Monument MPM439 - 18 GUN BATTERY AND FLANKING BATTERY, KINGS STAIRS, SALLYPORT, POINTBARRACKS

Surviving sections of the Portsmouth line of fortifications dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries comprising Eighteen Gun Battery, Flank Battery, Point Barracks, and the King's Stairs. The fortifications were incorporated into the promenade during the mid-20th century, and parts of the structures have been adapted for use as the Hotwall's Studios. A late-16th century stone firing platform, the upper parts of which were reconstructed in the 20th century, a short section of late-16th century sea wall and the remains of the stone abutment to the late-17th century King James' Gate, have also survived.

Eighteen Gun Battery
Eighteen Gun Battery was built during the 1680s as part of the remodelled fortifications designed by Charles II's military engineer Sir Bernard de Gomme. The battery, constructed entirely of stone, was the first permanent defensive structure to be built between the square and round towers. An earlier temporary gun battery made from timber had been erected in c1540 as part of Henry VIII's line of coastal defences. [1]

De Gomme's battery had 18 casemates, the four nearest the Round Tower positioned at an angle to form a flank battery to defend Point Beach. A small Sally Port was incorporated at the eastern end of the battery to allow access to the beach. Between 1847 and 1850 the defences were remodelled and the casemates of Eighteen Gun Battery were deepened to accommodate 68 pounder carronades. A second tier of four casemates for 32 pounder guns was added to the flank battery, the walls of which incorporated loop-holes for musketry fire. The eastern Sally Port was sealed up during this period. The 19th century modifications were largely carried out in brick. [1]

The gunports to the casemates were blocked during the 20th century, with the exception of the fifth bay from the north known as the 'Common Sally Port' [2]. This casemate had been opened as a sally port during the 18th century but had been closed again in the 19th century [1]. The casemates were converted into the Hotwalls Studios, comprising 13 artists studious, waterfront brasserie and café in 2015/16.


King's Stairs
The 'King's Stairs' were constructed during the 18th century between King James' Gate (later moved to its current site in Burnaby Road, see MPM9) and the Square Tower. They consisted of a stepped landing stage and Watergate which provided direct access into the town through the fortifications. [1]

The sally port to the King's Stairs, now known as the 'Old Sally Port', is set under a stone arch on which there is a plaque bearing the inscription 'From this place naval heroes innumerable have embarked to fight their Country's battles. Near this spot Catherine of Braganza landed in state May 14 1662 previous to her marriage to Charles II at the Domus Dei a week later'. [2]


Point Barracks
Point Barracks were built in 1848 to house the artillery gunners stationed on Eighteen Gun Battery, and had been enlarged by 1880. [3]

The barracks consisted of officers and soldiers quarters and administrative offices, enclosed by a high brick wall. Most of the barrack buildings and the surrounding wall were demolished in 1962-3 and only part of the main block of soldier's quarters and the caponiers (covered walkways) which linked them to the Round Tower and other barrack buildings remains. The soldier's quarters runs north-west between the Round Tower and Broad Street. It originally consisted of four small rooms with vaulted ceilings, which were cut in half to reveal the building in section when the rest of the barracks were demolished in the 1960s. The plan of the demolished barrack buildings can be seen marked out in cobbles. [1]

The structure was converted into the Hotwalls artist's studios in 2016.


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Fortifications, now monument. Eighteen Gun Battery and Flanking Battery. Late C17. By Sir Bernard de Gomme. Reconstructed 1847-50 when the casements were deepened and second tier of 3-gunports added to Flanking Battery. Ashlar stone with mid C19 brickwork in Flemish bond to north face and Flanking Battery. Roof-stone paved. 12 bays, 1-storey, Flanking Battery 2 storeys. Facing Broad Street, on left and at centre is a 2-leaf boarded door, each set under a segmental brick arch. Across front are 12 tunnel vaulted casements each with a round-headed stone gunport facing seaward (now blocked) set within a splayed recess with stone voussoir segmental arch, except fifth bay from north which has a late C18 Sallyport known as "The Common Sallyport" which replaced the gun port. In front of the fourth bay is a brick with stone stepped stairway to roof level, now promenade pedestrian way. The 4 casements on the right, each has a C20 boarded front infill, now toilets and store. Stone band over with stone capped parapet and attached railings. On right return is the 3 bay 2-storey Flanking Battery at right angles to the Round Tower (qv), each storey has 3 gun ports facing seawards. On left is a brick and stone stepped stairway to pedestrian level. Between Flanking Battery and Round Tower are 2 casements each with similar gun port to Eighteen Gun Battery. East of Eighteen Gun Battery is a short late C16 stone sea wall and further left the late C17 remains of the stone abutment to King James' Gate (demolished c1870 and re-erected in Burnaby Road) with open tunnel vaulted recess and boarded door on right set under a flat stone voussoir arch. Between former site of King James' gate and Square Tower (qv) is a late C16 stone firing platform, upper parts reconstructed in C20. On right is the late C18 "Old Sallyport" set under segmental stone arch which formerly had a stepped landing stage known as "The Kings Stairs". Inscription reads "From this place naval heroes innumerable have embarked to fight their Country's battles. Near this spot Catherine of Braganza landed in state May 14 1662 previous to her marriage to Charles II at the Domus Dei a week later". To north-east of Round Tower is the Point Barracks 1847-50 in Flemish bond brickwork with 4 tunnel vaulted chambers. The east facing front half demolished C20. On left 34 stone steps lead to firing platform. To left of Point Barracks adjoining Round Tower and on far right is a 1-storey brick gallery with stone slab roof. (Balfour A: Portsmouth: London: 1970-: 18; Corney A: Fortifications in Old Portsmouth: Portsmouth City Museums: 1965-: 25-29; Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 59; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Lloyd D: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Harmondsworth: 1967-: 422-424).

[2]

<1> Corney, A, 1973, Fortifications in Old Portsmouth - A Guide (Bibliographic reference). SPM388.

<2> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.

<3> Patterson, B.H., 1987, A Military Heritage A History of Portsmouth & Portsea Town Fortifications (Bibliographic reference). SPM43.