Featured image of Hastings Castle

The History of Hastings Castle

LocationHastings, East Sussex, England (Google Map)
Open for VisitorsNo; it is closed for the winter season and will reopen in February 2022.
Owned ByHastings Corporation
Official WebsiteHastings Castle 1066 Country
Rooms AvailableNo

Hastings Castle was built in 1067 by William the Conqueror on the mountain and is a go-to place for tourists who love to enjoy beautiful landscapes and sunset. Let’s take a step back and discover the unconditional history of Hastings Castle- Britain’s first Norman Castle.

History of Hastings Castle

Hastings Castle is considered as a jewel of England’s history’s crown. It was built under the order of William of Normandy in 1067. The castle was originally built as a motte-and-bailey castle near the sea. But in 1070, after the Battle of Hastings, William won and issued an order to rebuild the entire castle using stone with St. Mary’s Chapel.

Originally, the Hastings Castle was designed using Wood, but the order was passed to rebuild it with stones to make it stronger. However, the Count of the EU held the castle for most of the Norman period, but it was ordered to get destroyed to prevent it from going under the control of Dauphin Louis. Later in 1220, Henry III ordered to re-fortify the castle. At that time, Hastings castle was controlled by the EU, who forfeited the control after family heir William decided to keep his French assets over the English assets.

In 1242, Henry III ruled the Hastings Castle, and Peter of Savoy, his wife’s uncle, governed the estate. However, in 1287, the violent storms attacked the south coast for months, and the soft sandstone cliffs of the castle finally succumbed. It led to more destruction of the castle, especially the sea-facing side.

In 1339 and 1377, the French attacked the town, creating much overall destruction. Throughout the next century, the castle was left untouched and unchecked. Later on 23 June 1591, the castle was purchased by Thomas Pelham, who used it for farming, which ruined the property. In 1824, the Earl of Chichester bought the site and commissioned an archaeological investigation to understand the reason and amount of ruin.

During World War II, the castle got more damaged because Hastings was targeted for bombing raids. Finally, when the castle was not in the state to get rebuilt, it was purchased by Hastings Corporation and converted into a tourist place.

Architecture

Hastings Castle Aerial View
Hastings Castle”, by Barbara van Cleve, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Hastings Castle is an iconic landmark of England’s tumultuous history, a perfect place to visit for people who love to experience history, culture, and beauty at the same time. The ruins you see in the castle now is because of wars and violent storm. The south walls of Hastings castle were ruined completely, which is why you now see only ancient castle grounds. You can visit the place and wander around the ancient castle grounds.

The castle is located on the top of West Hill, from where you can overlook the whole old town of Hastings. You can still notice the walls of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a high archway and spiral staircase locked by gates, and the foundation of the east gate and east wall. It has perfect breathtaking views of the Hastings coastline, which will calm your mind with a touch of fresh air and beautiful seaside scenes. Whatever your age is, Hastings Castle will always fascinate you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get to Hastings Castle?

Hastings Castle is located on the top of West Hill, and you can teach the castle by driving through the back streets. Also, you can park your car in the seafront public car parks and take a west hill cliff railway from the Hastings old town to reach the castle.

What happened to Hastings Castle?

The Hastings Castle became a part of a violent storm in 1287, destroying the large section facing the sea. Later in 1339 and 1377, the French attacked the Hastings town, buildings, and castle and left burning. All these events created much destruction in Hastings Castle. However, now it is under the control of Hastings Corporation and is seen as a tourist place enriched with historicalness.

Have you visited this castle before? If yes, why not share some beautiful pictures with us!
You can email us your pictures of the castle at castrumtocastle@gmail.com. Please use the name of the castle in the subject line.
Also, don’t forget to mention your name and social media profile link if you want the credits!

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He is a versatile E-Learning Support Officer and former Academic Officer at the University of York, United Kingdom. Not just an expert in education and technology, Debayan also has a deep love for castles and mountains. With a passion for travel, having explored 168+ cities worldwide, and a keen eye for photography, He brings a unique blend of experiences to the table. Specializing in E-learning content, IT support, AR development, and software engineering, Debayan has made a significant impact, educating over 200,000 students on Udemy.

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