The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 49 No.4 | March 2023

Member’s article

The History and Future of Bastion No.1,

The Past In 1660 King Charles II ordered better coastal defences for England. In 1774 Sir Bernard de Gomme began the overall fortification of the Portsmouth area including the Gosport Lines. This work continued for half a century. By 1790 England was at war with France. Servicemen were stationed at Forton Barracks and at Fort Monkton on the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. In 1795 the Reverend Richard Bingham raised funds to build the Vicarage opposite Trinity Church. However, under protest he had to sell the land and lease the house to the army, which was occupied by the Garrison Commander. Number 1 Bastion was the last to be built in 1802 by convict labour. The Bastion never fired a shot in anger, and is believed to be one of only three in the country. Visiting today you enter the Bastion through the new large oak double gates opposite Trinity Church. To the right is an embankment with powder and shell stores on the ground level. The area in front was the parade ground. The grass

the 14 pivot gun emplacements. Walking towards Haslar Bridge and the footpath to Rampart Row on the left is the Caponier built after 1853 with slots cut in to the brick wall to allow rifle fire on any invading troops. Across the moat is the sluice gate built in about1840 to control water levels. The Bastion is a rare survivor of an 1802 military rampart that formed the defences of Portsmouth Harbour. The Bastion is a Scheduled Ancient Monument The Present The friends of the Bastion were formed in December 2018 following the interest in preventing this historic monument and Gosport landmark falling into disrepair. Gosport Council received a grant from the Coastal Revival Fund. Invasive sycamore and overgrown brambles together with 12 tonnes of litter were removed. The site is home to badger setts, bats, and numerous butterflies and moths are observed including the protected Jersey Tiger moth.

slope gives you access to the Terre Plein (Platform) which mounted

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