Southsea Castle

Heritage, Southsea

Southsea Castle was built in 1544 on the orders of Henry VIII as part of a chain of coastal defences against French invasion. The squat, circular stone fort sits on the seafront at the centre of Southsea's esplanade, commanding views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Henry VIII watched the sinking of the Mary Rose from this spot in 1545. The castle remained in military use for over 400 years, serving through the Civil War, the Napoleonic period, and both world wars. It is now a free museum telling the story of the area's military history, with displays on the castle's construction, its defences, and the wider history of Portsmouth's fortifications.