Castle Porchester - medieval castle, located South of the market town Farhana in Hampshire, England. In the III century BC on the site of the castle was occupied by the Roman military settlement, built on the orders of Emperor Diocletian, to protect the British coast from pirate attacks. In the X century Porchester came into the possession of king Edward the Elder and became a strategically important military station, guarding the country from the invading Vikings.

The construction date of the castle is unknown, but presumably it happened at the end of XI century, when Porchester was transferred to William Modica, ally of William the Conqueror. Unknown and original appearance of the castle, but most likely the castle was protected by a wooden fence and a moat and stone walls remaining from the Roman settlement. In the first half of the XII century castle Porchester went to the William Pont-de-l the Arches and around the same time, the castle was rebuilt in stone, which is proved by the similarity of the masonry of the castle with the walls of the parish Church of the virgin Mary, built on the grounds of the castle in 1130-ies. The Church was designed for a small Augustinian monastery, however, was not found traces of other monastic buildings.

The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1153, when Henry Plantagenet handed lock Porchester Henry Modica. However, immediately after the accession of Henry II to the throne, the castle passed back into the ownership of the king. In the beginning of the XIII century, the castle served as a hunting residence of her son Henry - king John. In 1216 the castle was besieged and captured by the French. In the XIV century the castle was in pretty poor condition and in 1340-1350, by order of king Edward III underwent a small renovation and remodeling, but in 1396-1399, the Royal apartments were built for Richard II, which at the moment is now ruined.

In the XV century, Porchester ceased to be strategically important military target, and from that moment began a period of decline, however, during the occupation of Le Havre British troops (1562-1563.) the castle was used as a military hospital. To 1609, by order of Queen Elizabeth the castle was repaired, and in 1632 the castle Porchester ceased to be Royal property.

From the end of XVII century the castle was used as a prison, where they were held captives during various wars, including Napoleon. Prisoners of the Second Anglo-Dutch war (1665-1667, kept even in the Church, which from arson rebuilt only after 40 years.

Now the castle Porchester popular among tourists in the castle is a Museum, and are found in marine waters perch and flounder. Rumor has it that the castle has ghosts - one of employees of the Museum claimed to have seen the ghostly horse, passing through the wall.