Welcome to Pevensey Castle! Pevensey Castle's site has been an important place for the Romans, Normans, and then used during World War II. It was a Roman fort and later built into a castle by William the Conqueror. Pevensey was actually near the sea, making it an important strategic area. I visited the castle toward the end of July.
A Roman fort stood on the site of Pevensey Castle (dating from the 290s) before the castle was built. An escavation near the northern gate revealed part of the original Roman wall, which was partially-buried and hence preserved. It as also used as a rubbish dump and escavated in the mid-1930s. During the late 400s, the Roman fort was attacked and abandoned for a century until William the Conqueror arrived in 1066 and built the castle over part of the Roman fort, reusing some existing defenses.
The castle was used throughout the Middle Ages and a favouite with royalty. It later served as a prison for James I of Scotland and Queen Joan of Navarre. The castle was left to ruin in the 16th century but later used in World War II in case Sussex was seized by he Germans, and some soldiers lived in the castle. Before the war, the castle was open to the public and events were held here.
The outer bailey and the old walls:
The castle entrance into the inner bailey over the moat:
The inner bailey walls date from the 13th century.
The cannon dates from Tudor times.
A view over the inner bailey:
The inner bailey and outer bailey:
Some items discovered at the castle during escavations in the museum:
The stonework was altered for World War II and disguised from the air:
The well:
Catapult stones:
Visitors could also descend down a set of narrow stairs to the dungeon.
A gate on the far end goes to a housing estate, and this stonework dates from Roman times.
A view of the castle:
The tour guide for the castle explains more about the castle's history and other facts and is worth a view. There's also a version of the history for children. The site is maintained by English Heritage.
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