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Author Topic:   Castle Design in the 15th Century
BlackFlame
Member
posted 08-28-2002 11:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlackFlame     Edit/Delete Message
Hi Group im a new member and not really what most people would class as a castle enthusiast but ive been doing some research regarding a castle just a few hundred meters from my home called SandsFoot Castle.

It was built in 1539 by Henry VIII to protect against invasion from the french after he got on the wrong side of the pope.
Heres a hi-res picture of the castle in its current state:
http://www.weymouth-pictures.co.uk/pictures/sandsfootcastle/SandsfootCastle31_280501.JPG

Sadly a lot of the exterior stone work has fallen away since the castle was abbandond in the 1700's though some impressive masonary skills are still visiable if you look closely.

What I would like to know is the thinking behind the design of the castle, I want to know why theres a window there, or a fireplace here or an archway over there.

As far as i know no detailed floorplans of the castle exist, so the best place to look for clues will be its twin Portland Castle (http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/portland/portland.php) that is still in a very good state of presevation. I intend to pay it a visit out of season.

So if anyone has any info on finding floorplans or just generic information about Henry VIII's castle designs that would help me understand the purpose of this bulidings facets please post them here.

Here is a bit of history from another site - "Sandsfoot Castle was built on the orders of King Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) and completed in 1539. It was built as part of a chain of sea defences, in conjunction with its twin, Portland Castle, to protect "ye Road where our Ships of War do often come to anchor". Henry's main concern was the threat of war with France after his break with the Roman Catholic Church. The mere presence of the Portland and Sandsfoot Castles was sufficient to repel enemy attack, and not a shot was ever fired in anger, despite the threat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and the civil war (1642-9), which was the cause of some frosty relations between Royalist Portland and Parliamentarian Weymouth. It was last actively used during the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685; after which it was left to the ravages of time and weather; the very forces that are eroding the cliff beneath it - so soon the castle will be no more. Portland Castle, however, remains very well preserved."

AJR
Senior Member
posted 08-28-2002 11:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
I will have a trawl through my library this evening and see what I can dig up on both Sandsfoot and Portland Castles. I know that I have a copy of the Portland Castle English Heritage guidebook by Susannah Lawson, but will see if anything else can be found. I also have a couple of vintage postcards of Sandsfoot, plus other pictures on file (including the Bucks Brothers print), and will endeavour to locate them for you.

Back tomorrow.

BlackFlame
Member
posted 08-28-2002 12:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlackFlame     Edit/Delete Message
Wow sounds good, you guys know your stuff I thought no one would ever have herd of this little castle (hence my babbling) I look forward to seeing what you have

Erik Schmidt
Senior Member
posted 08-28-2002 07:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Erik Schmidt   Click Here to Email Erik Schmidt     Edit/Delete Message
Just one point to note BF.

1539 is in the 16th century.
The 15th century is from 1401-1500.

Erik

AJR
Senior Member
posted 08-29-2002 04:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
The following details have been extracted from the article on Sandsfoot Castle in the book "The Castles of Wessex" by Mike Salter, Folly Publications, March 2002.

"The castle was built using stone from the recently (in 1539) dissolved Bindon Abbey and completed at a cost of £3,887.
The remains are those of a 2-storey rectangular block 18m by 14m, over walls 2.3m thick. The castle is much defaced externally, but some widely splayed upper gunloops of ashlar still remain. The north end wall contains the entrance with a portcullis groove and a staircase, and there is a fireplace and oven at the south end, where the sea has washed away a polygonal gun platform. A single storey gatehouse on the east side shown in an 18th century engraving has also vanished. In 1588 there was a garrison of 50 men here. The castle was de-garrisoned in 1665, although it remained as a store until the 1690s. From it has come the royal coat of arms over the south doorway of All Saints' Church at Wyke Regis. An outer rampart was added during the Civil War, when the castle vaults accommodated a mint."

I have scanned a copy of the plan from Mike Salter's book, and will place it in the Photo Archive, which you can access at the bottom of this page. The pictures I have of the castle are too large to be placed there, but if you provide your e-mail address, I will be able to send them to you.

As for the fact that I've heard about Sandsfoot - I used to live in Hampshire and have had a number of holidays in Dorset, including one in Weymouth.

The guidebook to Portland Castle does not shed any additional light on Sandsfoot.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by AJR (edited 08-29-2002).]

Levan
Moderator
posted 08-29-2002 06:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Levan   Click Here to Email Levan     Edit/Delete Message
Some web links on Sandsfoot Castle. These don't answer any of your specific questions, but other readers of the forum might be interested.

Picture of Sandsfoot Castle in 1903 http://www.eprowse.fsnet.co.uk/sandsfoot1903.htm

History of Wyke (where Sandsfoot Castle is located, and from where it was garrisoned) http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wykedh/c1to5.htm#Chapter%20Four

Portland Castle - great photographs and plans: http://www.bournemouthweb.com/portland_castle.shtml http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/portland/portland_photos.php#main

On a similar subject, I've been looking at the coastal forts of Henry VIII on the Medway and Thames - I'm finding it facinating to see how gunpowder affected the design of castles and fortifications - similarly, in Scotland, it's interesting to see how rather than build new fortifications, some pre-existing castles (such as Blackness Castle, Threave near Castle Douglas, Ravenscraig, Craignethan, Craigmillar and Braemar) were adapted to include artilary batteries.


Levan

[This message has been edited by Levan (edited 08-29-2002).]

AJR
Senior Member
posted 08-29-2002 09:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
I've managed to reduce the file size for the Bucks' Brothers print, and this is also now in the Photo Archive.

BlackFlame
Member
posted 08-29-2002 09:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlackFlame     Edit/Delete Message
wow excellent picture, and the floor plan is a lot bigger than I had expected. I'm just checking all this stuff out now

btw Erik Schmidt thanks for the tip, that makes sense now i think about it (i never was too good at history)

BlackFlame
Member
posted 08-30-2002 08:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlackFlame     Edit/Delete Message
Well, I spent a few hours yesterday putting all these bits together and it paints a picture I diddnt expect to see.

I was amazed by the floorplan as it clearly shows a large hexagonal area to the south of the remaining castle. This is obviously where the guns were and makes it quite obvious why the design of the remaining castle is how it is. So mission accomplished as far as understanding the remains go's!

Of course i've found out a lot of other interesting facts too like what a portcullis is and the fact the castle had one. Also ive found a nice pic of the coat of arms that was removed here: http://www.btinternet.com/%7epatac/allsaints/tour/Image6.gif

I just like to says many thanks to AJR, it great to know there are people out there willing to invest the time and effort to help somone with a question. And thanks to whoever runs this site (if its not you AJ I never wouldve beleived a week ago that such a thriving (and intelligent) castle community existed on the interent.

AJR
Senior Member
posted 08-30-2002 08:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJR     Edit/Delete Message
No ! I definitely do NOT run this website. That unenviable position is held by "The Scribe". There are however, a number of us who help out in our spare time for the simple reason that we are enthusiastic about castles. Furthermore, we rely on others to keep us informed, as it's impossible for any one person, or small group of people, to know everything there is to know about castles.

Many thanks for your kind comments, which are much appreciated. We enjoy helping out.

All times are PT (US)

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