Portchester Timeline
Key events from undefined to present
Discover the key moments that shaped Portchester. Explore the events that define our community.
undefined
Construction of Portus Adurni
The Romans built a massive stone fort on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour as part of the Saxon Shore defensive chain. The fort, known as Portu...
undefined
Saxon Shore Fort Garrison
Portus Adurni served as one of the key forts in the Roman chain of coastal defences known as the Saxon Shore. A military garrison was stationed here t...
undefined
Saxon Settlement Within the Walls
After the Roman withdrawal, Saxon settlers occupied the old fort. Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of timber buildings, workshops and...
undefined
Augustinian Priory Founded
An Augustinian priory was founded within the walls of the Roman fort in 1133. The canons built a church and monastic buildings in the south-east corne...
undefined
Norman Keep Constructed
Henry I ordered the construction of a stone keep in the north-west corner of the Roman fort, creating an inner castle within the older enclosure. The ...
undefined
Richard II's Palace Buildings
Richard II invested heavily in Portchester Castle, adding domestic apartments and a palace range within the inner bailey. The work included a great ha...
undefined
Henry V Gathers Army for Agincourt
Henry V assembled his army and fleet at Portchester and the surrounding area before sailing for France and the Battle of Agincourt. The castle served ...
undefined
English Civil War Siege
During the English Civil War, Portchester Castle was held by a Royalist garrison. In 1644, Parliamentary forces besieged the castle and forced its sur...
undefined
Napoleonic Prisoner of War Camp
During the wars with Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, Portchester Castle was used as a prisoner of war camp. Thousands of French, Dutch and Spanis...
undefined
Railway Reaches Portchester
The London and South Western Railway opened a station at Portchester in 1848 as part of the line connecting Fareham with Portsmouth. The arrival of th...
undefined
St Mary's Church Restored
St Mary's Church, standing within the castle walls since the twelfth century, underwent a major Victorian restoration in 1888. The work repaired the N...
undefined
D-Day Preparations
During the Second World War, Portchester and the surrounding area played a role in preparations for the D-Day landings. The harbour and nearby creeks ...
undefined
Postwar Housing Expansion
After the Second World War, Portchester expanded rapidly from a compact village into a suburban settlement. Large housing estates were built on farmla...
undefined
Castle Passes to English Heritage
Portchester Castle was transferred to the care of English Heritage (now Historic England's management arm) in 1984 as part of the reorganisation of hi...
undefined
Portchester Crematorium Opens
Portchester Crematorium opened in 1958 on land at the southern edge of the village, off Cornaway Lane. It was built by Fareham Borough Council to serv...
undefined
Harbour Flood Defence Works
Fareham Borough Council and the Environment Agency carried out flood defence improvements along the Portchester harbour shore, including the area arou...
undefined
Cams Alders Housing Development
The Cams Alders area on the western edge of Portchester was developed for housing in the 1980s and 1990s on land that had been part of the Cams Hall e...