Concern for a Tower

Portsmouth City Council is concerned that the fortifications at the mouth of the harbour are being eroded by the sea. This is not new. In the 16th century, Portsmouth had the following regulation: ‘…which hathe continued the space of ij hundred yeares and ore’, that all the passage botes that sayle usithe between the yle of wighte and portsmouthe should brynge everye of them once in the yeare one bote lode of rocke stones and leye them within the pyles of the rounde Tower near to the haven’s mouthe by the maiors appointment and order…’ The records do not show how successful this regulation was, but the Round Tower has survived through the generations to still be with us today.