Siege of Portsmouth
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Portsmouth was the siege of a Royalist garrison in Portsmouth
by a Parliamentarian
force conducted in the early part of the English Civil War
. The siege resulted in Portsmouth falling to Parliament after a little under a month of conflict.
who managed to convince both sides of his loyalty and as a result received funds from both the King and Parliament. In 1641, Goring began to work on the town's defences. By November, Parliament had received reports that the work was focused on the landward side and this along with other claims that brought into question his loyalty to Parliament resulted in Goring receiving a summons to Parliament to explain himself. With his defence, Goring was not only able to convince the house of the innocence of his actions but received its applause and further monetary payments.
. On land, the Parliamentary forces were able to assemble on the top of Portsdown Hill
on 10 August. Goring's preparations for a siege were far from comprehensive. Not only was his work on improving the defenses incomplete but the town's stores held supplies for as little as two days. Between the 10 and 12 August, the Portsmouth garrison raided the farms of Portsea Island for food with both grain and livestock being seized and either taken within the city walls or, in the case of some of the livestock, being left to graze beneath the city's guns. The Parliamentarian forces responded by landing a force with two cannon at the south east of the island and ferrying women, children, cattle and sheep across Langstone harbour
to Hayling Island
. At this point, Goring's forces peaked at about 500 men.
were attacked by 20 Parliamentarians on the evening of 12 of August. The defenders numbering just eight put up little resistance. One was captured while the other seven managed to escape. The Parliamentarians also took the small fort to the north of the bridge.
s took place, but aside from prisoner exchanges nothing was achieved as a result.
The conflict was not entirely limited to battles ashore. On the night of 15 August, Parliamentarian forces under Captain Browne Bushell
captured the Henrietta Marie in a cutting out operation. At around the same time, the force blockading Portsmouth from the sea rose to number seven ships.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentarian forces began to prepare a firing position in Gosport
under the direction of John Meldrum
. The Royalist forces attempted to bombard the position but their shots had little effect. The Parliamentarians opened fire on the city with two cannons from the works on 20 August; counter-battery fire from from Portsmouth's guns again had little effect. The cannon on the rest of the works opened fire on 2 September.
consisted of only a dozen men. On the night of 4 September, a Parliamentarian force of 400 infantry equipped with ladders and backed by cavalry set out to attack the castle. Although the force was spotted and fired on by the guns of Portsmouth, they were able to make to the seaward side of the castle. Simultaneously, a small party approached the main gate and called on the castle to surrender. Captain Challoner was at the time somewhat inebriated and asked them to come back in the morning. At around this time, the guns of Portsmouth once more opened fire on the assaulting force, and the Parliamentarians responded by scaling the walls and capturing the castle without further opposition. A significant Parliamentarian garrison was then installed in the castle to keep it from being recaptured.
. A couple of days were allowed for Goring and the garrison to settle their affairs and Parliament came into formal possession of the town on 7 September at 6 am.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
by a Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
force conducted in the early part of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. The siege resulted in Portsmouth falling to Parliament after a little under a month of conflict.
Build-up
In the lead up to the war, Portsmouth was viewed as highly valuable by both Parliament and the King. The Fortifications of Portsmouth were so strong that after it was captured by Parliament and properly garrisoned, it was suggested by some that it would take as many as 40,000 men to seize it. Its governor at the time was George GoringGeorge Goring, Lord Goring
George Goring, Lord Goring was an English Royalist soldier. He was known by the courtesy title Lord Goring as the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Norwich.- The Goring family :...
who managed to convince both sides of his loyalty and as a result received funds from both the King and Parliament. In 1641, Goring began to work on the town's defences. By November, Parliament had received reports that the work was focused on the landward side and this along with other claims that brought into question his loyalty to Parliament resulted in Goring receiving a summons to Parliament to explain himself. With his defence, Goring was not only able to convince the house of the innocence of his actions but received its applause and further monetary payments.
Opening skirmishes
Goring declared for the King on 2 August. Parliament managed to implement a sea blockade on 8 August under Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of WarwickRobert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick was an English colonial administrator, admiral, and puritan.Rich was the eldest son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick and his wife Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, and succeeded to his father's title in 1619...
. On land, the Parliamentary forces were able to assemble on the top of Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill is a long chalk hill in Hampshire, England, offering good views over Portsmouth, The Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. The hill is on the mainland, just to the north of Ports Creek, which separates the mainland from Portsea Island, on which lies the...
on 10 August. Goring's preparations for a siege were far from comprehensive. Not only was his work on improving the defenses incomplete but the town's stores held supplies for as little as two days. Between the 10 and 12 August, the Portsmouth garrison raided the farms of Portsea Island for food with both grain and livestock being seized and either taken within the city walls or, in the case of some of the livestock, being left to graze beneath the city's guns. The Parliamentarian forces responded by landing a force with two cannon at the south east of the island and ferrying women, children, cattle and sheep across Langstone harbour
Langstone Harbour
Langstone Harbour is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. Geographically it is a ria....
to Hayling Island
Hayling Island
-Leisure activities:Although largely residential, Hayling is also a holiday, windsurfing and sailing centre, the site where windsurfing was invented....
