Freshwater 'Fort' (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Freshwater.
In the historic county of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Modern Authority of Isle of Wight.
1974 county of Isle of Wight.
Medieval County of Hampshire, Isle of Wight.

OS Map Grid Reference: SZ346873
Latitude 50.68437° Longitude -1.51025°

Freshwater 'Fort' has been described as a probable Artillery Fort.

There are no visible remains.

Description

This building was 'only a thatched hous new builte for sauinge of Thorinaunce appointed in that place'. The house stored a broken iron culverin and three iron port-pieces, together with shot, handguns, bows, gunpowder and picks.
As it was considered that the enemy could not attempt a landing at Freshwater because of the cliffs, it was proposed that a fort should be built in the area to defend the Isle of Freshwater from the east if that part of the Isle of Wight had fallen. This would enable relief forces to land from the west without immediate fear of attack from the east. (Kenyon)

22 Feb 1541. Warrant passed under stamp to Sir Brian Tuke to pay 1,000l. to John Mille for fortifications of the East and West Cowes, the Hurst, and the Freshwater. (LandP Hen VIII)

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1342 March 23 (Click on the date for details of this licence.).

Sources of information, references and further reading

Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record.

Periodical Articles
- Kenyon, J.R., 1979, 'An aspect of the 1559 survey of the Isle of Wight: The State of all the Queenes maties Fortresses and Castelles' Post-Medieval Archaeology Vol. 13 p. 61-77 esp. 72
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Gairdner, J. and Brodie, R.H. (eds), 1898, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol. 16 p. 262 No. 553 view online copy
  A Survey of the Isle of Wight with plans of fortifications, 20 Nov 1559 (D(W)1778/III/0/1, Staffordshire Record Office)
  B.M. Harleian MS. 1326 (Survey of 1623) British Library collection information
  E178/4470 (Survey of 1 James I) The National Archives reference

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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