The
castle was later transformed into an elegant stately home that
serves as a residence of
the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Past Wardens include William Pitt the Younger, the
Duke of
Wellington, and Sir Winston Churchill. Today's Lord Warden, Queen
Elizabeth the
Queen Mother, still visits Walmer and some rooms
used by her are open to visitors. Another
treat is the recently
completed magnificent Queen Mother's Garden.
Built to withstand the wrath of the French and
Spanish following
Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church, the defenses of
Walmer Castle have in fact never been put to the test. Early 1539
saw England under the
threat of invasion and Henry built a series of
castles from Cornwall to Kent, which ended
with the linked fortresses
of Deal, Walmer and Sandown. The expected attack never
materialized and, although the castles of the Downs were brought
to readiness again in
1588 to repel the Spanish Armada, no fighting
took place.
Walmer was transformed when it became the official
residence of
the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports, an ancient title that originally
involved control of the five most important medieval ports on the south
coast. By the 18th
century the position was largely ceremonial,
although it retained immense prestige and a
substantial salary. The
Duke of Dorset was the first Lord Warden to use Walmer, turning
the
fort into a stately home, increasing the number of first-floor rooms by
extending the
living quarters out over the bastions. Further additions
were made by Earl Granville, Lord
Warden from 1865, who
commissioned the extension of the gatehouse bastion.
The magnificent gardens surrounding the castle owe much to
the
enthusiasm of another Lord Warden, William Pitt the Younger, and
much of his early
landscaping remains.
The castle is full of memories of former Lords Warden,
including two
rooms that are now a museum dedicated to the Duke of Wellington.
Open all year round.
New free audio tour available.
Visit the Lord Wardens' Tea Rooms for home-made
lunches
and afternoon tea.
Open 1 April-1 Nov: daily, 10am-6pm (6pm/dusk in
Oct). 2 Nov-31
Mar: Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm. (Closed 24-26 Dec, also closed Mon-Fri
in Jan &
Feb and when Lord Warden in residence).
Entry £4.00/£3.00/£2.00.
01304 364288
More information:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk |
Designed to resemble a Tudor Rose, Deal Castle is one of
three artillery forts on the Kent coast built to counter the threat of invasion during the
mid-16th century.
Today the castle still appears exactly as it was originally intended to look: powerful and
virtually impregnable. Its remarkable coastal position affords breathtaking views out to
sea. It is a fascinating castle to explore, with long, dark passages, battlements and a
massive basement with an exhibition.
Of the three castles built by Henry VIII to counter the
threat of invasion from the Catholic alliance of France and Spain, Deal was the largest.
Built purely as a defensive fortress, it was probably completed by 1540 and had at least
145 embrasures for firearms. The rounded bastions were designed to deflect shot, making
the fort almost impregnable.
Open all year round.
New interpretation exhibition.
Free Children's Activity Sheet available.
Open 1 April-1 Nov: daily, 10am-6pm (6pm/dusk in
Oct). 2 Nov-31 Mar: Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm (closed 24-26 Dec).
Entry £3.00/£2.30/£1.50.
Tel. 01304 372762
More information:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk
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