Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

East Cowes Castle
Hob Uid: 461607
Location : Isle Of Wight Isle Of Wight Cowes
Grid Ref : SZ5111609658
Summary : East Cowes Castle was an artillery fort built in 1539-42 by Henry VIII as part of his network of coastal fortifications to defend against the threat of French and Spanish invasion. In conjunction with West Cowes Castle, located on the other side of estuary mouth, it defended the entrance to the River Medina and Cowes Harbour. The fortification was abandoned around 1546-7 and was in ruins by the 17th century. No remains of the castle have survived; however the place where the castle stood still retains the name of Old Castle Point.No details of the castle are known although from the size of its garrison and the amount spent on its construction it may have been similar to that of West Cowes Castle. Stone from the dissolved abbeys at Beaulieu and Quarr may have been used for its construction.
More information : (Area centred SZ51099653). There was a castle at East Cowes but it has long been totally demolished. The place still retains the name of OLD CASTLE POINT. (1) Forts are mentioned by LELAND AT WEST COWES (SZ 49 NE 10) and East Cowes.(2) The Castle at EAST COWES was erected by Henry VIII from the ruins of a religious house at EAST SHAMBLORD, not a vestige remains. (SZ59SW4) (3) The fortification at EAST COWES was evidently only a horn work as it is not shown on SPEEDS map of 1610.(4) There are no remains of this fortification at OLD CASTLE POINT. Its side may be some distance out in the SOLENT, as, before the modern sea-wall was built, erosion was probably rapid. (5) (SZ51109656) Approx site. (6-7) The construction of East Cowes Castle was begun in March/April 1539 and was probably not fully completed until 1542. It was originally conceived as a single defence work, but the plan was quickly adapted to include a second, larger, fort at West Cowes. (SZ 59 SW 10). Since the expenditure on its construction, and the size of the garrison, was roughly the same as for West Cowes Castle, the castle probably resembled that at West Cowes. The engineers may have used stone from the abbeys at Beaulieu and Quarr, and possibly from East Shamblord (SZ 59 SW 4) (3). It was abandoned c.1546-7, and was a ruin by the 17th century. (8)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : "Antiquities of England and Wales 1774.(Pages not numbered) (F. GROSE)
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 259
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : "Isle of Wight, Its History, Topography and Antiquities", 1884,96 (W.H.D.Adams).
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : "Architectural Antiquities of the Isle of Wight", 2, 107, (P.G.STONE) 1891
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 VJB 03-FEB-55
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : Carisbrooke Museum 6" (F.Morey 1912-25)
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F1 VJB 09-FEB-55
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Source Number : 8
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Page(s) : 535-539
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Tudor
Display Date : Built 1539-1542
Monument End Date : 1542
Monument Start Date : 1539
Monument Type : Artillery Castle, Artillery Fort
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Tudor
Display Date : Abandoned 1546-7
Monument End Date : 1547
Monument Start Date : 1546
Monument Type : Artillery Fort, Artillery Castle
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Stuart
Display Date : Ruined 17th C
Monument End Date : 1699
Monument Start Date : 1600
Monument Type : Artillery Castle, Artillery Fort
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SZ 59 NW 1
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Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1955-02-09
End Date : 1955-02-09

Historic England Research Records

East Cowes Castle