Mightie Chaine of Yron

Always concerned with the threat of invasion from the sea, over time, Portsmouth saw a series of deterrents put in place to ward off hostile fleets. The deep water channel meant that ships needed to come within fire from Southsea Castle, before the guns from the town walls had to be faced and finally, from 1522, an enormous chain that stretched across the Harbour entrance from the Round Tower to a wooden tower in Gosport. Two links of the chain, which cost £40, have survived in the care of the City’s museum service. The remains of a capstan, used to tension the chain, can still be seen in Capstan Square next to the Round Tower.