Discovering Trinity Bastion ( No. 1 Battery ) Gosport

Discovering Trinity Bastion ( No. 1 Battery ) Gosport

I have walked around this corner many time in the past from the car park to the Ferry Terminal at Gosport in Hampshire but have never been curious enough to wonder what was behind that long wall. 

Yesterday for the first time i decided to take advantage of a 2 hour free parking limit and park in the road itself as I travelled across the harbour to Portsmouth to collect my son from the station there.

Being obviously more curious than me, on the return my son, having asked what was behind the wall, decided to take a peek through the large gate opening.

 Ever the cautious one, I stopped to read the notice on the gate lest we stray into someone's garden.

Imagine my surprise with what we found.

We were actually inside one of the ring of many fortifications built around Portsmouth and its Harbour for its defence during the Napoleonic Wars. Commonly known locally as 'The Palmerstone Follies' which, unlike the French 'Maginot Line', were never tested in their day.

 . This corner bastion (Called Trinity Bastion or No.1 Bastion) had once contained 14 guns of various sizes mounted in brick-lined emplacements which could be fired over the parapet.

The small chambers, or Expense Magazines, were built into the base of these steps, and spaced at regular intervals around the bastion must have been used to store the munitions.

My son was already at the top of the steps exploring the ramparts above which clearly show each gun emplacement 

In each placement the Pivoting Pillar used to swivel the guns are still in place suggesting that these may have been WW2 relics? 

The line of emplacements follows the half hexagon shape of the bastion. 

This emplacement seems to have carried a larger gun needing more room to swing.

Here the Large and Small emplacements are visible side by side.

Unfortunately I blurred this view across the moat to the Marina opposite.

Rounding the next part of the curve the rest of the emplacement come into view.

The Ramparts seem to end near to the modern footbridge with this Blockhouse building with its Slit Windows designed to protect the soldiers with their rifles. It now contains a row of modern apartments.

The Gun Slit Windows are clear to see from the footbridge.

This old map indicated that once there was a line of Fortifications between the two creeks surrounding Gosport Town Centre. 

This map better shows the design of the bastion defence ramparts and emplacements

The view of the ramparts when driving in from The Haslar Road Bridge

The Arial view kind thanks to Google Maps

This stunning view is also available from the same Google maps location

Across Haslar Creek, The Submarine Museum is located with its major exhibit HMS Alliance just visible through the forest of masts.

I hope that you enjoyed this visit to a piece of local history, discovered thanks to my son Robin.

Frank

All Morgans' Day 2011 - Results

 The Morgan Centenary Roadster 100 Register 

Our Magnificent Banner provided by Steve Pickering

Our Waddesdon Manor 'All Morgans' Day was a Fantastic Success

We reached the Front of Manor parking limit of 200 bookings with around 22 parked around the estate in the Public Car Park areas. 

22 Roadster 100's were in the line up across the Manor House and we made £1275.00 for Help for Heroes

Link to our Official Photographers Photos ; http://www.lluniau-photography.com/?Action=_VC&id=76630402&ppwd=morgan

Some of the 22 x R100 Line Up

Young Cory - Our Lone Cadet Fundraiser

A very neat 'Parking' job, Peter & Philip

One Person (Our Register Founder, David Harris) could not resist the temptation of the new Souped Up Roadster car on show!

 

Lunch Aboard Saga Sapphire with the Locks Heath Classic Car Club.

Lunch Aboard Saga Sapphire .

Just over a year ago I joined a local Classic Car Club as it meets just a few miles from my home.

Having only attended a couple of meetings, I could not resist the offer to join in an event offer to display the cars in front of a Cruise Liner and have lunch on board.

Even Ann was keen to try this one for size being an equal lover of the Cruise Ship.

We were scheduled to arrive in convoy at the City Cruise Terminal where we would be Displayed on the pavement right outside of the Main Entrance where the cruise passengers would be arriving to check in.

