Portchester Castle | Photoshoot II

If truth be told I’m a bit of a history nerd...

Three years ago I moved from Australia to the South Coast of England to live on a beautiful marina. This is where I now work from my flower studio. Close by is an impressive castle built right up to the waters edge, and this is where I love to go for my walks.

The castle features historic flint and stone walls, the flint of which is from the Chalk Downs. It's visited daily by local dog walkers (LOTS of dog walkers), tourists, families, schools, picnickers and people like me who just love to stroll around its exterior and look across the water to Portmouth Harbour.

Though it was originally built by the Romans as a naval fortification, King Edward the Elder later converted it into a fortified burh. Following the Norman conquest the Great Tower and St Mary's Church were constructed. It also hosted a royal visit by Henry V111 in 1535, and Elizabeth 1 briefly stayed here in 1603.

I highly recommend a visit... I've just come back from a lovely walk there myself.