Monument MPM36 - Ten Gun Battery

Coastal battery connecting the Saluting Platform and Square Tower. Probably adapted from a 16th century wall as part of Sir Bernard de Gomme's remodelling of the Portsmouth defences during the 1660s to 1680s. The battery was remodelled during the 1860s, and became part of the promenade in the mid-20th century.

Coastal battery, known as 'Ten Gun Battery', connecting the Saluting Platform and Square Tower. The battery was probably adapted from a 16th century wall as part of Sir Bernard de Gomme's remodelling of the Portsmouth defences during the 1670s and 1680s.

Talbot Edward's illustration of 1716 depicts the battery as having arched embrasures (gun positions) with a walk-way above and sally port near the south corner of the Square Tower. By the 1840s the battery is shown with open embrasures and no sally port.

During the 1860s the gun platforms were raised and the depth of the seaward wall increased to 3.5m. The battery was also reduced to eight guns after this date. When the battery became part of the promenade in the mid-20th century the features to the rear of the parapet were backfilled and concreted over.

Evidence of the battery's development was revealed during excavations in the late-1980s. Five of eight arched embrasures were found behind the stone built sea wall, and probably dated to the 17th century phase of construction. The 19th century red brick built rear retaining and parapet wall, shell recesses and firing step were found in good condition, the shell recesses remaining completely intact beneath a concrete and earth infill.

[1]

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Substantial evidence of previous defensive works, mainly dating to the 19th century, revealed during works to stabilise the sea defences reported in Archaeology in Hampshire 1989. Red brick parapet wall, shell recesses and firing step were recorded to be in restorable condition. Evidence of earlier gun embrasures in the rear of the seaward stone wall probably dated to the 17th century and were in a poor condition.

[2, p62]


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Trial hole excavated in 1976. Actually on top of 10 gun battery. In file A under misc. sites.

[3?]

<1> Fox, R, 1991, Portsmouth's Ramparts Revisited (Bibliographic reference). SPM351.

<2> Fox, R, 1990, Archaeology in Hampshire Annual Report for 1989 (Bibliographic reference). SPM197.

<3> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards (Index). SPM1.