Upnor Castle

Upnor Castle is a fortress made of stone and brick that sits along the western bank of the River Medway with a triangular gun platform angled toward the water. The two-story structure was designed so artillery could target ships entering or leaving the river.

The fortress was built between 1559 and 1567 on orders from Elizabeth I to protect the ships at Chatham Dockyard from Spanish attacks. It played a crucial role during a major sea crisis in the late 1600s.

The castle shows how people in the 1500s positioned defenses along rivers to guard their most valuable ships. You can still see how the gun platforms faced the water and how the walls dominated the valley.

The castle operates as a museum with military displays and offers guided tours for visitors. Access is by footpath and the structure has older stairways and narrow passages to navigate.

The castle played a key role in 1667 when a Dutch fleet attacked and the small garrison managed to save the ships upstream. This event is often overlooked but marked a turning point in how the site defended itself.

Location: Frindsbury Extra

Inception: 1567

Architects: Richard Lee

Made from material: rag-stone, brick

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/upnor-castle

GPS coordinates: 51.40690,0.52686

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:32