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Pevensey Castle

Roman Walls at Pevensey Castle

In many ways Pevensey Castle holds the history of south east England. The first castle here was Roman, built in the fourth century, and one of the biggest forts in the Saxon Shore defensive chain, designed to oppose Saxon raiders. There is little left of other Saxon Shore forts such as Reculver, but incredibly at Pevensey two thirds of the Roman walls remain.

At the end of September 1066 William the Conqueror invaded England, landing with his army at Pevensey, before marching inland to face Harold at what is now Battle near Hastings. In the years following the Conquest, Pevensey was converted into a Norman castle, inside the perimeter of the old Roman fortifications.

Later in history the castle was modernised and strengthened once again, to face the threat of a Spanish invasion in 1588. Then during 1940 when invasion by Germany seemed imminent gun emplacements and machine gun posts were built into the walls of the castle.

Disguised World War Two Gun Emplacement

The walls of Pevensey sit on the shore line seeming to defend it. But as well as being built by a succession of invaders, it is also ironic that Pevensey has generally been the focus of internal divisions. The Roman fort of Pevensey was probably built in the mid 290s by Allectus, a follower of Carausius, a rebellious naval officer who proclaimed himself an independent emperor in the province of Britannia. Carausius was assassinated by Allectus in 293, and it wasn't until 296 that Rome regained control of Britannia when Constantine re invaded the country. So internal strife was a theme at Pevensey from the beginning. This was to continue. The Norman incarnation of Pevensey Castle was built to offer protection from the native Britons following the 1066 invasion, but in 1088 a siege at Pevensey was the result of divisions amongst the Normans themselves. Bishop Odo of Bayeux held Pevensey during a struggle between the sons of William the Conqueror for the throne of Britain. Odo was supporting the unsuccessful attempt to replace William Refus as king with Duke Robert of Normandy. Similarly in 1147 Pevensey castle was used by the Earl of Pembroke in his unsuccessful rebellion against King Stephen. Then in 1264 supporters of King Henry The Third held out in Pevensey Castle following defeat by rebels led by Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Lewes. They remained there until de Montfort's defeat at the Battle of Evesham in August the following year. Finally in1399 the Constable of Pevensey Castle, Sir John Pelham, joined Henry Bollingbroke in his ultimately successful rebellion against Richard the Second. While Sir John was away fighting alongside Henry, his wife, Lady Joan Pelham rallied the garrison at Pevensey Castle and managed to hold out against a prolonged siege by Richard the Second's troops.

 

Norman Castle at Pevensey

In Hamlet, the most famous play by England's most famous playwright, the action begins on castle walls, which seem solid, but present no obstacle to the ghost of the old king who drifts over them. Castle walls are solid but allegiances ebb and flow around them. Hamlet has to question all his allegiances, and conducts a struggle which is primarily with himself. Even the castle walls of his own individuality do not stand inviolate. The walls of Pevensey castle are similarly ambivalent.

 

 

 

 

Opening Times: Pevensey Castle is open 1st April to 30th September from 10am until 6pm every day. During October 10am until 4pm daily and 1st November to 20th March 10am - 4pm weekends only . The castle is closed 24-26th December and 1st January. Dogs are allowed on leads.

Directions: The castle is just off the A259 in Pevensey, between Bexhill and Hastings. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Pevensey Castle.

Access: Parking is 300m from the entrance . There are adapted toilet facilities but a RADAR key is required. There is a tearoom and a shop. Audio tours with a hearing loop are available. Visually impaired visitors may touch cannon, grave stones and catapult balls. The inner and outer bailey are accessible to wheelchair users via gravel paths and some rough grass. There are many steps to the towers. Ambulant disabled visitors can often use the steps to the towers with assistance .There are handrails in the North and South Towers. There are benches available. Turnstiles at the exit mean that wheelchair users need to retrace their steps to leave.

Contact:

telephone: 01323 762604

web site: www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.206