- Hastings Castle, East Sussex, England -

Built: 11th Century Owner: Hastings Borough Council Access: Open to the Public: 11am to 330pm; October to Easter 11am to 5pm; Easter to October Closed: 24-26 December, 1 January Located: In Hastings take the A2101 to Castle Hill Road. Or take the West Hill Cliff Railway from Hastings town center. Amenities: Toilets, The 1066 Story (Audio-visual program)

The Normans built a wooden motte and bailey castle on this site after landing in England in September of 1066. Hastings Castle along with Pevensey Castle were the first two Norman castles erected in England, and secured the Sussex coastline prior to the Battle of Hastings. William, Duke of Normandy, and his army would set out from Hastings Castle on October 14th 1066 to do battle with King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings which would mark the beginning of Norman rule in England.

11th Century:

Hastings Castle was originally a wooden tower built on top a man made mound, or motte which was surrounded by an outer courtyard or bailey that was also enclosed by a wooden palisade. The Norman motte and bailey castle would become a common fixture across the England following the conquest. William planned ahead and had several wooden castles prefabricated in Normandy and brought them with him to England. After victory at the Battle of Hastings, William ordered that Hastings Castle be rebuilt using stone.

William passed the castle to one of his commanders, Humphrey de Tilleul, who returned to Normandy and the castle was granted to Robert, Count of Eu. The Count had to provide 60 knights to serve the crown in exchange for the castle, the town and the surrounding lands.

12th Century:

The castle Keep was rebuilt in the southeastern corner of the castle in the 1170's because the motte was not strong enough to support a large stone Keep. Other building improvements were made during the reign of Henry II.

13th Century:

Normandy was lost to the French during King John’s reign. Fearing an invasion, King John ordered all Sussex castles to be dismantled rather than fall into enemy hands. Hastings Castle was refortified in the 1220’s. More building work also occurred in 1249. King Edward I issued naval ordinances from the castle in 1274. Just a few years later, in 1287, the cliffs beneath the castles South Wall gave way causing the wall and Keep to fall into the North Sea.

14th Century:

In 1339 and 1337, the French attacked Hastings Castle. The castle fell into disrepair and became a ruin. The ruins were purchased by a private family and used primarily for farming for the next few hundred years.

19th Century:

The castle was completely excavated in 1824, large parts of the castle were reconstructed and the castle became a tourist attraction. The Dungeons were rediscovered near the North Gate in the 1870’s.

Castle Highlights:

Hastings Castle sits high atop a cliff overlooking the old town of Hastings and the North Sea. You can get to it by driving up through the back streets or by parking in the public car park near the seaside and taking the West Hill Cliff Railway from the town to the top of the cliff.

The castle’s South Wall and Keep have been lost to the sea and the remaining walls are now just ruins, but enough remains to get a good feel for how the castle was designed. Entry to the castle is through the North Gate. The Dungeons are located to the left.

The largest remaining walls are of the Chapel of the Holy Cross located along the inside of the North Wall. A high archway is still in tact along with a spiral staircase that is lock by a gate to prevent visitors from going up.

To the East are the remains of the East Gate and the East Wall which the foundations of two towers can still be seen. The motte is located in the northeast corner of the castle, but no significant stonework exists on the motte since the Keep was moved in the 12th century.