This is the survivor of a pair of large storage vaults on either side of Castle Quay. It was used to store the for king's merchandise in transit overseas. Built in c.1193, the vault is the only part of the castle to survive virtually intact. It is similar in construction to the barrel vault beneath the Castle Hall, the remains of which can be seen to the south of the castle vault. Originally there was an upper storey, but no trace remains. The vault was built alongside the west wall with an entrance on to Castle Quay. A small window on the west wall gave additional lighting. The vault wall is supported by eight ribs, each of which originally rested on corbels, of which only four now remain.
Castle Vault
Photograph, 1941.
Castle Vault Window
Photograph, c.2010
see also
Further reading:
Historic Buildings of Southampton, by Philip Peberdy, p48-49. (HS/k)
Southampton Occasional Notes, 2nd Series, by ‘Townsman’, p1. (HS/h)
Southampton Castle, by John Hodgson, p16-17. (HS/k)
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