castle confused resort built wealthy newspaper magnate artillery fort established henry_viii spit hampshire formed king device programme protect invasion france defended western entrance early castle central equipped guns expensive operate size formed powerful forts coast english civil war held parliament briefly king charles execution continued use 18th century fell disrepair spit frequented repairs revolutionary napoleonic wars france castle enable hold pounder guns fresh fears invasion followed 1850s leading heavier pounder armament installed new gun batteries laid sides castle technological developments rapidly defences obsolete fresh phase work created gun positions long granite faced batteries alongside older castle held heavy weapons including massive inch ton rifled muzzle loading guns century progressed outdated lighter quick firing guns installed castle replace castle formed network defences entrance world war armed second world war military decommissioned fort passed control 21st century run jointly english_heritage tourist attraction receiving visitors coastal erosion growing problem despite government intervention protecting spit built 18th century onwards high lighthouse opened remains active service 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 impressive works north england general fortifications limited scale example built opposite future site castle small hold powerful artillery considered worst devised things seen henry broke pope long standing marriage 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 designed protect western entrance body water led english channel naval base portsmouth important port southampton castle fortifications lord admiral recommended building strengthen defences east west positioned spit strip mud flats miles water temporary fortifications erected site castles completed work began direction financial controller probably master mason appointed castle captain work completed january cost result stone artillery fort central surrounded moat capable holding guns equipped artillery pieces brass remainder iron comprising cannon cannon quarter seven bases survey commented castle essential sending reinforcements mainland island noted equipped brass iron guns broken guns bows arrows bills survey observed castle vulnerable attack lacked flanking protection rounded walls expensive garrison size requiring captain deputy gunners soldiers porter historian notes considerable armament powerful forts south equipped lighter guns ideal ship killing role invasion threat france passed lasting peace government concerns shifted away south coast spanish threat south west england serving captain guns size garrison seven years son sir captain turn reported castle gun platforms need repair 17th century early england peace france spain country coastal defences received little attention family continued captains sir taking post castle neglected castle unable prevent flemish ships passing castle seven guns functional fort ammunition powder government replaced brass ordnance castle preferred particularly ships fire faster safely iron guns beginning english civil war supporters charles parliament castle occupied captain supporter parliament december briefly king trial execution remained use command colonel reinforced deal threat royalist invasion charles_ii restored throne dismissed replaced future castle uncertain charles gave orders garrison briefly considered having fortress demolished altogether instead maintaining regular garrison decided staff castle soldiers deployed instead unit belonging sir island governor fallen disrepair delaying plans deploy holmes men repairs carried conventional garrison thirty guns stationed 18th century castle continued military base 18th century hold father amid concerns moral condition england perceived threat established church act preventing growth passed chosen house priests convicted law probably person detained way held years onwards finally dying castle reported problems smuggling castle continued 18th century revenue service hired wide heavy yacht assist anti smuggling operations southampton crew muskets pistols swords problems persisted later century site rendezvous led notorious criminal called castle fell neglect reports early noted extensive problems complaining fort guns longer mounted dilapidated water decaying walls castle considered worst condition forts coast guns repairs authorised little actually spit castle began civilians including fishermen lighthouse called tower built arms inn established alongside castle revolutionary war france broke leading extensive castle repairs carried cost followed review defences year 16th century castle strongly fortified standards time support heavier guns batteries artillery required tackle enemy warships instead new gun batteries armed pounder guns built alongside castle eighteen pounder guns mounted old fort guns concerned captured french 19th century war france appeared imminent discussions agreed adapt 16th century enable hold pounder guns roof vaulted central stone pillar installed run building work estimated time likely cost cost historian resulting building towers constructed south coast time proposed build temporary gun batteries replace suffered salt air decayed plan turned order focus attention redevelopment work carried mixture soldiers civilian contractors completed end castle play active napoleonic wars hospital injured soldiers returning spain second lighthouse known constructed alongside castle official interest castle increased 1840s introduction shell guns steam ships created new risk french successfully attack south coast previously sailing ships able pass castle slowly moving tide making vulnerable guns steam ships threatened cruise past speed military estimates surveys suggested armament significantly increased include heavier guns improvements carried cost adapted support pounder