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FORT JAMES

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Site of 17th century redoubt on Burrow Island as part of the Gosport defences. It was built circa 1678, was in a poor state in 1707 and became obsolete after 1742.

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'Fort James' or 'Barrough Castle' on Rat Island in part
of the Clarence Victualling yards. (1)

(SU 6204 0080) 'Burrough Fort'. (2)

(SU 6204 0080) 'Redoubt on Little Island'.

(Burrow Island is published on OS maps at SU 620 008 which is opposite the area of the Victualling Yards. From the above it is clear that the fort was on Burrow Island and that 'Rat Island' and 'Little Island' are alternative names.) (3)

There is a legend that the fort was preceded by a Norman Castle. An
old letter of 1847 which I have seen mentions 'the ruins of Borough
Castle, traditionally ascribed to King Stephen and now used as a
burial place for convicts.' An earlier letter of 1828 says 'the
walls of the Castle have lately been taken down.' (4)

Miscellaneous building material - Brick, tile, Binstead stone - is
visible in the cliffs and on the shore of the island, but no
foundations can be traced. Pieces of iron slag, and a whole crucible
of clay (weight about 1 cwt, probably medieval or later) were
found, and left, on the shore. (5)

Fort James; a strong late 17th c Redoubt on Rat Island in Portsmouth
Harbour. (6)

Fort James and Fort Charles (SZ 69 NW 10) were planned by Sir Bernard de Gomme as part of the Gosport defences, and were built at the same time as the Gosport lines, the construction beginning c 1678. Built as a smaller version of Fort Charles, Fort James had a square tower 46ft across and 19ft high, guns on the roof and sentry boxes at each corner. This was set on a platform 110ft square with another parapet. Beyond this, the ground fell away on the east and west sides, but on the north and south sides there were dry ditches.
It was in a poor state by 1707. In 1742, an order was made to recover its 2 guns which were weed-covered. The decision to extend the Gosport defences to Priddy's Hard made it obsolete. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) General reference

Early Portsmouth Defences 1923 39 (H T Lilley)

(2) General reference

Map of Portsmouth 1716 Anon. In Portsmouth Ref Library

(3) General reference

Gomme's Map of Portsmouth 1668 BM

(4) Annotated Record Map

Corr 6" (Capt G Civil 1953)

(5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 DS 09-AUG-55

(6) Royal Archaeological Institute The Archaeological Journal

(A D Saunders) 123 - 1966 Page(s)145

(7) General reference

The Western Defences of Portsmouth Harbour 1400-1800 1979 19-22 (G H Williams) Portsmouth Papers No 30

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GOSPORT LINES
GOSPORT

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Western defences of Portsmouth harbour, constructed 1678, rebuilt 1748

FORT CHARLES
GOSPORT

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Fort, built c.1660, square shaped work with a bastion. In ruins by 1828. Area now occupied by a boat yard, no remains of the fort are visible.

FORT BLOCKHOUSE
GOSPORT

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Fort Blockhouse, a coastal battery rebuilt in 1708 from a chain tower of circa 1421 and a battery of 1667. It was again rebuilt in the mid 19th centur...

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