The Round Tower at Portsmouth, during building work in 1815 RMG PZ0956

The Round Tower at Portsmouth, during building work in 1815
No. 68 of 73 (PAI0889 - PAI0961)
The Round Tower was begun in about 1418 and completed in the 1420s to replace an older wooden Tower. It was intended to defend the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour and to prevent enemy ships from entering. Schetky’s drawing shows work-in-progress during the Napoleonic period when the Tower was extended in height with the addition of the central column and brick vaulting to support the weight of guns on the roof.

The Round Tower at Portsmouth, during building work in 1815