Hurst Castle
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- Not to be confused with Hearst Castle, a resort built by wealthy newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst.
Hurst Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts built at the end of a long shingle spit at the west end of the Solent to guard the approaches to Portsmouth (grid reference SZ319898). Hurst Castle is sited at the narrow entrance to the Solent where the ebb and flow of the tides creates strong currents, putting would-be invaders at its mercy. It was built between 1541 and 1544 and consists of a central twelve-sided keep surrounded by three bastions which are linked by a curtain wall.
During the Civil War it was held by Parliament and Charles I was imprisoned here in December 1648 for three weeks before being taken to London to his trial and execution.
Vaulted ceilings in the keep were built between 1803 and 1806 to support the weight of the new guns positioned on the roof. At the same time the roof of the basement was also strengthened to protect the magazine.
It was given extensive new wing batteries after the 1859 Royal Commission report, and the modifications were completed in 1873. During World War II, Hurst was manned with coastal gun batteries and searchlights. The castle is now owned by English Heritage and is open to the public.
The castle is the closest point on the British mainland to the Isle of Wight, with Colwell Bay on the island lying less than two kilometres to the southeast. The castle is open to tourists throughout the year, see link below for details.
[edit] See also
- Henry VIII: Legacy
- Device Forts
- Martello Tower
- Eastbourne Redoubt
- Pevensey Castle
- Dymchurch Redoubt
- British narrow gauge military railways
[edit] External links
- English Heritage page about Hurst Castle
- Photographs and description
- Details of opening times, the ferries, history, etc.
| Kent and Sussex: | Sandown Castle | Deal Castle | Walmer Castle | Sandgate Castle | Camber Castle |
| Solent: | Southsea Castle | Hurst Castle | Calshot Castle | Yarmouth Castle |
| South West: | Portland Castle | Pendennis Castle | St Mawes Castle |
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