Gunwharf Quays

With the establishment of Portsmouth Royal Dockyard in the 15th century, the Ordnance Office (responsible for equipping the Army and Navy alike with cannons and munitions) had to create the means of conveying weapons to and from warships in harbour, and maintaining them when not in use (a ship when not on active service would have its guns removed and placed in storage, until they were next required.) At first, Portchester Castle was used and in 1521 a sizeable storehouse was built there within the outer bailey. From the 1580s the Town Quay in Old Portsmouth was used; this was not far from the Square Tower, newly-converted at that time to serve as a gunpowder store. Later, in 1676, a wharf…