Listed Building: THE SQUARE TOWER (1386904)

The Square Tower fortification and Governor's residence, now museum. c1494, extensively altered to form a powder magazine c1580 and then the Admiralty Victualling store c1780, reinstated as part of the fortifications mid C19; restored 1978-1985. Stone and brick. Flat stone paved roof with 3 restored mid C19 gun races facing south-west. EXTERIOR: south-west part 1 storey and north-east part 2 storeys. 2 bays. Main entrance facing south-east within enclosed yard has on right a 2-leaf late C20 copy of the original C18 doors with lower panels and vertical iron bars to upper panels set under a segmental stone arch with rusticated voussoirs and jambs. On first floor is a mid C18 2-leaf 20-pane casement. To left at saluting platform level is a late C20 boarded door leading to roof area and to late C20 visitors' viewing balcony. North-west facade has on left a late C20 boarded door set within C15 opening. On right is an C18 2-leaf casement set within C15 opening and further right is a late C20 replica of the original C18 panelled door with vertical iron bars to top panel. First floor has on left a mid C19 2-leaf 4-pane casement and on far right a late C20 glazed infill. On north-east side facing Broad Street is a niche edged with a wreath. This contains a late C20 copy of a gilded lead bust of Charles I by Hubrecht le Sueur (original restored and now deposited in the City Museum). Below are the Royal Arms on a small bracket and the inscription reads "After his travels through all France into Spain and having passed very many dangers both by sea and land he arrived here the 5th day of October 1623". INTERIOR: the late C20 restoration has uncovered Tudor features including two fireplaces and C18 features which include a stone stairway on north-east side running from ground to former basement. (Berridge DW: Restoration of Square Tower, Old Portsmouth, 1985: Portsmouth: 1985-; Balfour A: Portsmouth: London: 1970-: 15; Corney A: Fortifications in Old Portsmouth: Portsmouth: 1965-: 15, 16, 17; Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 55, 57, 58 AND 59).