Monument MPM391 - Beeston's Bastion

Site of Beeston's Bastion, part of the former line of fortifications that protected the town of Portsmouth. The defences were demolished during the 1860s/1870s.

Site of Beeston's Bastion, part of the former line of fortifications that protected the town of Portsmouth. The bastion was situated on the North Western corner of the town walls. The town defences were demolished during the 1860s/1870s. [1]

The internal composition of the wall and wooden foundations of the bastion were observed during the redevelopment of the Gunwharf site in 1999. This showed that the wall appeared to have been constructed out of chalk blocks mortared together on a foundation of wooden piles. The wall may originally have had stone facing blocks, although none were recorded. [2]

<1> Patterson, B.H., 1987, A Military Heritage A History of Portsmouth & Portsea Town Fortifications (Bibliographic reference). SPM43.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 1999, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth: Interim Report on Archaeological Watching brief (Unpublished document). SPM552.