Kings, gunners, pirates and prime ministers
Who lived in and around the forts, and the stories told about them.
Henry VIII and his plan
Henry VIII reigned from 1509 to 1547. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle Between 1539 and 1547 Henry VIII made a national plan to defend England against invasion by powerful Catholic forces in Europe. English Heritage: Tudors: War
“Expert men” were sent around England and Wales to suggest how to defend the coast. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle In 1537 John Arundell asked the king to protect the River Fal with blockhouses. English Heritage: History of St Mawes Castle
A queen-to-be at Deal
On 27 December 1539 Anne of Cleves landed at Deal and rested at the unfinished castle. English Heritage: Deal Castle, history and stories
Gunners and garrisons
Its first captain, Thomas Mervin, had only four gunners and two other men. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle In 1547 Portland had 15 guns, plus 23 longbows, 24 bills and 14 pikes. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle
The garrison was small, never more than 15 people, and sometimes just a master gunner. English Heritage: History of St Mawes Castle In 1773 a list of the garrison named only eight gunners. English Heritage: History of Deal Castle
By 1552 Yarmouth had a captain, Richard Udall, a porter and 17 soldiers, with 12 heavy guns, 140 longbows and 223 bills. English Heritage: History of Yarmouth Castle
When St Mawes was built, people in Cornwall still used their own language. English Heritage: History of St Mawes Castle
Pirates and smugglers
In the 1550s a captain let his brother store stolen goods in the castle. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle In 1607 Portland was called “a very nursery” for helping pirates. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle
The spit was known for smugglers, sometimes from the garrison itself. English Heritage: History of Hurst Castle
A prisoner king
King Charles I was held prisoner in the keep from 1 to 19 December 1648. English Heritage: History of Hurst Castle On 19 December 1648 Charles I was taken from Hurst on the journey that led to his execution in London. English Heritage: History of Hurst Castle
Sailors, sieges and the people of Deal
In 1639, during the Battle of the Downs, 2,000 shipwrecked sailors struggled ashore. English Heritage: History of Deal Castle
In 1646 about 1,000 people held out in a five-month siege and surrendered in August when the food ran out. English Heritage: History of Pendennis Castle
On 26 June 1667 men and boys from Deal helped pile turf on Walmer’s ramparts to soak up cannon shot. English Heritage: History of Walmer Castle
Lords Warden and prime ministers
Walmer became the official home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. English Heritage: History of Walmer Castle Prime Minister William Pitt became Lord Warden in 1792 and made Walmer his main home in 1802. English Heritage: History of Walmer Castle
Of eight Lords Warden in a row, five were prime ministers. English Heritage: History of Walmer Castle The Duke of Wellington loved Walmer Castle. English Heritage: History of Walmer Castle
Builders, captains and lodgers
Thomas Bertie, the master mason at Calshot, became its captain. English Heritage: History of Hurst Castle By 1600 the engineer Paul Ive had wrapped Henry’s castle inside a much bigger fortress. English Heritage: History of Pendennis Castle
From 1816 the castle was rented to the Reverend John Manning as a home. English Heritage: History of Portland Castle
Since at least 1724 people have scratched graffiti into the lead of the castle’s roof. English Heritage: Deal Castle, history and stories
Today the Royal Marines Commandant General holds the post of Captain of Deal Castle as an honour. English Heritage: History of Deal Castle