Calshot Castle
Solent Landmarks Calshot Castle Calshot
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Quick History
Calshot is one of the smaller examples of a grand fortification scheme that defended the coast from Cornwall to London. The castles that Henry VIII built marked a change in warfare. They were the first fortifications in England built to house Cannons and resist cannon fire. The age of the gun had arrived. |
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| A Time Line | Changing use with changing times | ||||
| Tudor period, the
castle is built
1539 Work starts on building the castle 1540 Castle completed and garrison established 1559 The Condition of castle declines, only 10 cannon are usable |
Henry VIII's Involvement
Henry VIII had a great interest in fortification and weapon development and is credited for introducing several innovations. This credit may have been given out of politeness but there is no doubt that his active involvement did influence design improvements. His dissolution of the monasteries released the money required for his fortress building. It is believed that some of the building stone for Calshot Castle came from Bulieu and Netley Abbeys. Layers of fire
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| 1642
Civil war: The guns are disabled by a Parliamentarian gunboat until it agreed to be support their cause. 1774 First major alteration to the castle 1850 Modernisation plans rejected as military role of castle limited. 1856 Admiralty obtained castle and used for coast guard duties. |
Saved: The only
one of three to survive
Calshot was one of three Castles built overlooking Southampton water. The Parliamentarians left the other two at Netley and St Andrews (at Hamble) disabled after the Civil war.The importance of Calshost's position ensured its survival as a fortification under the new management. Up and down: Number of Cannon at the Castle The number of guns at Calshot, and the state of repair of the building fluctuated as the threat from abroad changed.
The long history of the Coastguard at the spit was not the result of a concern for mariners safety but of law enforcement. Smuggling was a local industry and the castle at Calshot provided a perfect spot for the Revenue men to be based. |
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| Late 19th and20th Centuries
New uses. 1894 Castle passed to War office and used as defence against torpedo craft 1895 Work started on new a battery to the south of the castle. 1907 Castle altered to take new guns 1913 Royal Naval air station opened on the spit. 1918 Guns had been removed. 1940 Guns remounted on roof of castle and searchlights installed. 1970s New coast guard tower built and castle passed to English Heritage |
New threat, New weapons
The guns installed in 1895 was the response to the development of a new threat. The threat posed by the combination of two new technologies, steam powered warships and the torpedo. The combination of these had resulted in small fast torpedo boats could conduct night raids on ports and shipping. Quick firing guns (QF) and searchlights was the Admiralties answer to this threat and Calshot was in a prime position to mount such weapons. Nothing remains
Seaplanes, fast Launches
and Lawrence of Arabia
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