Church of St Mary, Portchester Castle, Portchester, Hampshire
This church was built within the walls of Portchester Castle. It was built for a priory of Augustinian canons founded in about 1128 by Henry I. Built soon after 1130, the church is largely complete. It has hardly been altered since. The priory was removed to Southwick by 1150, possibly because the castle lacked space. The cloister lay to the south, between the church and the fort walls, but has been completely demolished. The only traces remaining are those of the lavatories of the reredorter which can be seen in the fort wall, and the scar where the west range joined the church. Fire damage to the building by Dutch prisoners in 1653 was finally repaired by Queen Anne's Bounty in 1706-10. Queen Anne's Bounty was an act to give more money to poor clergy and churches. The building was restored in 1888. This property is now in the care of English Heritage (2012). Find out more.
