The Square Tower
THE SQUARE TOWER, BROAD STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1386904
- Date first listed:
- 30-Oct-1969
- List Entry Name:
- The Square Tower
- Statutory Address:
- THE SQUARE TOWER, BROAD STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-05-25
- Reference:
- IOE01/04338/14
- Rights:
- © Mr Paul Shutt. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1386904
- Date first listed:
- 30-Oct-1969
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 18-Mar-1999
- List Entry Name:
- The Square Tower
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE SQUARE TOWER, BROAD STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE SQUARE TOWER, BROAD STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Portsmouth (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SZ 63076 99247
Details
PORTSMOUTH
SZ6399 BROAD STREET, The Point 774-1/12/458 (West side) 30/10/69 The Square Tower (Formerly Listed as: BROAD STREET, The Point Square Tower Kings Stairs Sallyport 18 Gun Battery Round Tower Flanking Battery)
I
The Square Tower fortification and Governor's residence, now museum. c1494, extensively altered to form a powder magazine c1580 and then the Admiralty Victualling store c1780, reinstated as part of the fortifications mid C19; restored 1978-1985. Stone and brick. Flat stone paved roof with 3 restored mid C19 gun races facing south-west. EXTERIOR: south-west part 1 storey and north-east part 2 storeys. 2 bays. Main entrance facing south-east within enclosed yard has on right a 2-leaf late C20 copy of the original C18 doors with lower panels and vertical iron bars to upper panels set under a segmental stone arch with rusticated voussoirs and jambs. On first floor is a mid C18 2-leaf 20-pane casement. To left at saluting platform level is a late C20 boarded door leading to roof area and to late C20 visitors' viewing balcony. North-west facade has on left a late C20 boarded door set within C15 opening. On right is an C18 2-leaf casement set within C15 opening and further right is a late C20 replica of the original C18 panelled door with vertical iron bars to top panel. First floor has on left a mid C19 2-leaf 4-pane casement and on far right a late C20 glazed infill. On north-east side facing Broad Street is a niche edged with a wreath. This contains a late C20 copy of a gilded lead bust of Charles I by Hubrecht le Sueur (original restored and now deposited in the City Museum). Below are the Royal Arms on a small bracket and the inscription reads "After his travels through all France into Spain and having passed very many dangers both by sea and land he arrived here the 5th day of October 1623". INTERIOR: the late C20 restoration has uncovered Tudor features including two fireplaces and C18 features which include a stone stairway on north-east side running from ground to former basement. (Berridge DW: Restoration of Square Tower, Old Portsmouth, 1985: Portsmouth: 1985-; Balfour A: Portsmouth: London: 1970-: 15; Corney A: Fortifications in Old Portsmouth: Portsmouth:
1965-: 15, 16, 17; Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 55, 57, 58 AND 59).
Listing NGR: SZ6292699463
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 474317
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Berridge, D W, Restoration of Square Tower, (1985)
Lloyd, D W, Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs, (1974)
Balfour, A, Portsmouth, (1970), 15
Corney, A, Fortifications in Old Portsmouth, (1965), 15-17
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 13:32:21.
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