HURST CASTLE

Hampshire

Hurst Castle stands at the end of a shingle spit over a mile long, jutting out into the Solent.  By far the best approach is to walk along the spit; but a boat does go from Keyhaven Harbour for the less energetic!

The central part of Hurst Castle is one of Henry VIII's forts (built in this case around 1539-44) which is not dissimilar in plan to Calshot Castle, although larger.  But this is dwarfed by the long "wings" constructed in 1861-73 during the Napoleonic Wars.  This is one of the most spectacular of all of the so-called "Palmerston Follies".

Hurst Castle was garrisoned right up to the end of World War II when it's position provided a superb vantage point to guard the western entrance to the Solent - the same function that Henry VIII had in mind when he built the original.

Hurst Castle is open to the public throughout the summer and is owned by English Heritage.

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2001