Coastal FortsCoastal Forts
The age of the Tudors saw the decline of the highly defensive British Castles. Castles were replaced by sumptuous palaces designed for living accommodation and coastal forts were built for defensive purposes. The Tudor era saw a massive change in English politics. King Henry VIII decreased the power of the nobles and increased the power of Parliament and the monarchy. King Henry VIII added Imperial concepts of Kingship to existing Feudal concepts and the King was not dependent on his nobles for support. The British population was threatened by invasion from foreign powers rather than subject to internal strife. Coastal forts were built, facing possible enemies from the sea. The Introduction of the Coastal Forts
The decline of defensive Tudor castles and the introduction of coastal forts were made in response to: - Political and Social changes during the Tudor era - the King seized power from the nobles and the feudal system was coming to an end, fighting between nobles and the threat of Civil war had decreased
- War now was between nations rather than between individual feudal nobles
- Changing needs of the population - The British population was threatened by invasion from foreign powers rather than subject to internal strife. Coastal forts were built, facing possible enemies from the sea
- Changes in technology - Changes in technology - the increase in the use of guns and canon, which greatly reduced the effectiveness of castles
The Introduction of the Coastal Forts
The purpose of the Tudor Coastal Forts were to defend England against the threat of invasion from European powers such as France and Spain. Coastal Forts were specifically built to defend a harbour or anchorage. The Coastal Forts were purely military posts belonging to the state instead of the combined homes and castle fortresses of nobles. High walls were a thing of the past. The strong stone walls of Coastal Forts were built lower with towers facing the sea. The squat, rounded turrets of the coastal forts were designed to deflect incoming cannon balls, and acted as platforms from which to fire barrages. Gun ports were a new innovation. They were the openings through which the new artillery could be fired. Deal Castle - The Largest of the Tudor Coastal Forts
The largest of Henry VIII's coastal forts was built c1540 and had 119 gun positions. The layout of Deal Castle / Coastal Fort was built in the shape of the Tudor rose and has an outer moat. It is part of a chain of coastal forts, which also includes Calshot, Camber, Walmer and Pendennis Castles. Coastal Forts
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