Hastings Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hastings Castle
Hastings, East Sussex
General view of Hastings Castle
Hastings Castle
Coordinates	50°51′23″N 0°35′14″E / 50.85631°N 0.58731°E / 50.85631; 0.58731
Type	Keep and bailey
Site information
Owner	Local Authority
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Fragmented Ruins
Site history
Built	12th Century
Materials	Stone
Demolished	Ruined by 1399

Hastings Castle is an old castle ruin in Hastings, East Sussex. It sits high up, looking over the English Channel. Over many years, parts of the castle have fallen into the sea.

The building of Hastings Castle is shown in the Bayeux Tapestry. It shows a dirt hill, called a motte, with a wooden fence on top.

History of Hastings Castle

Building the First Castle

In 1066, William the Conqueror landed in England. He quickly ordered three forts to be built. One of these was Hastings Castle. It was built just before the famous Battle of Hastings.

The first Hastings Castle was a motte-and-bailey castle. This means it had a large dirt mound (motte) with a tower. It also had a walled yard (bailey) below.

From Wood to Stone

Later in 1066, William won the Battle of Hastings. In 1070, he ordered the castle to be rebuilt. This time, it was made of strong stone. A chapel called St Mary's was also built inside.

Changes in Ownership

For a long time, the Counts of Eu owned the castle. But King John later ordered it to be destroyed. He did not want it to fall into enemy hands.

In 1220, King Henry III made the castle strong again. He added more defenses to it.

Later, the family who owned the castle lost control of it. This happened because the heir chose his French lands over his English ones. In 1242, King Henry III gave the castle to his wife's uncle, Peter II of Savoy. Peter looked after the castle until he passed away.

Nature's Impact on the Castle

In 1287, huge storms hit the south coast. The soft cliffs beneath the castle began to crumble. Large parts of the castle fell into the sea.

The town of Hastings was attacked by the French in 1339 and 1377. Many buildings, including homes, were burned. Over the next hundred years, more of the castle was lost to the sea. This was due to natural erosion.

Later Years and Rediscovery

In the mid-1500s, Henry VIII ordered many Catholic monasteries to be destroyed. This left the castle site in ruins.

In 1591, Thomas Pelham bought the land. The Pelham family then used the site for farming. The ruins became so overgrown that people forgot they were there.

In 1824, the Earl of Chichester owned the land. He asked for some digging to be done. During this work, parts of the chapel floor and walls were found. They were rebuilt using stones found nearby.

During World War II, Hastings was bombed. The castle ruins were damaged even more. In 1951, the Hastings Corporation bought the site. They turned it into a place for visitors to enjoy.

Today, Hastings Castle is open to the public. You can visit it between March and October.