artillery fort originally constructed henry_viii 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 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 18th century official residence lord warden gradually modified military fortification private residence prime ministers prominent politicians appointed lord warden including duke wellington lord adapted parts tudor castle living spaces constructed extensive gardens property agreed remaining military utility passed successive lord continued use property opened public longer considered particularly comfortable modern residence lord blamed poor condition castle wife death lord second world war included winston_churchill queen mother intermittent use 21st century run tourist attraction english_heritage interior castle displays range historical objects pictures associated property lord protected 19th century special legislation grounds include queen mother garden designed birthday gift elizabeth 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 order 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 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 mile long defensive ditch bank collectively castles known castles downs cost crown total build built april autumn team including surveyor master carpenter master mason initially garrisoned captain gunners soldiers annual cost probably equipped range brass cast iron guns bows close defence report listed castle artillery comprising cannon falcon 17th century left decline early 17th century little money available repairs garrison receiving low pay leading members reside nearby deal fort additional employment supplement wages seized parliamentary forces start english civil war supporters king charles parliament play significant role remainder initial conflict years peace second civil war broke time charles royalist supporters joined scottish allies parliamentary navy based downs protected castles royalist insurrection way kent vice admiral forced resign post commander fleet previous year parliamentary officials encouraged fleet join royalist faction sir sailor accompanied members gentry called fleet revolt taking advantage fellow men crews deal castle declared king shortly garrisons 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 deal attacked late july august artillery assaults began leading surrender remaining fortifications badly damaged conflict estimated rich responsible carrying repairs work cost parliament ordered new supplies ammunition powder sent castles downs brought good order garrison remained substantial period governor corporal soldiers charles_ii restored throne reduced numbers captain lieutenant porter men glorious revolution charles brother king deal seized behalf end century castle increasingly regarded date military perspective 18th 19th centuries 18th century official residence lord warden lord warden originally medieval title linked key ports coast england position prominence faded retained important judicial military functions duke appointed post decided existing residence dover castle unsatisfactory probably semi state castle moved instead duke occupied post lord warden save periods filled duke earl leicester carried extensive work castle building extensions north constructing small house south soldiers subsequent lord politicians earl earl castle continued house artillery increasingly military character prime minister younger lord warden badly debt king believed post came salary year supplement income extensive use castle main residence effort reduce living costs niece joined carried extensive work castle gardens transforming simple kitchen garden set ornamental enlisted dover militia help landscaping planting outbreak french revolutionary wars involved protection ports coast entertaining local garrison commanders naval captains local gentry regular basis resigned prime minister fears remained french invasion formed volunteer cavalry unit castle lived new officers formed unit infantry fleet fishing boats called armed pound pound guns reviewing castle remarked constant drilling army units castle time took possession following death liverpool favourite king george appointment lord warden intended provide valuable income country retreat prime minister liverpool personal retreat location private political discussions selected guests lord liverpool death duke wellington current prime minister asked king george post lord warden primarily seeking use wellington took post considered charming marine residence use castle autumn entertaining extensively living sleeping single room visited twice victoria princess later queen wellington let gardens fall poor condition wellington died room september body kept death chamber room lie state november room opened public visitors final days attended duke body finally removed london deal complete military escort lord warden death prime minister took castle initially declined buy contents castle predecessor estate taking post practice traditional complaining high price proposed raised risk historical contents castle sold open auction wellington belongings removed family politician lord offered post lord warden new prime minister russell noted role expensive perform salary abolished provide property sea seeking acquire took expanded gardens built new hunting pack spent years furniture objects wellington castle received large numbers visitors stopped travelling france diplomat baron visited family later praised atmosphere castle described breakfast family guests gather drawing room large room house answer government correspondence amid daily life rest household businessman politician appointed