In a prominent position at the mouth of the estuary, Dartmouth Castle along with Kingswear Castle on the opposite bank, controlled entry to the river and harbour. A heavy chain between the two provided extra defence. It was built specifically for heavy artillery which were capable of sinking a ship.In a prominent position at the mouth of the estuary, Dartmouth Castle along with Kingswear Castle on the opposite bank, controlled entry to the river and harbour. A heavy chain between the two provided extra defence. It was built specifically for heavy artillery which were capable of sinking a ship.
By the C12th century, Dartmouth was an important trading and fishing port, able to hold up to 600 vessels. During the Hundred Years War it was a key target for the French, and the English Crown repeatedly advised the town to improve its defences.
John Hawley, a wealthy merchant and landowner, as well as Mayor of Dartmouth, was responsible for the construction of a fortalice (fortified enclosure) at the mouth of the Dart, supplied by a small harbour. The walls enclosed the small church of St Petrox.
The fortalice was intended to engage enemy ships with catapults and early cannons and is the first examples of gunpowder artillery being used within a castle. It was only used in times of danger, so had few permanent buildings. Only a section of wall and part of a round tower survive from this fort.
The remains of the archway of the gate from the harbour forms part of the churchyard wall and can be seen from the steps for the Castle Ferry.
A walled passageway and steps lead up into the fortalice enclosure into what is now the North Gun Platform.
During the C15th, heavier cannon appeared which had a major impact on warfare. A new stone gun tower was added to the castle. It is the oldest known purpose-built coastal artillery fort in Britain. The first floor was used for accommodation of the master gunner, his two assistants and their families.
As the range of these early cannons was inadequate to provide effective fire across the entire width of the river mouth, a new fortification, Kingswear Castle, was built on the opposite bank in 1491.
A heavy iron chain was fitted across the river which could be raised using a capstan in the gun tower. Not only did this restrict access to the harbour. ships were also brought to a stop, leaving them easy targets for the guns.
A further fortification was built at Bayard’s Cove as a last line of defence against any ships that had escaped damage from Dartmouth and Kingswear castles and broken through the chain defence.
Further gun batteries were added on either side of the gun tower in the 1540s, after relations between Henry VIII and the French broke down again, following his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
The castle saw service during the English Civil War, when the Dartmouth merchants supported Parliament. The town’s defences had always been based on attack from the sea, and fell quickly when subjected to Royalist bombardment from the land. They were later recaptured by the Parliamentarians.
In 1748, a new gun position called the Grand Battery was added to the castle, equipped with twelve guns. This was later rebuilt in 1861 with enclosed gun casemates for heavier cannon with lighter guns on the roof.
In 1909, the castle defences were declared surplus to military requirement and were given to the Office of Works for display as a historic monument. The enterprising widow of a former gunner ran a tea room.
During WW1, the castle was brought back into military use to protect both the harbour and the Britannia Royal Naval College built above the town. Two quick fire guns were installed to prevent enemy gunboats and torpedo boats from entering the harbour.
The castle was again used during WW2 when the harbour was used by merchant convoys and boats and small ships were built in Dartmouth. As well as housing soldiers, searchlights were installed and two guns which were abler to engage enemy ships up to 3 miles out to sea. These were protected from air attack by concrete gun houses. One survives as the ticket office. The Royal Navy laid a boom across the river, with steel mesh nets hanging to the river bed, intended to prevent enemy ships and submarines entering the harbour. A gate allowed Allied shipping to pass through.
The harbour was used for ships and landing craft needed in the D-Day landings.
After the war, The Ministry of Works took responsibility for the castle. It is now in the care of English Heritage. The small tea room by the castle is privately run.
Website
Cont...
By the C12th century, Dartmouth was an important trading and fishing port, able to hold up to 600 vessels. During the Hundred Years War it was a key target for the French, and the English Crown repeatedly advised the town to improve its defences.
John Hawley, a wealthy merchant and landowner, as well as Mayor of Dartmouth, was responsible for the construction of a fortalice (fortified enclosure) at the mouth of the Dart, supplied by a small harbour. The walls enclosed the small church of St Petrox.
The fortalice was intended to engage enemy ships with catapults and early cannons and is the first examples of gunpowder artillery being used within a castle. It was only used in times of danger, so had few permanent buildings. Only a section of wall and part of a round tower survive from this fort.
The remains of the archway of the gate from the harbour forms part of the churchyard wall and can be seen from the steps for the Castle Ferry.
A walled passageway and steps lead up into the fortalice enclosure into what is now the North Gun Platform.
During the C15th, heavier cannon appeared which had a major impact on warfare. A new stone gun tower was added to the castle. It is the oldest known purpose-built coastal artillery fort in Britain. The first floor was used for accommodation of the master gunner, his two assistants and their families.
As the range of these early cannons was inadequate to provide effective fire across the entire width of the river mouth, a new fortification, Kingswear Castle, was built on the opposite bank in 1491.
A heavy iron chain was fitted across the river which could be raised using a capstan in the gun tower. Not only did this restrict access to the harbour. ships were also brought to a stop, leaving them easy targets for the guns.
A further fortification was built at Bayard’s Cove as a last line of defence against any ships that had escaped damage from Dartmouth and Kingswear castles and broken through the chain defence.
Further gun batteries were added on either side of the gun tower in the 1540s, after relations between Henry VIII and the French broke down again, following his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
The castle saw service during the English Civil War, when the Dartmouth merchants supported Parliament. The town’s defences had always been based on attack from the sea, and fell quickly when subjected to Royalist bombardment from the land. They were later recaptured by the Parliamentarians.
In 1748, a new gun position called the Grand Battery was added to the castle, equipped with twelve guns. This was later rebuilt in 1861 with enclosed gun casemates for heavier cannon with lighter guns on the roof.
In 1909, the castle defences were declared surplus to military requirement and were given to the Office of Works for display as a historic monument. The enterprising widow of a former gunner ran a tea room.
During WW1, the castle was brought back into military use to protect both the harbour and the Britannia Royal Naval College built above the town. Two quick fire guns were installed to prevent enemy gunboats and torpedo boats from entering the harbour.
The castle was again used during WW2 when the harbour was used by merchant convoys and boats and small ships were built in Dartmouth. As well as housing soldiers, searchlights were installed and two guns which were abler to engage enemy ships up to 3 miles out to sea. These were protected from air attack by concrete gun houses. One survives as the ticket office. The Royal Navy laid a boom across the river, with steel mesh nets hanging to the river bed, intended to prevent enemy ships and submarines entering the harbour. A gate allowed Allied shipping to pass through.
The harbour was used for ships and landing craft needed in the D-Day landings.
After the war, The Ministry of Works took responsibility for the castle. It is now in the care of English Heritage. The small tea room by the castle is privately run.
Website
Cont...
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