. At this point, Goring's forces peaked at about 500 men.
Fall of Ports bridge
The Royalist defences on the bridge over Portsbridge CreekPortsbridge Creek
Portsbridge Creek is a tidal waterway that runs between Portsea Island and the mainland from Langstone Harbour to Tipner Lake...
were attacked by 20 Parliamentarians on the evening of 12 of August. The defenders numbering just eight put up little resistance. One was captured while the other seven managed to escape. The Parliamentarians also took the small fort to the north of the bridge.
The Siege
With the Parliamentarian forces now on Portsea Island, a few sallies by Parliamentarian forces resulted in indecisive skirmishes, which resulted in a handful of casualties for both sides, along with a similar number of prisoners, some of which were exchanged. Desertion was soon a problem for the Royalist force and by 15 August, the Royalist garrison numbered just 200, of which it was thought half would desert if given a chance. By comparison, the Parliamentarian besiegers numbered some 740 men in total. During this phase of the conflict, a number of parleyParley
Parley is a discussion or conference, especially one between enemies over terms of a truce or other matters. The root of the word parley is parler, which is the French verb "to speak"; specifically the conjugation parlez "you speak", whether as imperative or indicative.Beginning in the High Middle...
s took place, but aside from prisoner exchanges nothing was achieved as a result.
The conflict was not entirely limited to battles ashore. On the night of 15 August, Parliamentarian forces under Captain Browne Bushell
Browne Bushell
Browne Bushell , was an English Civil War-era naval officer. He initially sided with the Roundheads. On the night of 15 August 1641 he led a small parliamentary force in a cutting out operation to capture the Henrietta Marie in Portsmouth harbour. In 1643 he switched to the royalist side...
captured the Henrietta Marie in a cutting out operation. At around the same time, the force blockading Portsmouth from the sea rose to number seven ships.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentarian forces began to prepare a firing position in Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
under the direction of John Meldrum
John Meldrum
Sir John Meldrum was a soldier of Scottish origin who spent 36 years in the service of the Stuart kings of Scotland and England, James VI and I and Charles I. In 1636, Meldrum was granted by letters-patent from the king licence to continue and renew the lighthouses erected by Charles I on the...
. The Royalist forces attempted to bombard the position but their shots had little effect. The Parliamentarians opened fire on the city with two cannons from the works on 20 August; counter-battery fire from from Portsmouth's guns again had little effect. The cannon on the rest of the works opened fire on 2 September.
Fall of Southsea Castle
By the start of September, the Royalist garrison of Southsea CastleSouthsea Castle
Southsea Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1544 on the waterfront at the southern end of Portsea Island . The castle was built to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and entrance to Portsmouth Harbour...
consisted of only a dozen men. On the night of 4 September, a Parliamentarian force of 400 infantry equipped with ladders and backed by cavalry set out to attack the castle. Although the force was spotted and fired on by the guns of Portsmouth, they were able to make to the seaward side of the castle. Simultaneously, a small party approached the main gate and called on the castle to surrender. Captain Challoner was at the time somewhat inebriated and asked them to come back in the morning. At around this time, the guns of Portsmouth once more opened fire on the assaulting force, and the Parliamentarians responded by scaling the walls and capturing the castle without further opposition. A significant Parliamentarian garrison was then installed in the castle to keep it from being recaptured.
Surrender
With the fall of Southsea Castle, the Royalists suffered further desertions with their forces falling to just 50-60 men, many of whom lacked training. Negotiations over the terms of surrender started at 10 am on 4 September, with a final agreement being reached by 7 pm. Under the terms of the agreement, the garrison was granted safe passage and all prisoners were released with the exception of Parliamentarian deserters. Goring chose to go via sea to Holland. The Royalists were in part able to obtain such favourable terms due to the threat of detonating Portsmouth's gunpowder reserves, including 1200 barrels stored in the Square TowerSquare Tower
The Square Tower is situated in Portsmouth, EnglandThe tower was built in 1494 as part fortifications and as a home to the governor of Portsmouth. In 1584 it was converted to a gunpowder store, the governor moving residence next to the Garrison Church. At the time of the royalist surrender of...
. A couple of days were allowed for Goring and the garrison to settle their affairs and Parliament came into formal possession of the town on 7 September at 6 am.