Salcombe Castle facts for kids
Salcombe Castle, also called Fort Charles, is an old, ruined fort. It sits right off the beach at North Sands in Salcombe, Devon, England. This area is known for its amazing natural beauty. You can easily walk to the castle at low tide because it's on a rocky spot. It's a special place, protected as a `Grade II listed building` and an `ancient monument`. This means it's an important historical site that needs to be preserved.
The castle ruins include a round tower about 7 meters (23 feet) tall. It has four floors and special openings near the top for guns. A wall connects this tower to a rectangular tower, which is 6 meters (20 feet) high.
Salcombe Castle: A Historic Fort
A Look Back in Time
People believe the castle was first built a long time ago, when Henry VIII was king. This was to help protect the Kingsbridge `estuary` (where the river meets the sea) from French and Spanish `pirates`. Pirates were sea robbers who attacked ships and towns.
The fort was made even stronger in the 1640s. This was ordered by Prince Maurice, a important royal leader.
The English Civil War
Salcombe Castle became very famous during the English Civil War. This was a big fight in England between those who supported King Charles I (the `Royalists`) and those who supported Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell (the `Parliamentarians`).
The castle was the very last place to hold out for the King. Sir Edmund Fortescue was told to defend it in 1643. This was when nearby Plymouth turned against the King. Sir Edmund rebuilt the castle, spending quite a bit of money on it. He then gave it the name "Fort Charles."
The Parliamentarian army surrounded the castle from January 15 to May 7, 1646. This is called a `siege`. The people inside the castle finally gave up because they realized all other places supporting the King had already been taken. The soldiers defending the castle were allowed to leave with their flags flying. This was a sign of respect for their bravery.
After the war, Parliament ordered the castle to be "slighted." This means they deliberately damaged it so it couldn't be used as a fort again. They thought it was "too dangerous" to leave it standing strong.
Later, in the 1700s or 1800s, a small watchtower was added to the ruins.
Gallery
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Ruins taken from North Sands
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Taken from a boat in the estuary
