kent artillery fort constructed henry_viii kent formed king device programme protect invasion france defended strategically important downs anchorage english coast comprising circular stone castle covered acres firing positions upper levels artillery basement cost crown total build castles deal lay adjacent coast connected defences original invasion threat passed second english civil war seized pro royalist insurgents parliamentary forces months fighting 19th century castle suffering badly effects coastal erosion remained military use demolished upper levels explosives carrying second wave demolition work destroying surviving stonework remains purchased town deal form local sea defences remaining masonry concrete late 1980s form sea wall remains vulnerable erosion sea history 16th century built consequence international tensions england france final years reign king henry viii traditionally crown left coastal defences local lords communities taking modest role building maintaining fortifications france empire remained conflict maritime raids common actual invasion england unlikely modest defences based simple towers existed south west sussex coast impressive works north england general fortifications limited scale henry broke pope long standing marriage wife catherine catherine aunt charles took personal insult resulted france empire declaring alliance henry pope encouraging countries attack england invasion england appeared certain response henry issued order called device giving instructions defence realm time invasion construction forts english coastline adjacent castles deal constructed protect downs east kent important anchorage formed sands gave access enemy soldiers easily landed stone castles supported line forts known great turf great white clay miles long defensive ditch bank collectively castles known castles downs cost crown total castle built april autumn team including surveyor master carpenter master mason nearly identical sister castle tall feet centre flanked rounded called moat surrounded turn curtain wall curved walls feet thick total approximately feet covering acres historian considered castle form transitional design older medieval english designs newer italian styles defence tiers artillery heaviest longest range weapons occupying upper levels total firing positions basement close defence required walls widely provide maximum possible space guns operate traverse interior castle designed allow smoke guns escape initially garrisoned captain gunners soldiers annual cost year 17th century original invasion threat passed continued military use 17th century survey nonetheless reported range repairs needed estimated total cost survey noted work estimated required contrast inspection showed castle reasonable structural condition design report produced suggested investment required castles downs including additional sea defences play prominent role english civil war broke supporters king charles parliament taken parliamentary forces start conflict following years peace second civil war broke time charles royalist supporters joined scottish allies parliamentary navy based downs protected castles royalist insurrection underway kent vice admiral forced parliamentary officials resign post commander fleet previous year encouraged fleet join royalist faction sir sailor accompanied members gentry called fleet revolt taking advantage fellow men crews declared king followed shortly garrisons deal coastal fortresses navy royalist control parliament feared foreign forces landed coast aid sent scots parliament defeated wider battle start june sent force command colonel rich deal castles downs besieged surrendered july fort built deal defended men deal attacked late july august artillery assaults began mounted attack fleet august second attack following august involving landing men supported soldiers operation successful finally surrendered september weeks surrender deal parliament ordered supplies ammunition powder sent castles downs fresh earthworks erected deal address threat dutch attack garrison remained substantial period governor soldiers charles_ii restored throne reduced numbers captain men glorious revolution charles brother king deal seized behalf colonel detained crown wife subsequently widely publicised case described castle imprisonment months died castle doctor blaming physical decline conditions kept 18th 21st centuries sea broke outer walls castle coastal erosion continued years castle initially described barely considered unfit repaired garrisoned french revolutionary wars new artillery batteries constructed north castle early 19th century castle early suppression local smuggling coastal erosion continued 19th century consequence sold materials fortification demolished upper parts castle leaving level platform lower parts stone purchased earl building work castle masonry reused construction deal pier sea continued remaining stonework destroyed adjacent artillery batteries converted use explosives remove tonnes long tons short tons masonry castle use construction officer house dover castle causing damage architectural historian complained needed protect ruins contrasting poor treatment castles coast despite concerns continued raised safety ruins facing sea blew town deal bought remains government use local sea defences coastal erosion continued remains concrete form sea wall remain vulnerable coastal erosion remains castle protected law scheduled monument
Sandown Castle, Kent