Page 34 • The HERALD • 16th July 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v Call Richard on 07554 421544 or 023 8178 8299 PEST CONTROL All aspects of control and treatment undertaken including: Rodents, Insects, Moles, Wasps, Birds and Property Proofing Licensed waste removal of all types of waste Local Friendly Family Run Business • Fully Trained & Insured PVCu FASCIAS & GUTTERING CLEANING SERVICE Gutters checked for leaks and repaired Also new installations Driveway, Patio and Decking Cleaning and Restoration Service Very reliable and fully insured Good Rates and Professional Service Special Rates for OAP’s Call us now for a free quote Holbury 07884 112416 M. C. HALL LTD 4 Carpentry 4 Fencing 4 Decoration 4 Extensions 4 Kitchens 4 Loft Conversions 4 Bathrooms 4 New Build First Rate Building & Carpentry Work Start to Finish Service • References Available • Fully Insured • 1 year guarantee Free Quotations and Friendly Advice Given Contact: mchall126@btinternet.com or call 023 8089 8456 or 07976 937941 Website: www.mchallltd.co.uk FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST Calshot Castle – Power, Protection, Budget Cuts and Piracy by Colin van Geffen Calshot Castle was ideally situated, very close to the deep-water channel and o ered protection for the growing naval base at Portsmouth and to the western Solent as well as to Southampton. Access to the castle, sometimes referred to as a fort or blockhouse, was across a drawbridge. e small garrison comprised a Captain, who lived in the gatehouse, (where the Reception and shop is now), his deputy, eight gunners and ve soldiers who were accommodated on the 1st oor of the keep, with the guns installed on the 2nd oor and on the roof. More guns were mounted around the courtyard facing outward covering 270 degrees sweep. In 1547 Calshot housed 19 carriage-mounted guns and 5 smaller swivel guns. is number increased to 36 guns by 1550 making it one of the most heavily armed forts in the Solent. ese had reduced to 10 by 1559 as the Governor and more accommodation was provided in buildings outside the walls, for the growing garrison Smuggling and piracy were now major problems around the coast and there are many stories of wreckers and looters. In some cases smuggling became a major local industry and the Calshot area saw its fair share of activity. Indeed a small village close to Calshot became known as ‘Lazy Town’ due to agricultural anticipated threat from Catholic Europe receded. In the summer of 1588, a local merchant John Holforde was recorded as supplying provisions for ships preparing to face the Spanish Armada. It is recorded that Holforde received £3.19s.2d (£3.96) “for his boat, himselfe & his men with their victuells & charges in going to my Lord Admiral” (Raleigh). Earlier, James Parkesson, governor of both Calshot and Southampton castles, had been mis-using his garrison at Calshot to intercept ships and extort dues in the form of part of their cargo before allowing them to continue. During the Civil War, following a Royalist demonstration in Southampton, a Parliamentarian gunboat was sent out as a show of strength. It red on Calshot causing some damage and destroyed of both its sister castles - Hamble and St Andrews. Clearly the importance of Calshot was appreciated by both sides. An Indenture dated 1707 (in the reign of Queen Anne), shows that the Castle was being restocked with bedding, corn and powder, from the Ordinance Depot at Portsmouth. Interestingly it is signed by ‘John Pitman – Master Gunner’. en during the War of Spanish Calshot Castle with wooden drawbridge 16c (Colin van Geffen Collection) Smugglers at the gallows (Colin van Geffen Collection) workers preferring to earn more by ‘working’ at night. e nocturnal nature of this work resulted in a lack of any activity there during the daytime – hence the name ‘Lazy Town’. Contraband was o en brought across the Solent from the Isle of Wight to the secluded local beaches. e penalty was high for those unlucky enough to be caught. If you have any information, anecdotes or memories of Calshot and are willing to share them, please contact Colin van Geffen: cvg@hotmail.co.uk and help to expand our local knowledge of this much overlooked and very important place. Thank you. Succession (1702 – 13) Calshot again re-armed with 25 guns, but by 1725 this number had fallen to 13. (Defence Cuts!) Over the next 100 years Calshot saw very little activity, when it became a coastguard lookout station, charged with intercepting and ‘discouraging’ the growing activities of piracy and smuggling across the Solent and along the south coast. In the 1770s the curtain wall was lowered; the gatehouse was enlarged at the same time to accommodate the castle’s newly appointed Reach For The Skies Some of Hythe & Waterside (H&W) Rotary’s speaker evenings leave members totally amazed, and none more so than June’s visitor, Jen omson from NATS (National Air Tra c Services). Jen gave a fascinating insight into the role of an air tra c controller, highlighting the essential qualities and skills required to keep our skies safe. As expected, H&W Rotary members and their guests found the topic immensely engaging and had plenty of questions for her. At Jen’s request, the club made a donation to MIND in lieu of a speaker fee. Thank you, Jen and all at NATS for ensuring air travel is in safe hands! H&W Rotary President Ian Wheeler with Jen Thomson from NATS
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