The 'Castles of the Downs' in Kent: Deal, Walmer, and Sandown. Design, Development, and Significance

Deal, Walmer, and Sandown Castles were hastily built on the same stretch of beach on the east coast of Kent between 1539 and 1540 and, together, were known as 'The Castles of the Downs'.

They were built due to a perceived threat of invasion following Henry VIII's separation from Rome. The castles were part of a much larger and more comprehensive 'Device' to fortify the King's realm. They were all built simultaneously with the same craftspeople and were connected to four bulwarks and a series of defensive trenches. Most significantly, they were the first of over twenty-four purpose-built fortifications to be constructed within the King's attempt to fortify the nation. The Castles of the Downs were likely conceived to operate with a distinctive level of singular coordination to defend the increasingly important anchorage of The Downs. The ambition driving these castles' construction, deployment, and symbolism distinguished them from the other fortifications within this Device. Yet, these themes have not been fully explored, nor has the project been appraised as it was built, that is, as one set of fortifications.

Henry VIII was famously a learned client and patron of architecture. Even before ascending to the throne, he took a keen interest in architecture and military engineering. Once King, he acquired, commissioned, and altered an extensive collection of different buildings and became involved with some fifty-five palaces and over twenty castles. The extraordinary measures the King employed at this time resulted in possibly the most extensive programmes of fortification England has ever seen.

In terms of scholarly attention, it is often found that the Device works feature within broader castle studies or Tudor architecture. For many studies, this unique subset of castles that bridge the architectural linkage between the high medieval fortress and the later Martello Towers is often overlooked in favour of the former. Moreover, even less attention has been paid to the castles individually, with almost no study of Sandown Castle, especially within the last century or so. Yet their significance to the Device programme and the field more generally is crucial. This thesis will attempt to appraise and reconstruct the castles' unique histories, design, symbolism, and later development so as to trace their broader significance. The analysis will also consider the use of spolia from nearby monastic sites for the construction of the castles, exploring the associated meanings and connotations, along with how the theme of revivalism can be traced consistently throughout their development.