Constructed by King Henry VIII between 1539 and 1540, Walmer Castle occupies 0.61 acres (0.25 ha) in Kent, England. It formed part of the King's Device programme to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire, defending the strategically important Downs anchorage off the English coast.
The stone castle comprises a keep and four circular bastions, featuring 39 firing positions on the upper levels for artillery. It was one of three castles - along with Sandown and Deal - built as part of a coastal defense system connected by earthwork defences. During the Second English Civil War of 1648-49, the fort was seized by pro-Royalist insurgents and was only retaken by Parliamentary forces after several months of fighting.
In the 18th century, Walmer became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The role has been held by prominent figures such as William Pitt the Younger, the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Granville. Since the Second World War, Lord Wardens have included Winston Churchill, Robert Menzies, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Today, the castle is run as a tourist attraction by English Heritage.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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