castle castle known historically artillery fort constructed henry_viii near formed king device programme protect invasion france defended anchorage stone castle octagonal gun platform linked residential completed cost defences built castle probably saw service english civil war held parliament turn conflict survived following charles_ii restoration throne fortress withdrawn military use early 18th century ruins stonework taken use local building projects clay cliffs castle built unstable subject erosion castle gun platform began collapse sea 1950s entirely destroyed ruins closed visitors safety grounds civic gardens planted alongside repairs undertaken total cost enabling site reopened public considers substantial examples 16th century survive england 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 henry broke pope vii order long standing marriage wife catherine catherine aunt charles 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 castle built protect anchorage placed cliffs overlooking opposite portland castle intended defeat enemy ships battery heavy artillery minimal protection attack land completed run captain appointed crown cost build probably early agreement nearby village responsibility support castle exchange came traditionally enjoy exemption taxes militia duties antiquarian visited castle soon construction describing right castle open probably referring castle gun platform coastal erosion quickly began threaten castle causing reported great gulf repairs costing necessary invasion scare accompanied spanish normal garrison supplemented men 17th 19th centuries repairs castle captain sir cost survey carried sir showed castle equipped iron guns falcon garrisoned captain gunners soldiers poor condition corner gun platform undermined sea team estimated likely costs repairs english civil war supporters charles parliament predominantly loyalty surrounding forts held garrisons entered army surrendered resulting castle controlled august june period castle royalist mint earl essex retook county parliament colonel royalist governor retreated portland castle fight approached hours negotiations fort surrendered parliament ordered garrison castle occur appointed new captain charles_ii restored throne year fresh order given garrison argument broke lieutenant governor portland captain duke richmond control local defences village petitioned bid prevent concerned traditional militia service revoked duke championed case dismissed post lieutenant governor duke occupied militia appealed government compromise announced role lieutenant governor declared redundant demolished order destruction carried castle castle early century remains castle sold town people reused stone construct new town bridge local tradition 19th century maintained houses constructed stone taken castle carved stone arms castle moved captains continued formally appointed held post late majority gun platform collapsed sea cliffs eroded uncertain precisely occurred prolonged historical debate late 19th early 20th centuries historian argued falls occurred 18th century placed main fall argued favour recent collapse second half 19th century ruined castle drawn painted artists 18th 19th centuries including castle featured short novel poisoned cup 20th 21st centuries purchased castle town total second world war castle probably housed anti aircraft battery defences created despite construction portland nearby unstable clay cliffs remained vulnerable erosion ruins closed public safety concerns remaining gun platform collapsed 1950s awarded initial survey site placed english_heritage register listed buildings risk decline followed substantial repair work work dimensional laser scan stonework undertaken steel oak walkway installed interior castle castle reopened public following year removed english_heritage risk register castle protected law grade listed building scheduled ancient monument architecture castle built portland stone rubble core comprised main attached octagonal gun room overlooking sea storey feet gate tower probably originally rooms accommodation cooking facilities garrison leading floor basement gate tower held small room floor designed hold storey gun room approximately feet guns flat roof probably supported artillery gun room main block probably protected gun room lost erosion south western visible fell beach largely robbed elements remain roof floors lost considers castle represents substantial examples 16th century england castle originally outer ward reached bridge stables lost protective rectangular earthworks constructed protect castle probably north west corners form stone structure earthworks 18th century earthworks described forming deep trench mid-19th century accounts suggested feet deep feet bank ditch survives earthworks approximately metres wide overall metres deep bank base ditch north survives largely intact west destroyed outside entrance earthworks civic gardens dating designed tudor style ornamental pond
Sandsfoot Castle