Camber Castle, Rye, East Sussex

Camber Castle - One of Henry VIII's coastal defences that has remained largely unchanged due to it's isolation Across the flat rural landscape, between the town of Rye and the coastline, the site of sheep grazing on the short, marshy grass is commonplace. But a substantial stone castle suddenly springing out of this quiet and gentle scene is a real surprise. Of course, when it was first conceived almost 500 years ago, Camber Castle would not have looked so much at odds with its environment.

When the first defensive tower was built in 1512, it was located at the harbour entrance and, during the threats from Catholic powers in Europe, Henry VIII decided to reinforce this position in his programme of coastal fortifications. The original cylindrical tower was enclosed by an octagonal stone curtain in 1539, and gun platforms were sited in alternate corners of the wall. At the entrance was a U-shaped bastion, and a series of corridors ran in the thickness of the walls linking the gun positions to an inner corridor around the central tower. By 1544 Camber Castle had developed even further, taking on a more geometrical appearance, similar to that of Deal Castle in Kent but on a much smaller scale. Each of the earlier gun platforms was replaced by a semi-circular bastion, and the central tower was heightened.

This great Henrician fort was in use for less than 100 years. At the beginning of the 17th century, the natural harbour that Camber Castle was built to protect had silted over, the sea retreated leaving the castle stranded without a useful purpose. In 1637 it was officially decommissioned, and Charles I eventually authorised the demolition of this redundant artillery fort. For whatever reason this order was never carried out, and Camber Castle has stood virtually untouched since that time.

An easy 20 minute walk across the fields will enable the visitor to inspect the extensive remains of this original 16th century castle more closely. On a pleasant day it makes for an interesting trek, with an opportunity to observe the wildlife that the nature reserve has to offer en route. Camber Castle may once have been an intimidating stronghold but the inquisitive sheep that regularly brush past its massive curtain walls seem indifferent to its historic origins.