Netley Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Netley Castle |
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| Netley, Hampshire | |
Netley Castle as seen from the shore
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 Netley Castle
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| Coordinates | 50°52′41″N 1°21′36″W / 50.878°N 1.36°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Open to the public |
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| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1542 or 1544 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | English Civil War |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Netley Castle |
| Designated | 21 October 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1336957 |
Netley Castle is an old fort built by Henry VIII in the village of Netley, Hampshire. It was constructed around 1542 or 1544. This fort was part of King Henry's plan to protect England from invasions. It guarded Southampton Water near the Solent, which is a busy waterway.
The castle had a strong stone keep in the middle. It also had two platforms for cannons on its sides. About ten soldiers lived and worked there. The fort was closed down during the English Civil War. By 1743, it was old and falling apart. In the 1800s, the castle slowly became a private home. It was even made bigger in a Gothic style, with cool octagonal towers. From 1939 to 1998, it was a nursing home. It closed because it cost too much to keep up. After a check by archaeologists, it was turned into nine homes. Today, it is a special building protected by UK law.
Contents
Building a Coastal Fort
Why King Henry VIII Built Forts
Netley Castle was built because of big problems between England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. This was in the last years of King Henry VIII's rule. Usually, local lords and towns handled coastal defenses. The King's government didn't do much to build forts. France and the Holy Roman Empire often fought each other. So, sea raids were common. But a real invasion of England seemed unlikely. There were some small forts in the south-west and along the Sussex coast. A few bigger ones were in northern England. But overall, England's defenses were very weak.
In 1533, King Henry broke away from the Pope. He wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, who was the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V felt insulted by this. So, France and the Holy Roman Empire teamed up against Henry in 1538. The Pope even told them to attack England. It looked like England would definitely be invaded.
To get ready, Henry gave an order in 1539. It was called a "device". This order told people to build forts along the English coast. These forts were for "defending the country in time of invasion."
Netley Castle's Design and Purpose
Netley Castle was built next to Southampton Water. This is between the mouths of the Hamble and Itchen rivers. It was about 250 meters (820 feet) southwest of Netley Abbey. The abbey had recently been closed by Henry. So, stones from the abbey were used to build the castle.
William Paulet was in charge of building the castle. Construction happened in either 1542 or 1544. King Henry gave him land to help pay for the fort and its soldiers. The castle had a central keep, which was like a main tower. It was 19.5 by 14 meters (64 by 46 feet) wide. It had deep openings for cannons along its top walls. There was also a gun platform on each side. Its design was similar to Southsea Castle nearby. At first, the castle had two soldiers, six gunners, and a gatekeeper. They were all led by a captain.
The Castle During the English Civil War
Netley Castle still had soldiers in the 1620s. It was probably still in use when the English Civil War started in 1642. This war was between King Charles I's supporters and Parliament. Captain Swaley, a Parliament naval leader, took Netley in late 1642. He then closed it down as a fort.
During the time when England had no king, the castle was used again. This was because people worried about a possible attack by royalists. But after King Charles II returned to the throne, the castle was no longer needed. It was left empty. When Alexander Pope visited in 1734, the castle was covered in plants and falling apart.
Netley Castle as a Home
Changes in the 1800s
In 1826, William Chamberlayne took over the castle. The next year, he built a tower with battlements on the southeast side. He was inspired by Horace Walpole, who thought the castle should be made livable. Around this time, people said the castle stood "in the middle of many trees, on a small hill close to the beach." It looked "striking when seen from the water." Artists loved it, and J. M. W. Turner visited and drew the castle and its new tower around 1832.
[[multiple image | align = right | image1 = View of Netley Castle, 1844.jpg | width1 = 220 | alt1 = | caption1 = | image2 = Picnic at Netley Castle, 1840s.jpg | width2 = 200 | alt2 = | caption2 = | footer = Netley in the 1840s, showing the side facing the sea (left) and people having a picnic inside the ruins (right). ]]
George Hunt rented the castle in 1841. It was turned into a private house by architect George Guillame. Hunt stayed at Netley until 1857. By then, the castle had a special window called an oriel window that looked out to sea. The battlements on top had been filled in. This allowed a second floor to be built. George Sherriff rented the castle from 1868 to 1873. He built a stone wall around the front of the property.
Sir Henry Crichton bought the castle in 1881. He also bought the gardens, orchards, a pond, and a boat house nearby. Architect John Sedding redesigned the castle between 1885 and 1890. He made it into a Gothic-style house. He added another floor and a new section. After Crichton died in 1922, his wife lived there until 1936. Then, the property and land were sold.
From Nursing Home to Modern Flats
Middlesex County Council bought the castle in 1939. They turned it into a nursing home for older men. In 1948, it became part of the National Health Service. It continued as a nursing home. But it was very expensive to keep up. The land around it was slowly sold off. Finally, in 1998, the Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust decided to close it.
Fairmist Limited, a company that develops properties, bought Netley Castle in 2000. They spent £1.7 million to turn it into nine private homes. During this process, archaeologists studied the property. Today, Netley Castle is a Scheduled Monument and a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical site.
The castle is now about 62 by 14 meters (203 by 46 feet) wide. It is 13.5 meters (44 feet) tall. It sits on 1.54 hectares (3.8 acres) of land. The castle has three parts, or wings. The original 16th-century fort is in the middle. The north wing has three floors. It is decorated in a simple Gothic style. It has an octagonal turret on one corner. The middle part has two floors. It has round corner turrets and battlements. The south wing has two floors. It has fancy Gothic details and another, larger octagonal tower. The castle has a large staircase with a musical organ. It also has a billiard room with wood panels. Other buildings nearby include the old boat house and a former ice house.
