Millennium Promenade - The Hotwalls

The lanterns you see lining the promenade were designed to create a blue necklace of lights around Portsmouth Harbour so that, when you enter by sea, the lights guide you in. The design of the lampposts is based on the city’s coat of arms which shows a crescent and shining star, and contains the motto: ‘Heaven’s Light our Guide’.

Portsmouth was given its Royal Charter by Richard I in 1194. The city’s coat of arms references Richard I’s first Great Seal, on which he was shown seated between a star and crescent. The lights were designed by the Millennium Partners: Portsmouth City Council, Gosport Borough Council & Hyland Edgar Driver in collaboration with Jonathan Speirs, lighting designer.

The old defences for the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour were designed by Sir Bernard de Gomme. Eighteen Gun battery was originally built in the 1680s. Locally, the area is known as the ‘Hot Walls’. Residents often think that this is because the south facing walls on the beach side of Point Battery get very hot in the summer, but this nickname originated longer ago than you may think. It is said to derive from heating cannon balls to make them more deadly when fired at wooden ships.

Dominating the area with its linear layout and brick arches, it creates a natural public square in this area of Old Portsmouth.

The ramparts are a perfect grandstand for watching ships entering and leaving the harbour. The beach has long been used for landing small boats and even hanging out washing! One of the casemates has been opened up to give public access to the beach – a popular sunbathing and fishing spot.

The Flanking Battery (the corner section adjacent to the Round Tower) was designed to provide covering fire for Point beach, adjacent battery and the harbour entrance.

An additional upper level was added to it in the 1840s.

Go back to the Millennium Promenade page.