Hampshire Archives

Portchester Castle visitor guide: Opening hours, tickets, and how to plan your visit

Portchester Castle is a Roman fort, Norman castle, and medieval royal palace on the shore of Portsmouth Harbour in Portchester, Hampshire, managed by English Heritage. This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips. This guide was last…

Rievaulx Abbey near Helmsley in North Yorkshire.

7 of the best Cistercian monastic ruins in England

Discover seven of the best Cistercian monastic ruins in England. Explore the history and architecture of these great religious sites, including Rievaulx and Fountains. The Cistercian order arrived in England in the 12th century. They founded houses in remote, often wild, locations. Their goal was…