Southsea Castle Military Museums D-Day Portsmouth Natural History

Southsea Castle

Southsea Castle was built in 1544 as one of the many fortifications commissioned by King Henry VIII along the south coast of England. It was hurriedly constructed as the threat of invasions from the French was a very real concern. It is believed the King designed the castle himself. Ironically when the French arrived at the Isle of Wight for an onslaught on Portsmouth in 1545 the Mary Rose was sunk as she sailed out from Portsmouth as part of the English fleet to engage the French - right in front of the castle while Henry VIII looked on!

It was an effective military base for 400 years with the exception of one attack during the English Civil War when the Parliamentarian forces captured the castle in 1627 when it was surrendered by a rather inebriated Royalist commander - the only time in its history. It was nearly demolished after an explosion in 1759 ripped the castle apart and killed seventeen men, women and children, but in 1814 it was renovated to accommodate extra guns and a larger garrison.

You can visit the castle via a tunnel built to defend the moat. The castle has also been investigated for ghosts and paranormal activity and you can book onto ghost hunts and tours - check the link right.

Open daily April - September 10.00am - 5.30pm. Southsea Castle, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea Hants PO5 3PA.

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Royal Marines Museum

The Royal Marines Museum is based in Victorian buildings that were formerly the Officers' Mess of Eastney Barracks, built in the 1860s for the Royal Marine Artillery. You can find out all about the Royal Marines history from their beginnings in 1664 all the way up to the modern day where they've been involved in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Museum is open every day from 10am-5pm. Check the link right for directions and further information.

Royal Marines Museum Eastney Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 9PX,

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The D-Day Museum

The D-Day Museum was originally opened in 1984 on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. The museum tells the story of Operation Overlord that brought victory to Britain and the allies during the Second World War. It was the largest amphibious assault in history launched at the Normandy coast on 6 June 1944 to gain a foothold in Nazi occupied France.

The Museum tells of the enormous amount of planning and subterfuge that were necessary in planning the assault to keep their actual plans from the enemy. Displays include photographs and film footage including recordings of those who survived the war and fought for the country. There are also reminiscences from local people who either were left at the Home Front or were involved in the D-Day celebrations.

The main feature of the exhibition is the Overlord Embroidery - a modern take on the Bayeux Tapestry - created as a tribute to those who fought or who made the ultimate heroic sacrifice during World War II. The embroidery was designed by artist Sandra Lawrence, is 83 metres long and took five years to complete. It depicts the progress of Operation Overlord from its origins in 1940 all the way through to its final conclusion and victory in Normandy in 1944.

The Museum is open daily (except 24-26 December). Apr-Sept10am-5.30pm. Oct-Mar 10am-5pm. D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea PO5 3NT.

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Natural History Museum Portsmouth Wildlife

Portsmouth's Natural History Museum looks at the wide range of wildlife that has survived in a range of habitats from its beginnings when it was low lying saltmarsh. Nowadays the extent of the habitats has been lost to some extent but a wide range of wildlife has hung on along riverbanks and even in the urban environment, whereas remnants of marshes, woods and grasslands harbour their own particular wildlife. The museum shows you what wildlife you can find and where. The Museum also has an Aquarium and Butterfly House which, from May-September, is filled with an array of butterfly species. The temperatures of the Butterfly House means it's possible for exotic butterfly species to breed and thrive here. In winter you can search out caterpillars and pupae amongst the leaves.

The Museum also traces the progress of HMS Endurance, the Royal Navy's only ice patrol ship. Every autumn it sets sail from Portsmouth to carry out a range of scientific work on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Antarctic Survey and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office to find out more about the changes in the global environment and how that is likely to impact upon us.

Portsmouth Harbour is an internationally important wildlife site providing vast areas and food for flocks of Brent geese that migrate to Portsmouth from the Arctic and a range of other waders and wildfowl including wigeon, grey plover, black-tailed godwit and dunlin. Check out the link right for wildlife sites that you can visit in and around Portsmouth.

Open daily Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm. November-March 10am-4pm. Closed 24-26 December. Natural History Museum, Cumberland House, Eastern Parade, Southsea.

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