Walmer Castle
Walmer Castle is a Castle and Gardens in Walmer, Kent, England, built by Henry VIII in 1539–1540 as a Coastal Artillery fortress to counter the threat of invasion from France, Spain and Europe. It was part of his programme to create a chain of Coastal Defences along England's coastline known as the Device Forts or Henrician Castles. It was one of three Forts constructed to defend The Downs, an area of safe anchorage protected by The Goodwin Sands, in Kent, South East England. The other Castles of Deal and Sandown, are in the neighbouring Ancient Town of Deal, where Julius Caesar land in LV B.C.
The Castle is owned by The Crown and is currently managed by English Heritage.[1]
Design
At the centre of Walmer Castle is a circular keep, surrounded by an open four-quartered Courtyard and protected by a Concentric Wall, from which four, squat, semi-circular bastions project. The northern bastion forms the gatehouse which was renovated in 1820 using stone that was reclaimed from Sandown Castle; the other original Bastions have Cannons. The Central Keep would have had Cannon Ports giving the Castle the capacity to mount 39 Guns. A Tunnel that surrounds the exterior of the Basement Level, known as 'The Rounds' has 32 loops for Muskets/Rifles covering the area of the Dry Moat.
History
The Tudors and The Stuarts
The defences were never put to the test during The Tudor Period, and it was not until 1648 A.D., during The English Civil War, that the Castle finally came under Siege. The three 'castles of the Downs' were initially held for Parliament, but the forces manning them switched allegiance to support the Royalist cause. It took Parliamentary forces, led by Colonel Rich, nearly three months to defeat the three castles, with Walmer Castle surrendering first after a three-week Siege.
The Lord Warden's Residence & Gardens
In 1708 A.D. Walmer Castle took on a new role as a Historic House and The Residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports Confederation originated in the 11th Century when the five Ports of Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich joined forces to provide ships and men for the defence of the Coast and protection of Cross-Channel Trade. In return for these Services they received substantial local privileges including immunity from all external Courts of Justice and from National Taxation. In the 13th Century the Office of Lord Warden was instituted to oversee and regulate the affairs of the Confederation. Initially this position carried power, but with the formation of the Royal Navy, the role of Lord Warden became that of a more honorary position bestowed on those who had given distinguished Service to The British Monarchy.
Over the years successive Lord Wardens converted the Historic House into a more comfortable home with well designed Gardens. Resident Lord Wardens included The Prime Minister, Sir William Pitt the Younger famous for his friendship with William Wilberforce who fought and won the Abolition of Slavery (whose niece Lady Hester Stanhope initiated the Historic House's Gardens, using labour from the Local Community and militia), The Duke of Wellington (who died here), Sir Winston Churchill and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Memorabilia from these past Lord Wardens, including two rooms dedicated to the Duke of Wellington, can be viewed at this Historic House. The present Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is Admiral Lord Boyce.
See also
References
Further reading
- Colvin, H. M. (ed.) (1982). The History of the King's Works, Vol. IV, 1485–1600, Part II.
- Harrington, Peter (2007). The castles of Henry VIII. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-130-4
- Lawson, Susannah (ed.) (2003). Walmer Castle and Gardens. London: English Heritage. ISBN 1-85074-726-1
- Morley, B. M. (1976). Henry VIII and the development of coastal defence. London: H.M. Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-670777-1
External links
- Page at English Heritage
- Read a detailed historical record on Walmer Castle
- [dead link] English Heritage conservation
- Information for teachers: English Heritage
