Deal Castle is located in Deal, in County Kent, England, near Walmer Castle. It was one of the device forts built by King Henry VIII between 1539 and 1540. The device forts were a series of more than thirty fortifications built to defend the southern coast of England after Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The divorce left England politically isolated. A 1538 treaty between France and Spain increased fears of an invasion. By its end, Henry’s program was the largest defensive fortification since Saxon times. Deal Castle was built to protect the area between Goodwin Sands and the coast. This area is known as the Downs.
Deal Castle is shaped like a Tudor rose. It was built from stone taken from nearby religious houses that had been recently dissolved. It contains a low, circular center keep surrounded by six bastions and another six bastions in the curtain wall. A bastion acts as a defense against attacking troops. One of the bastions acts as the gatehouse. The outer walls are rounded, which are more efficient defensively than flat walls. In addition, over 200 cannon and gun ports were set within the walls. The castle is surrounded by a deep and wide moat.
Anne of Cleves
When Henry’s ill-fated fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, arrived in England from Europe, she stayed at Deal Castle before traveling to Rochester Castle.
English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Deal Castle only saw military action once. Deal Castle, along with Walmer Castle and Sandown Castle, were known as the “castles of the Downs.” In 1648 the Downs castles were under Royalist control after a Royalist rebellion. In June and July of that year, Parliamentarian forces moved to retake the three castles. The castle did not see any further action. Colonel Nathaniel Rich was named Captain of Deal Castle. He held this position until 1653.
Later Fortifications
During the Napoleonic Wars, Deal Castle was fortified. In addition, there were a number of alterations made during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During World War II, the Governor’s lodgings were destroyed by German bombs. The castle became the official resident of the Captain of the Cinque Ports and remained so until 1951. The Confederation of Cinque Ports are a series of five coastal towns: Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich.
Today Deal Castle is owned and maintained by English Heritage. Visitors can explore the castle, including the storerooms and captain’s residence.
Sources:
English Heritage “Deal Castle” (accessed June 9, 2010)
Pastscape “Deal Castle” (accessed June 10, 2010)
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