Event/Activity EPM308 - Descriptive Buildings Record (Level 2) at Casemate at Bastion 3, Hilsea Lines, Portsmouth

An historic building recording of the interior of Casemate 5, Bastion 3, Hilsea Lines was carried by Wessex Archaeology on behalf of Portsmouth City Council on the 31st August 2023. The work was undertaken ahead of the proposed renovation of the casemate for use as an educational interpretation room. Proposed renovation works comprised relacing the existing floorboards and thoroughly cleaning and removing loose paint and rust from a blast shield. Casemate 5 forms part of the mid-19th century Hilsea Lines Scheduled Monument (NHLE ref: 1001861) and falls within the Portsmouth City Council Hilsea Lines Conservation Area No. 27. An historic building recording was requested by Historic England as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent for the work. A combination of documentary research, metric and photographic surveys were used in order to undertake the historic building recording. A basic/visual record of the casemate in accordance with a mixed Historic England Level 1 and 2 record was made, with the walls and vaulted ceiling recorded to Level 1 and the wooden floor photographed and recorded to Level 2. The on-site recording included the rear west side of Bastion 3 in addition to the interior of Casemate 5. A photogrammetric survey of the casemate floor was carried out in order to produce an orthographic image floor plan. Photographs of the floor structure and rear elevations of Bastion 3 were used to produce a photogrammetric model. The Wessex Archaeology site report contains the full details and results of the documentary research and surveys.