Visit Historical Upnor Castle, England
This beautiful Castle is situated in tranquil grounds
adjoining a riverside village in Kent, England. If you are passing through or
exploring the surrounding area, Upnor Castle could be a wonderful stop along
the way to explore some of the English Heritage. Admission is relatively good at just apx. 7 UK
Pounds per Adult. (June 2021) Family pricing is also available. We would recommend checking the opening days
& times before making plans. If you are planning a trip to England we would be happy to put together an Itinerary for you to schedule visits to local attractions and visit some hot spots in the many parts of the United Kingdom. From a romantic visit to guided tours and self drive experiences, we have many options available.
The History of Upnor Castle
Upnor Castle belongs to the genre of Henrician coastal
forts, but is an Elizabethan addition to the chain. It was begun in 1599 to guard the approach to
the new dockyard at Chatham, lying two miles away near the estuary of the River
Medway. Sir Richard Lee interrupted his
work on the fortifications at Berwick-on-Tweed, to come and design this fort,
but construction dragged on for eight years.
In 1599-1601,
Upnor was enlarged but it had to wait until 1667 to face
enemy action. In that year, the Dutch,
under Admiral de Ruyter, sailed into the Medway and set fire to much of the
English fleet. The castle was unable to
offer any effective resistance and in the following year a new chain of
defenses was begun, Upnor being relegated to the role of storehouse and
magazine. Military occupation of one
kind or another continued until the Second World War.
As originally conceived, the castle comprised an oblong
blockhouse, set in the middle of a curious screen wall terminating at each end
in a stair turret. This building
provided accommodation for the garrison, defense being concentrated upon the
low, pointed bastion facing the Medway.
Pointed bastions were devised as a defense against artillery
in Renaissance Italy. Sir Richard Lee
built several along his new ramparts at Berwick, but the Upnor bastion does not
have the characteristic "arrowhead" plan resulting from a narrow
collar. Its riverside setting made that
unnecessary. However, since only one
side of the bastion faces upriver, there were insufficient gun emplacements to
fire effectively on an approaching fleet-this was the problem in 1667.
The late Elizabethan enlargement provided defenses on the landward side. A walled courtyard was created in front of the blockhouse, with towers where the new curtain joins the screen wall. The courtyard is entered through a gate tower retaining the traditional obstacle of a drawbridge.
Visit Upnor Castle and Other local Attractions
Adding a few Castle visits whilst in England, adds a romantic ambience to your trip. Why not even book a night in a castle before heading home? England is a great option for those celebrating a romantic break or Honeymoon. Extend your locations to include Scotland or hop across to Ireland if the time allows!
Ready to see the sights of England or plan to visit as many castles as possible? Contact us today to start planning your stay.
Travel Advisor: Sarah Robinson
Our Travel Advisor Sarah, is originally from England and knows the destination well. Before relocating to Canada, she also worked as a
Travel Professional offering both years of experience in the Industry and extensive knowledge of Europe. She will be happy to assist you with your
vacation requests to the UK & Ireland and can also schedule a Self-drive
itinerary to explore at your own pace with local attractions based on your
requirements.