In 1584, it was converted to a gunpowder store, the governor having moved to a residence next to the Garrison Church. At the time of the royalist surrender of Portsmouth at the end of the Siege of Portsmouth during the English Civil War 1200 barrels of gunpowder were stored in the tower;[2] the royalists were able to use the threat of detonating the store as a bargaining chip during the negotiations leading up to the surrender.[2]
From 1676 Pierson's Wharf, at the northern tip of The Point, was leased to the Board of Ordnance to serve as a gun wharf (where naval cannons and other items were stored for easy loading on to ships, which could moor nearby). This led to gunpowder barrels routinely being rolled the length of the cobbled roads of The Point, between the tower and the wharf, inevitably leading to a certain amount of spillage. A wharf, known as the powder bridge, was built with access directly from the tower, allowing the barrels to be loaded onto ships moored alongside the wharf.[3] In the 1690s an additional magazine (the 'New Magazine') was built on a triangular promontory on the east side of The Camber. All these locations were alongside built-up areas, and concerns about the hazards of an explosion led to calls for Portsmouth's gunpowder stores to be relocated.[4]
In 1779, the gunpowder having been relocated to Priddy's Hard, the Square Tower was given to the Victualling Board to serve as a Royal Navy meat store, remaining as such until 1850, when this function was moved to the new Victualling Yard complex at Gosport.
The tower was manned during both World Wars. It was purchased by Portsmouth City Council in 1958–1960.
Bust of Charles I
In a niche on the east wall is a bust of Charles I by Hubrecht le Sueur. The original was presented to the city by the King to commemorate his safe arrival from his trip to France and Spain in 1623. There is the following inscription below the Royal coat of arms: "After his travels through all France into Spain and having passed very many dangers both by sea and land he arrived here the 5th day of October 1623". The bust now on display is a 20th-century copy, the original is in the city museum.[1]
Present day
The Square Tower is now used for hosting functions such as weddings, christenings and funerals. It also hosts regular tea rooms and markets. During the Australian bi-centenary celebrations in 1987 it hosted an exhibition on the First Fleet.
^ ab"The Square Tower". Historic England. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^ abWebb, John (1977). The Siege of Portsmouth in the Civil War. Portsmouth City Council. pp. 20–21. ISBN0-901559-33-4.
^ ab"Square Tower history". The Square Tower. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
^Underwood, Michael (2015). Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth: the history, architecture, conservation and development of a remarkable military site. Portsmouth: Tricorn Books.
The History Of The Square Tower - Portsmouth Museums & Records Service
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Square Tower, Portsmouth.
The Square Tower - official site
This article about a Hampshire building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
square, tower, oldest, parts, fortifications, portsmouth, england, grade, listed, building, typefortificationlocationbroad, street, portsmouthcoordinates50, 78935, 106545, 78935, 106545, coordinates, 78935, 106545, 78935, 106545os, grid, referencesz, 63076, 99. The Square Tower is one of the oldest parts of the fortifications of Portsmouth England It is a Grade I listed building 1 Square TowerTypeFortificationLocationBroad Street PortsmouthCoordinates50 47 22 N 1 06 24 W 50 78935 N 1 106545 W 50 78935 1 106545 Coordinates 50 47 22 N 1 06 24 W 50 78935 N 1 106545 W 50 78935 1 106545OS grid referenceSZ 63076 99247AreaHampshireBuilt1494OwnerPortsmouth City CouncilListed Building Grade IOfficial nameThe Square TowerDesignated30 Oct 1969Reference no 1386904Location of Square Tower in Hampshire Contents 1 History 1 1 Bust of Charles I 2 Present day 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit The Square Tower centre right viewed from the saluting platform in 1836 beyond it the Round Tower and HMS Britannia centre left A tower was built in 1494 as part of the fortifications and served as a home to the Governor of Portsmouth In 1584 it was converted to a gunpowder store the governor having moved to a residence next to the Garrison Church At the time of the royalist surrender of Portsmouth at the end of the Siege of Portsmouth during the English Civil War 1200 barrels of gunpowder were stored in the tower 2 the royalists were able to use the threat of detonating the store as a bargaining chip during the negotiations leading up to the surrender 2 From 1676 Pierson s Wharf at the northern tip of The Point was leased to the Board of Ordnance to serve as a gun wharf where naval cannons and other items were stored for easy loading on to ships which could moor nearby This led to gunpowder barrels routinely being rolled the length of the cobbled roads of The Point between the tower and the wharf inevitably leading to a certain amount of spillage A wharf known as the powder bridge was built with access directly from the tower allowing the barrels to be loaded onto ships moored alongside the wharf 3 In the 1690s an additional magazine the New Magazine was built on a triangular promontory on the east side of The Camber All these locations were alongside built up areas and concerns about the hazards of an explosion led to calls for Portsmouth s gunpowder stores to be relocated 4 In 1779 the gunpowder having been relocated to Priddy s Hard the Square Tower was given to the Victualling Board to serve as a Royal Navy meat store remaining as such until 1850 when this function was moved to the new Victualling Yard complex at Gosport In 1823 the Board of Admiralty installed a semaphore tower on the roof the first link in a signalling chain running between the Royal Dockyard and The Admiralty in London Following the introduction of the electrical telegraph the semaphore tower was demolished in 1848 3 The tower was manned during both World Wars It was purchased by Portsmouth City Council in 1958 1960 Bust of Charles I Edit In a niche on the east wall is a bust of Charles I by Hubrecht le Sueur The original was presented to the city by the King to commemorate his safe arrival from his trip to France and Spain in 1623 There is the following inscription below the Royal coat of arms After his travels through all France into Spain and having passed very many dangers both by sea and land he arrived here the 5th day of October 1623 The bust now on display is a 20th century copy the original is in the city museum 1 Present day EditThe Square Tower is now used for hosting functions such as weddings christenings and funerals It also hosts regular tea rooms and markets During the Australian bi centenary celebrations in 1987 it hosted an exhibition on the First Fleet See also EditFortifications of PortsmouthReferences Edit a b The Square Tower Historic England Retrieved 28 March 2018 a b Webb John 1977 The Siege of Portsmouth in the Civil War Portsmouth City Council pp 20 21 ISBN 0 901559 33 4 a b Square Tower history The Square Tower Retrieved 23 November 2017 Underwood Michael 2015 Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth the history architecture conservation and development of a remarkable military site Portsmouth Tricorn Books The History Of The Square Tower Portsmouth Museums amp Records ServiceExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Square Tower Portsmouth The Square Tower official site This article about a Hampshire building or structure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Square Tower amp oldid 1054849495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
