Sketch of the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, May 4th 1818

No. 2 of 73 (PAI0889 - PAI0961)

Drawing inscribed in the upper right 'Mouth of Portsmouth/Harbour May 4th 1818', and in the lower right 'D------/June 1825.'

The viewpoint is looking out of the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour towards Southsea to the east. The tower of the parish church of St Thomas of Canterbury (Portsmouth Cathedral from 1932) is on the left, and the Semaphore Tower to the right of the Round Tower. The Round Tower was begun in about 1418 and completed in the 1420s to replace an older wooden Tower. It was intended to defend the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour and to prevent enemy ships from entering. During the Napoleonic period the Tower was extended in height with the addition of the central column and brick vaulting to support the weight of guns on the roof.

Object Details

ID: PAI0890
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Schetky, John Christian
Places: Portsmouth Harbour
Date made: Jun 1825
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 203 x 279 mm
Parts: Album of marine sketches by John Christian Schetky, mainly Portsmouth, 1795-1863 (Album)