castle castle artillery fort constructed henry_viii near cornwall formed king device programme protect invasion france defended mouth castle built direction leaf design storey central tower protruding round formed gun platforms initially armed artillery pieces intended use enemy shipping operating partnership sister castle estuary english civil war held royalist supporters king charles surrendered parliamentary army final phase conflict castle continued use fort 18th 19th centuries early 1850s fears fresh conflict france combined changes military technology led redevelopment fortification dated castle turned barracks substantial gun batteries constructed beneath equipped latest naval artillery 1880s 1890s operated minefield laid operated new quick firing guns installed support defences guns removed run state tourist attraction brought service second world war naval artillery anti aircraft gun installed castle defend risk german attack end war returned use tourist attraction 21st century castle operated english_heritage castle elaborate carved 16th century decorations including sea monsters historian described site arguably perfect survivor henry forts history 16th 17th centuries construction 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 basic 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 stretch water known mouth important anchorage serving shipping arriving atlantic mediterranean plans protect castles event constructed positioned castles guns provide overlapping fire water overlooked separate anchorage eastern estuary construction work began direction sir prominent member local gentry appointed act project clerk works lord admiral russell later year castle described half build having finished total cost project leaf shaped castle additional small water edge armed artillery pieces cannon seven bases large form artillery originally mounted castle stone intended ship sinking weapons use enemy vessels smaller constructed beneath main castle sea level constructed ahead main castle build form early protection normally castle held small garrison supplemented local militia event crisis bows stores probably use militia situation initial operation member local gentry appointed captain surrounding land followed death son sir captain captains frequently argued castle legal dispute broke rights search incoming shipping castles argued traditional right admiralty issued compromise proposing castles share incoming traffic sir francis dismissed office accused practising variety including falsely claiming wages non existent members garrison replaced sir earl surrey invasion threat france passed lasting peace spanish threat south west england grew importance government war broke threat invasion garrison strengthened comprised soldiers additional battery guns built allow fort fire fears spanish attack continued especially failed earth timber built original stone castle hold guns eventually main batteries castle castle held brass iron small garrison men overseen captain lieutenant survey indicated structural problems suggested needed repairs english civil war restoration civil war broke king charles parliament south west england held growing town strategically important supply routes continent formed base royalist piracy english channel war turned favour march entered cornwall substantial army captain castle major invited colonel retreat stronger fortress men surrendered immediately putting resistance decision result war large numbers parliamentary troops facing generous surrender terms offer 19th century historian suspected sympathies small arms artillery pieces captured castle guns removed siege fell august castle placed care maintenance skeleton garrison parliament appointed new captain probably remained post restoration charles_ii throne sir sir francis son took command richard inherited garrison men considered insufficient richard son sir captain turn father death heirs separated castle lands selling earl bath 18th 19th centuries castle continued use fort 18th 19th centuries command successive captains operating conjunction review reported fortification satisfactory condition equipped artillery pieces including pounder cannons positioned batteries beneath castle britain wars france century defence critical local militia called defend castle equipped pieces heavy artillery repeated concerns emerged ordnance inspection french revolutionary wars found pounder gun new gun battery created coast period battery primary defensive position east estuary armed pounder guns poet lord visiting complained extremely calculated annoying body enemy commented fort garrisoned elderly man end napoleonic wars anthony battery closed remained use albeit operated care maintenance basis post war years important ports england 19th century attracting shipping trade tudor office abolished death final incumbent sir command garrison regular military appointment early 1850s fears conflict france led review state harbour defences development ironclad warships equipped rifled guns meant required comprehensive overhaul new magazine built beneath castle linked deep passages equipped pound pounder rifled muzzle guns old castle barracks hold men typically training base manned militia volunteer units fresh concerns france rose 1880s operated minefield laid jointly controlled additional contact mines added forcing incoming vessels sail channel alongside illuminated electric search lights transformation castle pounder guns partially replaced light quick firing guns 1890s able engage torpedo boats attempting break defences batteries found poorly sited additional battery built castle housing quick firing guns 20th 21st centuries review defences concluded naval artillery necessary guns mounted combination recently established battery anthony instead disarmed barracks world war castle transferred control government opened visitors promoted tourist destination company hoped profit increased numbers visitors outbreak second world war british_army late coast battery took running new twin pounder battery positioned north west castle combined millimetre gun closer castle anti aircraft protection base strong garrison lived local remainder housed castle removed active service january reopened public following year second world war gun battery finally closed years use training site victorian concrete defences cleared battery completely destroyed 21st century operated english_heritage tourist attraction receiving visitors protected law scheduled monument architecture castle situated overlooked higher land rear site entrance castle high level gun batteries 16th century site slopes water gun batteries 16th century look water castle central castle built rubble granite features detailing leaf design central storey circular tower core circular emerging design allowed multiple levels artillery influenced contemporary work engineer device forts constructed period little protection depended local militia providing protection attack castle little altered original construction historian considers arguably perfect survivor henry forts castle extensively decorated carvings inscriptions stone wood praising henry_viii lineage leading historian describe castle decorative henry building works include latin verses henry honour praises remain forever written antiquarian let fortunate cornwall edward duke referring henry eldest son heir carved sea monsters feature fortification shields originally painted visible river castle entered gatehouse stone building approximately feet gatehouse murder holes slots uncertain fitted originally formed sort protective yard approximately feet dates originally stable leads stone bridge crosses feet wide moat cut rock main castle central tower feet feet high feet thick walls basement originally kitchen floor subdivided garrison later converted storing gunpowder bridge moat leads second storey originally chambers windows linked central corridor area castle officers house enlarged garrison emergency floor forms single large room gun probably garrison living accommodation gun platform fourth floor support seven guns incorporates turret topped 17th century designed guide passing ships central tower linked forward feet diameter turn steps leading foot forms gun platform larger artillery pieces forward sides swivel mounts lighter guns protection forward roof modern added archaeological debate 1960s originally covered 19th century artillery pieces display bronze dating called gun recovered coast devon batteries auxiliary buildings gun batteries auxiliary buildings stretch site castle pounder quick firing high level battery dating start 20th century concrete platforms earth survived underground magazine site small period entrance battery use serving english heritage house alongside castle approximately feet square dating originally contained internal engine generating power castle later converted beneath castle complex artillery positions cut rock onwards collectively known served 19th century magazine holding gunpowder approximately feet stone walls bomb proof brick roof topped turf help protect incoming shells years magazine protected additional concrete fortification removed gun platforms west east sides complex feet feet respectively known lower gun battery current design western platform dates 1890s raised concrete platforms rotating guns brick vaulted magazine battery eastern platform mounting traversing gun carriages houses pound smooth bore artillery piece dating mounted replica carriage 16th century positioned water edge feet castle semi circular shape feet wide foot thick stone walls facing sea thinner walls rear originally blocked upper gun platform upper storey later destroyed turn solid gun platform excavated foundations dating second world war west gardens built earlier gun positions site 19th century smooth bore guns napoleonic period display forming battery gardens site second world war pounder battery little remains position
St Mawes Castle