A bust in a Tower

Inset high into the wall of the Square Tower is a bust of Charles I. This was presented to Portsmouth to commemorate a visit in 1623. This inscription underneath reads, ‘After his travels in through all France and Spain, and having passed very many dangers both by sea and land, he arrived here on the 5th day of October 1623’. This originally continued, ‘There was the greatest applause of joy for his safety throughout the Kingdom that ever was known or heard of.’ A mystery surrounds the loss of this latter portion which may have been covered during resurfacing work in 1827 or alternatively was intentionally removed during the Civil War when Portsmouth fell into Parliamentarian hands. The original bust has been removed into the care of the Portsmouth Museum Service with a replica standing open to the elements.