Portland Castle

by English Heritage, Paul Pattison

Portland Castle was built by Henry VIII in 1539–40 as a coastal artillery fort. It was one of a number of such fortifications – the ‘device forts’ – built in response to the threat of invasion posed by the Catholic alliance following Henry’s break with Rome. The castle and its garrison protected the vital anchorage of Portland Roads against capture by the enemy. Though sporadically neglected, the castle remained armed and active until the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. After that is was adapted as a polite marine residence for the Reverend John Manning and his family, its garden landscaped and its interiors fashionably renovated. It subsequently became the home of a series of senior Army officers. During both World Wars it provided offices and accommodation for various serving units, and part of it remained in naval use until 1999. Today, the castle is open to the public for all to enjoy.

40 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

English Heritage (officially the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England) is a non-departmental public body of the British Government with a broad remit of managing the historic built environment of England. It is currently sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
English Heritage was set up in 1983 and exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood.
Dr Simon Thurley has been chief executive since 2002.