South Coast Harbours 1698 report by Edmund Dummer and Thomas Wiltshaw
	Chichester, West Sussex: harbour on the English Channel. SU7_0_; sheet 197 Portsmouth, Hampshire harbour on The Solent. SU6_0_; sheet 196
	images: click to enlarge
	transcript
Between Arundell & Portsmouth no Ports or Havens improveable	Wee passed by Chichester observing only that there are many small Currents of Fresh Water, and breaking into the low Lands by the Flux of the Sea between it and Portsmouth in and about the Islands of Selsea and Hailing, But all Passages into the same from the Seaward being Covered by the East Burroughs the dangerous Rocks called the Oares, and the Sands of the Horse; There is no Room among them for any improvement for the Navy nor did there appear to be any Place fitting to Build a Shipp of the 4th. Rate within any of the Havens of those mentioned Islands upon the enquiry which was made thereof about 4 Years since by your own Directions.
The excellency of the Ports of Portsmo~ & ye. Roades within the Isle of Wight	Portsmouth the next place in Scituation tho' not mentioned in our Catalogue, nor Subject to our present enquirie, For that having been in use many years, and its improvemts. much Augmented in the late long Warr wth: France, And if need require is still Capable of greater Additions 'tis sufficient to name it in a Course of Succession only, for our more orderly coming to places of the next consideration, However before wee leave it, Wee Crave liberty to say a few Wordes in Consideration of it wth: respect to the Parts adjacent Namely Spithead, Stoakes Bay, Cowes, and Yarmo~ Roades, the Waters of Hampton, Bussleton, Beauly and Lymington all inclos'd and Shelter'd by the Isle of Wight and Hurst Castle, and doe Adminester the most desireable Advantages either for easy and safe approaches in or going out to Sea, Security at Anchor, Close and Convenient Harbours for Building and repairing Shipps of any Burthen sufficiently Capacious and
	and abounding with all Navall Conveniences; in a word the Scituation of the places thus mentioned in and about ye. said Island seem to offer all that is to be desired, for the Susteining and preserving the greatest Navall strength in the World.
	summary relating to this harbour
	South Coast Harbours 1698 report by Edmund Dummer and Thomas Wiltshaw