Porchester Castle

Porchester Castle

This fascinating site overlooking Portsmouth harbour has been a Roman fortress, a Norman stronghold and even a prisoner of war camp during the Napleonic Wars. Discover what life was like for the soldiers held here with sound installations, marvel at the well-preserved remains of the Roman fort and climb to the top of the 30-metre (100 ft) keep to take in breathtaking views over the Solent. Make the most of the wide open grounds and castle courtyard, and enjoy a family picnic surrounded by history.

Portchester Castle’s remarkable history begins in the 3rd century AD when the Romans built a vast fort here. In the 5th century this waterside fortress was transformed into a Saxon settlement, and after the Conquest of 1066 it became a Norman castle. For medieval kings it was an important embarkation point for crossing the Channel.

From 1665 Portchester served as a prisoner-of-war camp – a role that reached its height during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars of 1793–1815, when it housed up to 8,000 prisoners, of many nationalities and backgrounds, at any one time.