Camber Castle, Tudor defense fort near Winchelsea, England
Camber Castle is a Tudor-era fort built from pale Caen stone, featuring a central keep surrounded by four circular bastions. The thick walls and compact layout reflect early experiments in fortress design to withstand cannon fire.
Henry VIII ordered this fort built in 1539 to defend the coastal town of Rye and its naval base from French raids. Parliamentary forces later damaged much of the structure in 1642 during the English Civil War to deny it to Royalist forces.
The castle shows how military design changed during the Tudor era, blending medieval and modern defense methods. Its circular bastions were part of a new way of thinking about protecting fortifications against artillery.
This site is best explored through guided tours arranged by the nearby Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ground is uneven, and dress for coastal weather that can change quickly.
The fort was built on a strategic strip of land that once jutted into the water, allowing it to guard two separate channels leading to Rye. This commanding position meant the walls had to resist attacks from multiple directions at once.
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