Pewit Island (Portsmouth Harbour)

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.[2]The island is a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Naturalists’ Trust nature reserve.[2]

In 1857 plans drawn up to improve the defences of Portsmouth included building a fortification on the island.[3] The plans were latter modified in the face of improved artillery technology and the fortification was never built.[3]

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. http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/geo/research/portsmouth/pewit.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-28. 
  2. ^ a b "Portsmouth Harbour SSSI" (PDF). Natural England. 29 October 1992. http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003174.pdf. Retrieved November 28, 2009. 
  3. ^ a b Mitchell, Garry (1988). Hilsea Lines and Portsbridge. pp. 2–4. ISBN 0947605061.