16th century gateway in Hurst Castle
Built between 1541-1544 during the reign of King Henry VIII, Hurst Castle defends the Solent (the strait separating mainland England from the Isle of Wight).
It is built at the end of a shingle spit which leads out into the Solent from the village of Milford on Sea, Hampshire, on the south coast of England. This spit extends out across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, and hence provides the perfect position for defending this strait.
It is one of a series of castles called the Device Forts or Henrician Castles built around the southern coasts of England around that time. They were created to defend against invasion by the combined Catholic forces of Spain and France, following Henry's break from Rome. The Device Forts share the common feature of low walls with rounded parapets in order to present the smallest target for enemy ships' guns. They have multiple gun emplacements to allow artillery defence towards the sea.
Hurst Castle was subsequently extended in the Victorian era, and was also further adapted for use during the Second World War. However the central core remains the Tudor castle, as seen in this picture. The blank stone frame above the gateway is decorated on either side with recognisably Renaissance patterns.
16th century gateway in Hurst Castle
Built between 1541-1544 during the reign of King Henry VIII, Hurst Castle defends the Solent (the strait separating mainland England from the Isle of Wight).
It is built at the end of a shingle spit which leads out into the Solent from the village of Milford on Sea, Hampshire, on the south coast of England. This spit extends out across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, and hence provides the perfect position for defending this strait.
It is one of a series of castles called the Device Forts or Henrician Castles built around the southern coasts of England around that time. They were created to defend against invasion by the combined Catholic forces of Spain and France, following Henry's break from Rome. The Device Forts share the common feature of low walls with rounded parapets in order to present the smallest target for enemy ships' guns. They have multiple gun emplacements to allow artillery defence towards the sea.
Hurst Castle was subsequently extended in the Victorian era, and was also further adapted for use during the Second World War. However the central core remains the Tudor castle, as seen in this picture. The blank stone frame above the gateway is decorated on either side with recognisably Renaissance patterns.