Historic Places in East Sussex

Situated 8 miles from Brighton, Lewes Castle sits on a chalk mound at the highest point of the town overlooking the valley of the River Ouse on the edge of the South Downs Much of the castle site has been lost due the developing town, but parts of the oval bailey, two mottes, barbican and keep survive. Facilities The castle is open daily is open daily from 10 am until 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 11am Sunday and Monday (closed Monday's in January) The castle site and the adjacent Barbican House are run by the Sussex Archaeological Society, together they offer visitors interactive models, a visitor pavilion at the foot of the castle with photographs and information on the history of the castle and town and a new walkway to the top of the castle with seats along the way so visitors can stop and admire the view. The original wooden keep was rebuilt in stone by William, Earl of Surrey in 1087. The design was unusual because it had two mottes; one of only two castles with this feature remaining in the country. Around 150 years later two semi octagonal towers and a range of other buildings including a gate tower were added to the original shell keep. The Earl of Surrey, John de Warenne was responsible for adding the barbican and on his death in 1347 the castle was left to decay. The castle became a source of building material for local houses. By the 17th century what remained of the domestic buildings were demolished and during the 18th century the keep converted to a summer house. Since 1846 the castle has been owned by Sussex Past another name for the Sussex Archaeological Society.

Hastings Castle is located cliff edge over looking the English Channel in the town of Hastings, 66 miles south of London Today's ruins date back to the 1070's and are only half of the original structure. The site mainly consists of the church of St Mary in the Castle, parts of a surrounding wall and tower built of light coloured stone. Facilities The castle is open to visitors daily between April and October 10am until 5pm and weekends in April. As well as exploring the castle ruins visitors can watch an audio visual presentation entitled 'The 1066 Story' which not only tells of the conquest but also the history of the castle through the ages. On arrival in England in 1066 William of Normandy ordered several fortifications to be built, one of those being Hastings Castle. Originally built near the shore as a motte and bailey castle it was rebuilt in stone in1070. At the end of the Battle of Hastings the castle was left with one of William's commanders who handed both the castle and the town of Hastings to Robert, Count of Eu, he was responsible for founding the Church of St Mary in the Castle within the castle walls. The castle then went through many periods of being dismantled and then being rebuilt again by Henry II, III and Edward II, all fearing invasion from the French. In 1287 the area was battered by high winds and terrific storms over many months, the sandstone cliffs were badly eroded causing sections of the castle to fall into the sea. Over the following centuries the castle continued to decay and much more fell into the sea below, it was sold and the site used for farming before being left abandoned. The castle suffered its final attack during bombing raids in the Second World War when the area was mistaken for London. Finally in 1951 the site was purchased by the Hastings Corporation who converted the ruins into a tourist attraction. Legends There are numerous 'ghost' stories in relation to the castle amongst them a lady in a shimmering white gown, thought to be a lady of distinction who attended tournaments at the castle and Thomas a Beckett, thought to have been the church's Dean.

Pevensey Castle is located in the centre of the village of Pevensey, 5 miles from Eastbourne in the south east of England. The ruins of Pevensey Castle are found within the walls of a Roman Fort, one of the largest remaining examples of its kind. The majority of the walls and towers are still standing at almost their original height in a shape which follows that of the peninsular. The castle site consists of a keep, bailey and twin towered gatehouse all surrounded by a curtain wall. Facilities Open to the public every day from 10am between April and October and during weekends only November to March. The entrance to the fort is free but a small charge payable for entry into the castle. An audio tour is available outlining the story of the castle and an exhibition with artifacts that were found on the site. There is also a tearoom where refreshments are available. The extremely well preserved Roman fort dates back to 290 AD and in the eastern corner the fort Robert of Mortain; half brother to William the Conqueror, built a stone keep and bailey enclosure castle. The site had been abandoned for over 600 years, but only minor repairs were needed to the walls that formed the outer bailey. A twin towered gatehouse and curtain wall were also added before the castle was granted Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt. At the beginning of the 1500's the sea had receded considerably and the castle was no longer considered useful. It was left abandoned once more until 1588 when it was strengthened and gun ports added to help defend against the invasion from the Spanish Armada. The castle was next refortified during World War II when a command post and observation platform were added and is now in the care of English Heritage.

Camber Castle is located in Rye, East Sussex. The castle was an artillery fort built by Henry VIII to guard the port of Rye. The remains include an earlier central tower surrounded by four outer towers which used to be gun platforms. It is open to the public at weekends from July to September. There are also monthly guided walks round Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, including the castle. The first building on the site was a circular tower built by Sir Edward Guldeford between 1512 and 1514. The tower was built on a shingle bank, and defended the harbour at the port of Rye. In 1538, when there a threat of invasion from France and Spain, Henry VIII build a line of forts along the south coast. One of these was at Camber, where a new fort was built around the existing tower between 1539 and 1544. Four D-shaped gun platforms and a large semicircular gatehouse were built round the original tower, linked by an octagonal wall. Silting resulted in the shore line receding, and by the end of the 16th century the castle was largely obsolete and was abandoned in 1637. Camber Castle was taken over by the state in 1967 and is now owned by English Heritage.

Herstmonceux Castle is set in an estate of parkland and Elizabethan gardens, 12 miles west of Hastings on the south coast of England. The brick built Tudor castle gives the appearance of being built in the middle of a lake but in reality it is a very wide moat. The two storey castle is approached over a brick built bridge with a gatehouse opening out into an internal courtyard. The castle walls have octagonal towers with projecting galleries at each corner, with semi octagonal towers in between. The castle's gatehouse is set between two tall semi octagonal towers with a coat of arms above the entrance. Facilities Today the castle is the home to the Bader International Study Centre; part of the University of Canada, however visitors do have the opportunity to see inside parts of the castle with a guided tour. Tours giving an insight into life within the castle, tales of smugglers and family history are generally given once or twice a day between 11am and 2pm; visitors are requested to check as on some occasions tours may not take place. Visitors are also able to walk though the castle's gardens and woodland, stroll down to the lake and see the 1930's folly. The castle also offers visitors a tea room, gift shop, visitor and science centre, nature trail and children's play area. The castle is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies; choose from the ballroom suitable for up to 180 guests, the Dacre Room for up to 70 guests or for a small intimate ceremony the Elizabethan Room for 30 guests. All rooms are beautifully decorated and have their own theme. Sir Richard Finnes; treasurer to Henry VI, started the brick built castle in 1441. The castle was not built as a stronghold more a luxury home and was kept within the family until it was sold by the Earl of Sussex in 1700. By the end of the century the castle had been demolished by its owner Robert Hare, leaving just the exterior walls, the other remains being removed to make a residence nearby. It wasn't until 1913 when restoration work was started by Colonel Crowther who transformed the castle back to one of the most significant and oldest brick buildings in England. After its restoration the castle passed through many hands and between 1957 and 1988 the grounds became home to the Royal Greenwich observatory. The observatory then moved to Cambridge but several of the telescopes remain at the castle today in the original buildings now called the Interactive Science Centre. In 1994, after a long restoration process the castle became home to the Bader International study centre which is used by undergraduate law students.