Houses of great personages, and of wealthy institutions such as monastic houses were also built on a defensive or semi-defensive scale.
PART IV
COAST DEFENCES UNDER HENRY VIII AND LATER
| [ON THE EAST COASTS OF KENT AND SUSSEX] |
| [OF THE ESTUARIES OF THE THAMES, MEDWAY, ETC.] |
| [OF THE SOUTH COAST] |
[DEFENCES ON THE EAST COASTS OF KENT AND SUSSEX]
During the reign of Henry VIII an interesting group of castles, or more properly block-houses, intended entirely for coast defence, was erected on the coasts of Kent and Sussex. The particular circumstances which gave occasion for these defensive works at this period are quaintly set forth by William Lambard in his “Perambulation of Kent.”[23]
“King Henrie the eight, have shaken of the intollerable yoke of the Popish tyrannie, and espying that the Emperour was offended, for the divorce of Queen Katherine his wife, and that the Frenche King had coupled the Dolphine his Sonne to the Popes Niece, and married his daughter to the King of Scots, so that he might more justly suspect them all, then safely trust any one: determined by the aide of God to stand upon his owne gardes and defence, and therefore with all speede, and without sparing any cost, he builded Castles, platfourmes, and blocke-houses in all needful places of the Realme: And amongest other, fearing least the ease, and advantage of descending on land at this part, should give occasion and hardinesse to the enemies to invade him, he erected (neare together) three fortifications, which might at all times keepe and beate the landing place, that is to say, Sandowne, Dele, and Wamere.”