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The Round Tower is a fortification at the entrance to
In the 1490s the tower was rebuilt in stone. In the 1680s a line of ramparts was added that connected the tower to the square tower. The upper section was later rebuilt during the
Round Tower
– Portsmouth City Council {{Hampshire-struct-stub Forts in Portsmouth Tourist attractions in Portsmouth Grade I listed buildings in Hampshire
Portsmouth harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Portsmouth and Gosport in Hampshire. It is a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.
It is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically i ...
. It is a Grade I listed building.
History
The site was originally occupied by a wooden tower before being replaced by a stone one.The wooden tower
The wooden tower was built between 1418 and 1426 on the orders ofKing Henry V
Henry V (16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422), also called Henry of Monmouth, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1413 until his death in 1422. Despite his relatively short reign, Henry's outstanding military successes in the Hu ...
, or c1415.
In 1422, a defensive chain that could be raised in an emergency was built from the round tower across the harbour entrance.
The stone tower
In the 1490s the tower was rebuilt in stone. In the 1680s a line of ramparts was added that connected the tower to the square tower. The upper section was later rebuilt during the Napoleonic wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fre ...
. Between 1847 and 1850 the roof of the tower was modified to serve as a gun platform. Portsmouth city council purchased the tower in 1958.
See also
*Fortifications of Portsmouth
The fortifications of Portsmouth are extensive due to its strategic position on the English Channel and role as home to the Royal Navy. For this reason, Portsmouth was, by the 19th century, one of the most fortified cities in the world. The fort ...
References
External links
Round Tower
– Portsmouth City Council {{Hampshire-struct-stub Forts in Portsmouth Tourist attractions in Portsmouth Grade I listed buildings in Hampshire