insideKENT Magazine Issue 38 - May 2015 | Page 105

DAYSOUT

THE HISTORIC

Deal Castle

BY LISAMARIE LAMB

Deal Castle, sitting right on the coast and enjoying enviable views out over the English Channel,
has a rich and fascinating history. It was built on the orders of Henry VIII between 1539 and
1540, and its main reason for being was as a sea defence against various threatening invaders
who had been incensed by Henry’s treatment of the Catholic Church. When Henry created
the Church of England, and ignored the wishes of the Pope and the teachings of Catholicism,
he made many enemies, and it was England that was set to pay for his actions.
© Visit Kent, www.visitkent.co.uk

© English Heritage

Deal Castle, along with Walmer
Castle further down the coast and
Sandown Castle on the other side
of the town, were East Kent’s main
defence against attack. Deal Castle
was built to survive any assault, and
the methods employed were state
of the art in the 16th century. The
moat surrounding the castle wasn't
meant for water – its shape and the
vertical walls mean that it was solely
put there to keep invaders out. There
also used to be a drawbridge system
in place, so that when the bridge
was up, it was almost impossible
for anyone to get in.

It wasn’t until 1648, however, and
the English Civil War, that Deal
Castle was required to hold its own
– initially reserved by Parliamentary
forces as a place to sit should it be
required, those same forces
deserted to the Royalist cause,
which brought the Parliamentarians
rushing down to Deal. A threemonth siege then took place, during
which time Deal Castle suffered a
large amount of damage, so much
so that it had to be almost
completely renovated after the war;
the modernisation taking place from
1729 until 1732.

Deal Castle is a fascinating place to visit. Although it may seem small when
you arrive, once you step through the impressive gatehouse door and begin
to explore, its corridors, passageways, extra rooms and secret staircases
combine to make this an adventure for children and adults alike. It is even
possible to walk – in semi darkness – around the entire circumference of
the castle through a labyrinthine tunnel that literally takes you in circles.
Giggles and shouts echo off the walls, and it is a creepy, yet exhilarating
experience.

In addition, a portcullis was in
operation, giving even more security
to the castle. Whilst the invading
forces were trying to get in, the
soldiers inside the fortress could fire
down on them, picking them off
easily not only from the battlements
themselves, but also by using the
large holes that were built into the
brickwork (from here they could
drop missiles directly onto the
enemies’ heads). And of course,
with such a clear view out to sea,
the castle was in the perfect position
to use cannon to sink invading ships
before they came too close.

The castle was built to Henry’s exact
specifications, but it is only from the
air that the full beauty and ingenuity
of the architecture can be
appreciated. It's built in the shape
of Henry’s Tudor Rose, with six
semi-circular bastions jutting out to
give a full 360-degree view of the
area around the castle. On the first
floor, there are six more bastions,
although smaller in size, attached
to the castle keep. This gave an
extra level of defence, and also
meant that the interior of the castle
was just that little big bigger than it
would otherwise have been, allowing
those living within it to be more
comfortable.

Deal Castle is a remarkable and surprising castle that holds many secrets
and is well worth a look.

As well as being able to enjoy the castle rooms, there are interactive
exhibitions set up that explain Henry VIII’s reasoning behind the fortress,
about the building of the castle, and about the civil war when it really came
into its own. The rooms themselves contain remnants of fireplaces, brickbuilt ovens, the remains of an old forge, and ancient military equipment.
There is a beautiful and rather unexpected chapel of remembrance created
by Field Marshall Sir John French after the First World War.

Entry prices: Adults £5.40, Children (5-15 years) £3.20
Opening times: 7 days a week, 10am-6pm

Deal Castle
Marine Road
Deal
CT14 7BA
01304 372762
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/deal-castle

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