castle castle known west castle device fort originally built henry_viii protect england threat invasion france comprised circular flanking wings housed pieces artillery companion fortification castle overlooked entrance important anchorage invasion threat passed fortification continued use middle 19th century briefly seeing action english civil war decommissioned castle leased later bought outright form new squadron employed architect rebuild large parts headquarters day invasion force second world war remained use squadron distinctive landmark yacht races history 16th century castle 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 augmented impressive works north england general fortifications limited scale henry broke pope long standing marriage wife catherine catherine aunt 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 stretch water gave access ports southampton portsmouth considered vulnerable attack castles built west east sides entrance principal harbour adjacent intended attack enemy ships approach castles took names traditional term location constructed western fortification known west castle shaped round storey rear low buildings mounted artillery guns protected ditch metres wide stone wall metres wide built limestone stone recycled demolition nearby abbey consequence henry recent dissolution monasteries settlements grew castles east castle rapidly abandoned ultimately destroyed coastal erosion result today west castle simply referred castle showed iron brass artillery pieces fort nonetheless continued use fortification original invasion scare ended staffed garrison captain porter gunners queen elizabeth reign 17th 19th centuries castle house important visitors prison captain castle responsibilities managing arrival foreign vessels english civil war broke supporters charles parliament castle initially held king captain august tensions rival factions island increased personally fired castle guns nearby parliamentary naval vessel lion unidentified scottish naval captain came ashore august captured landing men taking castle parliament held rest war castle continued prison charles housed castle route imprisonment parliament castle facility stayed local instead royalist sir imprisoned writing poem incarcerated coastal erosion proved particular problem fortification inspection reported walls cracked risk collapse antiquarian observed castle strongly piles prevent erosion sea course 18th century fashionable location visitors located castle early 19th century town noted resort castle partially rebuilt accommodation demolished rebuilt new windows turret spiral staircase erected new storey residential wings added garden created defences writer noted garrison consisted captain porter soldiers master gunner regular gunners wages coming year castle remained use napoleonic wars equipped pound guns warner complained castle utterly useless military terms echoed judgement describing useless place defence duty lord captain castle regular military appointment spent year castle making lavish improvements interiors member established operated time prestigious local event painter sailing castle visited died government decommissioned castle leased property initially son law lord squadron architect expert adapting medieval buildings employed squadron building enlarged house altered profile built new tower platform gatehouse service wing ballroom accommodation members cost prince albert edward prince wales visited castle formally reopened work received mixed reviews local newspaper result discipline establishment major centre destruction miniature frigate brass cannons donated castle 20th 21st centuries castle bought outright crown development work carried property 1920s ballroom adjacent hotel purchased use female members important staging location allied efforts invade france second world war october castle occupied british admiralty senior officer headquarters naval commander force landing craft base known force vessels docked nearby took day landings castle damaged german bombing raids island war architect carried substantial additions castle including western range provide female accommodation stone second east castle 18th 19th century home demolished previous year extension followed new pavilion designed sir added archaeological excavations winter rediscovered remains old castle wall ditch artefacts removed storage isle county museum castle distinctive landmark events particularly start finish local races protected law listed building
Cowes Castle