Felton’s Hole and other admonishments

An unpleasant punishment meted out by the Portsmouth courts was incarceration in Felton’s Hole. Located on Grand Parade, and regularly inundated by the sea, conditions were described as ‘so badd that some of the soldiers confest they would not put a dogg in there’. Those found guilty could also be banished from the Town, held in gaol, whipped, set to hard labour and, from 1788, transported to Australia.