- Portchester is a town located on Portsmouth Harbour in the County of Hampshire.
- It is the location for one of the best preserved Saxon Shore Forts called Portus Ardaoni also spelt as Portus Adurni.
Portchester Castle
- Portus Ardaoni is an 11th century CE Medieval castle constructed within the walls of a 3rd century CE Roman castle, that formed part of a defensive chain of southeastern Roman castles known as the Saxon Shore Forts.
- Between 1289-1544 CE, there was a Military Governor of the King’s Castle at Portchester, known as the Constable of Portchester.
- After this date Henry VIII built Southsea Castle to protect the new Portsmouth naval base, and the Military Governor moved to become Governor of Portsmouth instead.
Saxon Shore Forts
- The Saxon Shore Forts were a chain of Roman Naval Forts in southeastern England that stretched from Portchester to the Wash, whose function was to defend the River estuaries and coastline from Pirate attacks by seaborne invaders.
- The Forts date to the third century CE and are mentioned in a 4th century CE document known as the Notitia Dignitatum.
The Roman Sites
Roman Roads
- Portchester was probably linked to three nearby Roman roads:
- The Portway, Ermin Street and Stane Street.
Photo and map: Portchester Castle