Images: Portchester castle from outer bailey, keep from exterior, keep from inner bailey, Richard II apartments, Roman curtain walls, and artist’s reconstruction view ca. 1580 by English Heritage (photos: C.A. Stanford)
Acquired: 1509 (by inheritance)
Portchester castle’s fortifications date back to Roman Britain, and it had been a significant fortress through the medieval period. In the sixteenth century, its nearness to Portsmouth made it still a useful military site. A new storehouse was built in 1527 for the castle and in 1535 the storehouse roof was also repaired.
The castle housed royal quarters (originally built by Richard II along the south and east sides of the inner bailey). It is likely here that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were housed while on a progress visit to Portchester castle in 1535. However, the Crown made no further repairs after this to the site until Elizabeth’s reign. Today Portchester’s ruins are managed by English Heritage and are open to the public.