guns facing curtain walls reinforced brick casemates new gun positions moat deepened protect surprise attack batteries built west east castle protected earth linked old castle covered called block built western battery provide protection attack land result established powerful fortification equipped fourteen pounder guns inch shell guns pounder wartime required team men peacetime garrison soldiers fort albert built water provide supporting fire old inn reused garrison demolished laid specially armoured telegraph cable link castle mainland point island years later linked castle southampton flags pass messages shipping entering rapid advances military technology new defences obsolete end decade introduction rifled breech loading guns capable firing explosive shells construction armour warships left guns fortifications inadequate fears grew france invade england potentially surprise attack recommended key forts protecting portsmouth upgraded matter priority equipped new heavy guns heavily protected positions weapons slow ensure castle good chance hitting enemy ships passing speed long batteries weapons built old castle west wing gun positions east wing positions built gun batteries constructed years required castle moat filled work progressed decision taken reinforce batteries additional iron shields work eventually cost began majority work completed additional iron peacetime castle held officers men needed substantially reinforced wartime weapons manned fort received complement guns inch ton rifled muzzle loading guns inch ton guns inch ton guns pounders forming powerful arsenal new constructed 1860s low light built rear wall west wing castle second lighthouse high light free standing built end new public house established north end spit narrow gauge railway constructed 1880s supplies castle 1880s 1890s power naval artillery speed warships increased leading investment castle magazine hold shells reinforced concrete south old castle filled concrete additional protection new pounder quick firing guns installed battery end east wing supported machine guns enable target fast moving vessels particularly new torpedo boats pounder guns followed including centuries world war guns installed castle 1870s obsolete castle retained seventeen historian states wired like collection elderly fort depended newer quick firing weapons war armament controlled equipped established war guns removed 16th century castle passed national collection rest fortification took place 1930s low light replaced new iron lighthouse second world war armed pounder guns unit stationed controlled pounder guns followed year strong detachment retitled coastal battery royal artillery followed installation anti aircraft guns tower called director tower built west wing war progressed weapons stood battery finally closed july weapons removed war castle transferred 1970s additional concrete protection added south 1880s removed government agency english_heritage formed took control castle took day day management castle english_heritage continuing run aspects site castle received visitors year castle protected law ancient monument built continues use protected grade listed building spit subject coastal erosion gradually pushed spit shore process eaten away remnants west wing battery barracks exposed foundations later fortress occasions erosion increased significantly 1940s construction barriers nearby prevented natural spit washed local cliffs erosion caused fresh damage eastern end castle early leading renewed concerns government efforts began 1960s try spit current position protect castle neighbouring towns tonnes tons gravel laid 1990s continuing 21st century spit adjoining coastline protected architecture central castle central castle originally constructed 16th century heavily redeveloped early middle years 19th century comprises central tower north west north east south approximately metres curtain wall gun positions originally linked substantially altered addition walls chambers produce deeper structure central castle forms entrance rest fortification accessed gateway dating 16th century moat protected castle filled 1860s sided central tower approximately metres storeys basement inside tower circular spiral staircase running central pillar ground floor floor rooms originally sub divided form living quarters garrison open spaces windows suitable holding lighter weaponry floor room sufficiently elevated potentially fired external walls roof remains gun positions dating 1850s originally topped look tower removed built linked bridges outer north west protected castle attack spit mainland housed castle original providing accommodation garrison levels gun positions ground floor floor roof adapted 19th century house heavier weapons shelter links external covered walkway rifle loops close defence built north east south east storey tall originally holding levels gun positions ground floor roofs adapted support heavier guns 19th century west west date 1860s built brick stone lines gun positions designed hold heavy gun crew men positions protected granite fronted casemates wrought iron shields window screens doubled living accommodation crews small magazines positioned lines casemates approximately metres long heavy gun positions main magazines auxiliary buildings including stores detention facilities castle tower disused iron gas lit tower use garden recreation garden second world war century guns castle predominantly added roof supports pounder quick firing guns gun associated directing positions small theatrical theatre built gunners second world war survives gun positions wall paintings possibly performances relatively construction approximately metres long heavy gun positions main magazines roof original gun directing position gun position added second world war reached gateway north east pounder quick firing gun fed ammunition wing hole outer wall
Hurst Castle