lord warden died castle visit october year smith proposed historical artefacts castle protected removed later lord suggested government pass bill government carried plan smith death protecting pieces furniture artworks castle forbidding moved castle secretary state war approval salisbury lord warden adequate legal protection place 3rd duke wellington suggested returning grandfather possessions castle declined offer 20th 21st centuries concluded remaining military value agreed transfer castle accepted condition paid order carry repairs office survey noted lower floor dark health women servants sleep sort dormitory slopes roof principal floor generally speaking badly arranged badly dining room small report suggested best demolish building rebuild proposals find lord warden alternative accommodation royal marines approached replacement tenants castle declined offer ministry acquired agreement castle opened public historical objects related property display including donated lord moved castle returned india wife mary fell ill believed result poor accommodation despite moved new residence died shortly result decided resign post lord warden leaving castle subsequently future took post earl lord warden building roman catholic chapel castle holding large parties summer children later commented found castle cramped prime minister invited use castle world war weekend retreat good communication links line france wife initially impressed noting diary distinguished great charm terribly exposed cold noisy corridors small rooms later came like castle noted sad finally leave sexual relations men illegal england period rumours spread parties held castle war according historian behaved young men king informed lifestyle fled country resigning appointment lord warden following year successor politician reading lord warden holding family gatherings wife attempted restore wellington old bedroom earlier appearance duke tenure project 4th duke wellington agreed send original contents room castle remain politician lord warden followed sir winston_churchill followed second world war churchill noted minister works buildings told king george taking position doubted able live castle war range german artillery french coast able afford live reason hoped state maintain castle gardens decide use war sir australian politician lord warden visited castle annual basis staying flat elizabeth queen mother followed initially visiting castle royal yacht onwards taking entire castle days july required moving furniture london caused difficulties english_heritage managed property current lord warden admiral lord took post 21st century property managed english_heritage attracting visitors english_heritage carried programme improvements castle intended improve visitor experience castle protected law scheduled monument surrounding gardens protected grade listing architecture castle retains original 16th century structure tall feet centre flanked rounded served gatehouse moat surrounded turn curtain wall curved walls feet thick nearly identical sister castle approximately feet covering acres historian considered original castle form transitional design older medieval english designs newer italian styles defence castle tiers artillery heaviest longest range weapons occupying upper levels including total firing positions basement close defence required walls widely provide maximum possible space guns operate traverse interior castle designed allow smoke guns escape 18th century onwards interior castle converted provide accommodation lord open visitors castle entered ground floor gatehouse western contains original porter lodge middle castle originally housed servants hall set tea rooms southern set rooms reached hall room originally built gunners 18th century converted entrance hall castle 1930s far built 18th century room museum objects relating lucas room mid-19th century style present items wellington memorabilia north east filled providing solid foundations gun platforms second floor contains lord warden private apartments west western half southern duke wellington room originally apartment rooms selected use formed castle corridor running castle built link north south halves castle queen_victoria rooms named use royal visit decoration today dates interwar period dining room drawing room room northern date duke constructed form private set chambers rooms feature range pink purple window glass tradition says installed protect wife recent analysis shows pink glass dates naturally time intentionally purchased probably status symbols medical purpose gardens gardens date mainly 1860s comprise acres land split evenly formal ornamental gardens main body gardens stretches away castle north west protected drained chalk based soil forming maritime castle approached castle meadow area open lined oaks planted 1860s surrounded dry moat garden dating 1850s planted trees shrubs adjacent castle queen mother garden kitchen garden queen mother garden built english_heritage birthday gift lord warden site having originally wider kitchen gardens turned tennis court 1920s designed garden incorporates classical islamic themes foot long pool viewing mound classical pavilion restored functioning cold remainder kitchen garden planted mixture vegetables fruit trees flowers foot long main axis gardens separates foot long planted lime trees lined cloud formal 19th century grew control second world war left current style middle garden designed style separate half garden planted oaks curved belt woodland beech ash chestnut trees badly damaged storms far end woodland hollow formed old chalk quarry 19th century
Walmer Castle