MysteryHidden
Pontius Pilate's refuge
A Roman galley, a Roman wall, and an old man hiding.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Roman fort walls with a Norman keep and church inside
- Legend from
- Local legend
- Tone
- Curious
The man who washed his hands of Jesus, hiding in a Hampshire fort.
Portchester Castle stands inside a Roman fort of the 3rd century, the best-preserved Roman walls in northern Europe, on the north shore of Portsmouth Harbour. A Norman keep was later built in one corner. Local legend says that late in life Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who condemned Jesus, was brought here by galley as a final refuge. The English Heritage history page does not mention the tale, and no other fetched source supports it. It is a curious example of the stories that gather round very old walls.
One sourceOnly one written account of this legend has been found so far.