Monument MPM186 - 16th century Doorway, Gatcombe House, Hilsea

A stone archway was revealed in the courtyard of Gatcombe House during extensive restoration work in 1984/5. It was thought to be late-16th century in date, and it was suggested that the stone for the archway may have been re-used from an earlier building on the site marked on Speed's map of 1611, called 'Little Gatcombe'. It was not thought to be ecclesiastical, as very little church building had taken place during the late-16th century. The archway was originally discovered during building work in 1877, but had been hidden by a new brick wall, which was removed during the restoration work of the 1980s. [1] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A four-centred arched doorway in limestone of late Perpendicular type (c. 1500?). Not believed to be original to site, but brought in from an unknown source - perhaps Southwick. Merely a garden ornament. [2]