I am currently transcribing some of the sailing logs and articles that
Percy wrote; some for publication and others for his own records. I have
just found a reference to Portchester Castle that featured in the story The
Prisoner of War - A tale of Portchester Castle During the Napoleonic
Wars, posted on this site in October last year. Interesting to
note that he visited the castle in the spring of 1905, sailing up to the
watergate in his vessel Clytie I.
"Right ahead rose the massive square tower of Portchester Castle,
and practically at high water we ran ashore at a hard near a little quay by the
watergate of the castle. Here we spent a couple of hours in
wandering round the interesting old ruin, for interesting it certainly is,
though possessing practically no history of romantic character".
Maybe his visit prompted him to give the castle some of the 'romantic
character' that he thought it lacked.
