The Citadel, South West And South East Casemates

SY6973 969-1/3/175

PORTLAND THE CITADEL, The Verne (South side) The Citadel, SW and SE Casemates

GV II*

Military casemates. c 1860. Probably by Capt. W. Crossman, RE, general designer of The Citadel. Rusticated Portland ashlar, turf and grass roof. Two long and one shorter runs of continuous casemates to the south-west and south-east edge of the Citadel enclosure. The structure is backed by high earth mounds, standing above the very deep surrounding ditches, so that only one face is exposed; the short south casemate, connecting the two longer units, lies immediately adjacent to the South Entrance (qv). Continous high wall in rusticated ashlar, with heavy weathered coping on deep moulding, carrying square stacks to flat pyramidal cappings, above 3-course plain band and a string with bold cavetto-mould immediately above stepped voussoirs to main arches. Segmental arches carried to broad responds, over a Diocletian window. Main opening has bold projecting square porch with tall rectangular light to face, and heavy door under transom-light on return. The porch is flanked by a tall rectangular light each side; many of the porches missing at time of survey (May 1991).The SW casemate has, returning at right angles to the N, a length of plain stepped walling to a heavy capping then 35 arches; the S run has 10, and the SE has 17. On the splayed length of wall connecting SW and S casemates is a large segmental opening over a flight of stairs to heavy stone balustrades, flanked by paired doors under fanlights in rusticated surrounds with voussoirs set within segmental arches linked with the centre. Each casemate has a deep, narrow compartment enclosed and vaulted in Portland stone. This remarkable run of structures enclosing the main central area of The Citadel is vigorously detailed, and on a charactersitically grand scale, lying above the very deep surrounding Ditches, and modelling the landscape in views from many parts of The Island.

Listing NGR: SY6933573503