Typical of me, we left the car park in Locksheath from the wrong exit and found ourselves at the tail end of the 27 car line for drive to Southampton.

Reminiscent of All Morgans' day at Blenheim Palace, we were queuing in the access road while they sorted out the cars.

Only the veteran Essex Motors behind us seemed to be suffering on its clutch as we crept forward.

The Liner we were visiting was the 'Saga Sapphire' seen here in the background which was about to sail for Cadiz in Spain on a seven night cruise to Barcelona.

 No need to worry about bumping up the kerb with this nice run up area perfect for our cars.

The significance of this Zebra statue depicting silhouettes of boats and ships, I discovered, is a part of the Southampton Art Trail  

The trail features 47 life-sized zebras created by professional artists, as well as 103 smaller sculptures designed and decorated by local school children.

Money raised through an auction will aid Grevy's zebra conservation in Africa.

One of the last to arrive this veteran of the Peking to Paris Rally is given centre stage.

The Club Banner proudly presented.

The Only Mini is the True Mini

Our leader & organiser John inspecting his handy work 

It was a case of Hoods Up for all but one hardy owner.

A welcome supplier of Coffee lurking in the corner.

A spotless engine bay proudly on show.

The Model T Ford 

Beautiful Bentley 

The ever popular E Type Jaguar.

Perfectly Positioned for the Passengers arrival.

'Peking to Paris' the stunning survivor.

The Green Goddess neatly tucked in line.

Heading for our visit to the ship 

Waiting for our Security Passes.

Some Big Lifting - This is not the Container Port? 

We are on our way aboard.

The view through a gangway window

On The Ship, that Welcome Home sign.

Serious Stuff this Scanning of our Security Passes

The On Board Reception Desk

Between Decks Artwork in the Stair Well.

Our Deck 7 Floor Plan

The Restaurant Areas

Maybe set out for different passenger classes?

An Unexpected Treat as we select from our superb Silver Service Four Course Lunch Menus.  (far exceeding that buffet and coffee anticipated. Well Done John! ) 

Smoked Salmon and The Duck for me please. 

Following our Lunch we were permitted free access to the whole ship for an hour until we were ready to leave. The well guarded route down to the kitchens

More Restaurant Areas

One of two Raoul Dufys' I spotted.

As passengers arrive they are taking Afternoon Tea in the Lounge area.

Her Majesty The Queen observing in The Card Room.

I love this On Board Art as we find Saga Sapphire in two previous locations (which appear to be entering Lisbon and The Norwegian Fjords) 

Out on The Promenade Deck we are reminded of our cruises on the QE2. 

Over the side the Painters are busy.

The Ikea Blue Brick is just opposite.

Towards the City Centre.

Hopefully not essential equipment.

The Pool Deck, yet to be filled for the Summer.

The 'Aida Perla' berthed in the old Cunard Docks

Refuelling, or Bunkering to use the correct term, is taking place alongside. 

The Whitchampion leaving having completed her task.

One of the Lounge Bars

Ready for some late night schmoozing.

A Bit of a Puzzle with pieces missing from each of these?

That distinctive Yellow Funnel.

More On Board Art to view 

Trying to look up the stairwell.

Quite a collection of Exchange Plaques from the Ports she has visited.

Back on land it is time to leave - Setting the example it had to be Roof Down for everyone this time.

The Bentley looking beautiful.

Saying our farewells as the Cars are getting ready to leave

Our Journey home would be via the Woolston Toll Bridge at 50p. Anything to avoid all of those endless red traffic lights experienced on the way in.

Later that evening as we watch from our window (Via Telescope) , Saga Sapphire makes her way near Lepe Beach ready to turn at Cowes on her way to Barcelona via Cadiz

The end of a most memorable and enjoyable day thanks to John and The Locks Heath Classic Car Club, and of course the most welcoming Crew of Saga Sapphire.