The look at Pevensey Castle is to slowly unfold the pages of English history, a story of invasion, defence and defiance. It starts with the Romans, the first invaders, who built the fort in around 280 as part of their coastal defences against attack by the Saxons and Jutes; these coastal defences were commanded by a new officer the `Comes Litoris Saxonier` (Count of the Saxon Shore) and Pevensey (Roman Anderitum) was the main post in Sussex. The fort covers nine acres, the walls form an oval unusual for a Roman fort but probably dictated by the site which was an irregular peninsula jutting out into the then estuary. After the Romans left, in about 420, the Saxon chieftain Aelle attacked and sacked the fort in 491, he went on to conquer much of Sussex. The fort then appears to have been abandoned until the 1040`s when Harold Godwinson improved the fortifications and left the fort manned. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Pevensey as the landing place of Williams troops and after the conquest Pevensey was given to Williams half-brother Robert who built a new inner bailey, the keep was built around 1100 and the gatehouse added in the 13th century the, now Castle, was besieged unsuccessfully by King Stephen during his was over the succession with Maud; Simon de Montfont tried in 1264 and the Yorkists in 1399 during the Wars of the Roses. After the Spanish Armada, Queen Elisabeth 1 ordered its demolition but was ignored; Oliver Cromwell sold it to a local mason for £40 but only a few stones were removed. The crown seized it back in 1660 after the restoration. By this time the estuary was silting up and forming the Pevensey Levels and the coast receded and is about a mile away from the castle. From the castle`s towers can be seen a new line of defences. The Martello towers, a string of forts built between 1805 -10 along the shore to as a defence against Nepoleonic invasion - sound familiar?
Attraction
Old Mint House
Pevensey Bay
Pevensey Castle
Sharnfold Farm
Camping
Bay View Caravan and Camping Park
Norman's Bay
Estate Agent
Masonbryant
Robert Fox (Estate Agents)
Pub and Bar
Castle Inn
Moorings
Old Mint House
Red Lion
Star Inn
Taxi
Venue
Shops
Sharnfold Farm
Stone Cross Nurseries
Hillier Garden Centre
Hankam Organics
Sharnfold PYO Farm
Antiques
Places to Stay near Pevensey
Premier Inn Eastbourne (2.16 miles)
Leeward Quay (2.21 miles)
Luxury 'lifestyle' contemporary interior designed apartment finished to a high specification set within the heart of the Marina in a quiet location with stunning views out over the locks and ... More
Cleavers Lyng 16th C Country House (3.50 miles)
Wartling Place (3.54 miles)
Award-winning Georgian country house in heart of Sussex. A distinct countryside residence offering top-quality bed and breakfast accommodation. Each bedroom proudly displays an identity all of its own, some on ... More
The Langtons Guest House (3.56 miles)
The Boat House (3.56 miles)
Bay Lodge Hotel (3.69 miles)
The Bay Lodge is a traditional, friendly, family run guest house on the seafront in Eastbourne. There are 10 en suite rooms, a sun lounge, licensed bar with Sky TV and private ... More
Devonia Eastbourne (3.69 miles)
Eastbourne Reymar (3.76 miles)
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