posted 08-28-2002 11:12 AM         

It was built in 1539 by Henry VIII to protect against invasion from the french after he got on the wrong side of the pope.
Heres a hi-res picture of the castle in its current state:
http://www.weymouth-pictures.co.uk/pictures/sandsfootcastle/SandsfootCastle31_280501.JPG

Sadly a lot of the exterior stone work has fallen away since the castle was abbandond in the 1700's though some impressive masonary skills are still visiable if you look closely.

What I would like to know is the thinking behind the design of the castle, I want to know why theres a window there, or a fireplace here or an archway over there.

As far as i know no detailed floorplans of the castle exist, so the best place to look for clues will be its twin Portland Castle (http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/portland/portland.php) that is still in a very good state of presevation. I intend to pay it a visit out of season.

So if anyone has any info on finding floorplans or just generic information about Henry VIII's castle designs that would help me understand the purpose of this bulidings facets please post them here.

posted 08-28-2002 07:48 PM            

1539 is in the 16th century.
The 15th century is from 1401-1500.

posted 08-29-2002 04:40 AM         

"The castle was built using stone from the recently (in 1539) dissolved Bindon Abbey and completed at a cost of £3,887.
The remains are those of a 2-storey rectangular block 18m by 14m, over walls 2.3m thick. The castle is much defaced externally, but some widely splayed upper gunloops of ashlar still remain. The north end wall contains the entrance with a portcullis groove and a staircase, and there is a fireplace and oven at the south end, where the sea has washed away a polygonal gun platform. A single storey gatehouse on the east side shown in an 18th century engraving has also vanished. In 1588 there was a garrison of 50 men here. The castle was de-garrisoned in 1665, although it remained as a store until the 1690s. From it has come the royal coat of arms over the south doorway of All Saints' Church at Wyke Regis. An outer rampart was added during the Civil War, when the castle vaults accommodated a mint."

I have scanned a copy of the plan from Mike Salter's book, and will place it in the Photo Archive, which you can access at the bottom of this page. The pictures I have of the castle are too large to be placed there, but if you provide your e-mail address, I will be able to send them to you.

As for the fact that I've heard about Sandsfoot - I used to live in Hampshire and have had a number of holidays in Dorset, including one in Weymouth.

The guidebook to Portland Castle does not shed any additional light on Sandsfoot.

Hope this helps.

posted 08-29-2002 06:48 AM            

Picture of Sandsfoot Castle in 1903 http://www.eprowse.fsnet.co.uk/sandsfoot1903.htm

History of Wyke (where Sandsfoot Castle is located, and from where it was garrisoned) http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wykedh/c1to5.htm#Chapter%20Four

Portland Castle - great photographs and plans: http://www.bournemouthweb.com/portland_castle.shtml http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/portland/portland_photos.php#main

On a similar subject, I've been looking at the coastal forts of Henry VIII on the Medway and Thames - I'm finding it facinating to see how gunpowder affected the design of castles and fortifications - similarly, in Scotland, it's interesting to see how rather than build new fortifications, some pre-existing castles (such as Blackness Castle, Threave near Castle Douglas, Ravenscraig, Craignethan, Craigmillar and Braemar) were adapted to include artilary batteries.

Levan

posted 08-29-2002 09:18 AM         

btw Erik Schmidt thanks for the tip, that makes sense now i think about it (i never was too good at history)

posted 08-30-2002 08:32 AM         

I was amazed by the floorplan as it clearly shows a large hexagonal area to the south of the remaining castle. This is obviously where the guns were and makes it quite obvious why the design of the remaining castle is how it is. So mission accomplished as far as understanding the remains go's!

Of course i've found out a lot of other interesting facts too like what a portcullis is and the fact the castle had one. Also ive found a nice pic of the coat of arms that was removed here: http://www.btinternet.com/%7epatac/allsaints/tour/Image6.gif

I just like to says many thanks to AJR, it great to know there are people out there willing to invest the time and effort to help somone with a question. And thanks to whoever runs this site (if its not you AJ I never wouldve beleived a week ago that such a thriving (and intelligent) castle community existed on the interent.