The Bargate Constructed circa 1180 in Norman times as part of the Southampton town walls, Hampshire.

A dark wet start, beads of rain slide down the shiny developers hoardings of WestQuay Watermark abutting a section of Southampton Medieval city wall. Pavement glistens under orange sodium lights.

Southampton Container Port I. The country’s second largest such terminal, after that at Felixstowe.

Most of the city was destroyed in the Blitz and the now has an ironically spacious and continental feel as a result of the rebuilding.

Holyrood Church Built in 1320, destroyed during the Southampton blitz in November 1940, one of 45,000 buildings that were damaged or destroyed,

Escape from the rain momentarily in Town Quay Starbucks. All the coffee sippers around me are in full corporate mode.

To my left “As a line manager I have to mention this is preventing me doing my job”

To my right “I’m drip…

Container Ship in the Solent from Gilkicker Point, Hampshire.

Golden morning light illuminates golfers and container ships passing between Fort Gilkicker and the alleged spy training centre at Fort Monckton.

Browndown Range I, Hampshire.

Browndown Range doesn’t have a flag flying – first time I’ve been lucky on the walk so far and not had to detour around an MOD site due to live firing.

Browndown Range II, Faggots & Queers, Hampshire.

Browndown Range III, Lookout, Hampshire.

Browndown Range IV, Outfall, Hampshire.

Browndown Range V, Sand Ladder, Hampshire.

Browndown Range VI, Butts, Hampshire.

Beach Huts, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire.

Decorator / Handywoman Van parked outside the Hovercraft museum

The Solent from Hill Head, Hampshire.

Glistening jellyfish two feet across, a sandy footprint neatly placed on one side of its body.

Private Beach, Hill Head, Hampshire.

A row of precious houses each with variously phrased notices all stating the privateness of their tiny…

M-pipe carbon fibre subsea reeler system, Magma Global Factory, Portchester, Hampshire.

A camera drone buzzes over the ruined royal apartments of Richard II in Portchester Castle breaking the silence like a mosquito in a bedroom on a summer’s night.

Portchester Castle’s 12th century keep, Hampshire.

In the 1800’s three hundred prisoners were kept in the keep and their graffiti can be seen on the walls today. Those that died while incarcerated were buried in the mudflats and the tide occasionally reveal their remains.

Roman walls of Portchester Castle, Hampshire.

Outside the Roman walls a teacher lectures her students with careful enunciation;
“The castle is surrounded by water on three sides for defensive purposes”,
“There’s no way you’d get a massive boat through there because; A, it’s too narrow – and B, oh I forgot where I was going there…”

Graveyard, St Mary’s Portchester, Hampshire.

Norman west door, St Mary’s Portchester…

Spinnaker Tower being painted gold for rebranding as Emirates Spinnaker Tower. The 170 meter structure was designed by HGP Architects and built in 2005. Portsmouth, Hampshire.

On awakening I hear trains rumbling into the harbour station, ship’s horns sounding and the pssst of coach doors opening. I enjoy Portsmouth’s cosmopolitan sense of purpose in contrast to the parochial air that can blight some coastal settlements.

Climbing the mast, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

At Spinnaker Tower abseilers are skilfully painting the exterior with gold and blue as part of an Emirates sponsorship deal.

Emirates Spinnaker Tower painting, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Emirates Spinnaker Tower & Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Up the tower an elderly couple are awkwardly taking a photo of themselves. I offer to take the picture but they declined with a smile saying “It’s our first selfie”

Gunwharf Quays from Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Gosport Marina, Hampshire.

Emirates Spinnaker Tower, detail…