outside the old city was marsh back then) and to what was then known as the London Road.
One last map - this one dates from 1860 and shows the access to the London Road via the ravelin..
Sorry - I lied - I do like a map π. This one dates from 1797 and also shows the drawbridges/bridges ..
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Been having a clear out - can anyone use these?? Yours for the price of postage - either leave a comment (I won't publish), or use the 'contact me' button over on the side to contact me with an email address.. after two weeks with no takers they head for the recycle bin.. π
First off a couple of Arquebusiers.. these date from 2010
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I always enjoy your local history posts! My only experiences of Portsmouth being the ferry terminal!
ReplyDeleteCheers David.. I am a bit spoilt for choice living in a town with this number of historical connections though.. it could keep you busy for two lifetimes!
DeleteI'll take the 2 issues of Arqebusier off your hands?
ReplyDeleteCheers Ray - they're yours, please send me a message with either your email and/or your address using the "contact me" widget over on the right.. it's at the bottom of the column...
DeleteVery interesting post Steve. I love the detailed maps. They are all fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben - they're good aren't they - I really like the 1860 one and have tried to find the original in the local history section at the central library - so far no luck..
DeleteI love to see fortification maps and pictures. Thanks for putting these on and it will be very interesting to read about your visit. Sorry if I am being dense and misreading the maps/photograph but would not the Landport ravelin be on the right out of the shot of the 1870 photo with the Townmount bastion being on the left. I am not being picky and am probably making a fool of myself (also wanted to show you that I have been reading your post carefully!) but if I am wrong I want to get my head round the layout.
ReplyDeleteThink you're right, Jim.. that must be the footbridge to Townmount we can see.. well spotted!
DeleteNice maps Steve. I’m surprised to learn that any of the original defence features are still there.
ReplyDeleteHiya JBM.. precious few/none of the landward features left, most were removed in the 1870/80's - they used convict labour apparently.... a fair few of the seaward facing one's remain though
DeleteThank you for another fascinating piece of local history. I have often driven past Landport gate without knowing its significance, and have wondered how Ravelin Park near Landport Terrace came by its name. You've solved that mystery for me.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dave - we're even Steven's as I wasn't aware of Ravelin Park until you mentioned it! I reckon that may have been the location of the East Ravelin - or thereabouts - which would have been defending East and Town Mount Bastions.. nothing left now of course, unfortunately.. :o)
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