portland castle portland castle artillery fort constructed henry_viii formed king device programme protect invasion france defended portland roads anchorage fan shaped castle built portland stone curved central tower gun battery flanked angular wings shortly construction armed artillery pieces intended use enemy shipping operating partnership sister castle anchorage english civil war portland taken royalist supporters king charles survived finally surrendering parliament portland continued use fort end napoleonic wars converted private house fresh concerns invasion led taking castle rearmed instead formed accommodation modern neighbouring fortifications second world wars offices accommodation ordnance store relinquished control opened public state 21st century managed english_heritage operated tourist attraction receiving visitors consider castle form best preserved best known examples king henry forts history 16th century portland 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 consequence lord russell inspected coast anchorage known concluded castles portland constructed protect naval attack work began summer acting royal project completed cost appointed captain garrison gunners men replaced took responsibilities lieutenant portland larger garrison men paid proceeds recent survey reported castle equipped brass cannon brass breech loading held type early bows bills threat french invasion passed peace declared attention shifted away portland survey reported castle poor condition similar concerns repeated tensions spain grew military attention focused threat south west england war broke spent portland castle garrison comprised captain men 17th 19th centuries early england peace france spain coastal forts included portland received little attention survey reported castle equipped fortifications suffered badly sea erosion required extensive repairs fourteen years later castle guns garrison captain men english civil war broke portland initially controlled parliamentary forces castle captured group gained access pretending parliamentary soldiers war turned king south west parliamentary forces besieged castle months following year castle finally surrendered vice admiral april uncertain castle easily proved difficult historian suggested low lying position difficult parliament bombard sea portland castle continued garrisoned prison unit men attached defend anglo dutch war seeing action day long naval battle english dutch forces charles_ii returned throne reduced garrison pre war levels repaired fortifications light continuing dutch threat castle equipped guns portland castle continued use 18th century primarily protecting vessels including merchant vessels carrying stone local portland reports complained dilapidated condition fortification sea washed away feet foundations number artillery pieces reduced seven castle garrison men guns reportedly repaired previous years napoleonic wars castle guns increased comprise pounder pounders pounder guns respectively fortification remained poor condition overall following final defeat napoleon castle disarmed leased portland converted fortress private house john son took house continued develop work conversion older house alongside main castle housed master gunner property known today captain house late 1840s portland roads converted artificial harbour construction new forts built heights sea protect structure old castle left untouched growing complex forts charles died amid ongoing invasion fears took castle use accommodation commissioned officers including house adjutant citadel 20th 21st centuries early years 20th century held discussions manage castle portland placed known schedule list meant army continue use manage historic property input repairs outbreak world war portland harbour important naval base castle ordnance store castle military residence interwar years second world war accommodation offices british soldiers castle storing ordnance concrete demolished constructed alongside castle early war conflict transferred opened public ministry decided present interior looked 16th century removed 20th century additions changes captain house adjacent gardens neighbouring helicopter base facility closure fort opened visitors house turned visitor facility 21st century castle operated english_heritage tourist attraction receiving visitors main castle protected law grade listed building captain house grade building architecture heart castle feet comprising central tower wings gun battery forming unusual fan shaped design looking sea surrounded walled courtyard approximately feet gun platforms captain house occupies western courtyard governor garden lies eastern wall castle entered outer gateway southern charles_ii coat arms built castle held tiers artillery battery layer central tower originally protected moat filled slots survive castle protected short range hand guns design period feet subsequently built rear castle provide additional protection storeys high built portland stone considers form best preserved best known examples forts centre ground floor octagonal great hall fitted large victorian windows originally providing living space garrison great hall wings holding gunners quarters castle kitchen equipped large 16th century fireplace running gun room originally storey gun battery guns ground floor floor southern end ground floor subdivided rooms ground floor designed allow smoke guns escape wooden roof formed floor gun platform internal wooden dismantled chamber open air houses variety 18th 19th century cannons floor upper hall captain chamber 16th century living working space castle commander converted dining room bedroom 19th century opposite captain private chamber possibly originally use castle lieutenant current governor garden created wider programme work english_heritage properties maritime themed garden features circular designs echoing adjacent castle uses local portland stone
Portland Castle