Pewit Island with the tide in

Pewit Island is a small island located in the north western section of Portsmouth Harbour.[1] Historically it appears to have been connected to the mainland via a manmade shingle causeway, parts of which still exist.[1] The island has been colonised by oak and blackthorn scrub and is home to species including sea lavender and golden samphire plants.[2] The island is currently a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust nature reserve.[3]

In 1857 plans drawn up to improve the defences of Portsmouth included building a fortification on the island.[4] The plans were later modified in the face of improved artillery technology and the fortification was never built.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Department of Geography at the University of Portsmouth & The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology. "Pewit Island". The Portsmouth Harbour Project. University of Portsmouth, Department of Geography. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Portsmouth Harbour SSSI" (PDF). Natural England. 29 October 1992. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Pewit Island". Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b Mitchell, Garry (1988). Hilsea Lines and Portsbridge. pp. 2–4. ISBN 0-947605-06-1.
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50°49′52″N 1°08′13″W / 50.831°N 1.137°W / 50.831; -1.137


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