Description

WEYMOUTH

SY67NE OLD CASTLE ROAD
873-1/4/242 (East side)
12/12/53 Sandsfoot Castle, remains

II*

Coastal fort, now ruined. c1541. For Henry VIII. Portland
rubble core with remains of ashlar in parts. One of Henry
VIII's coastal forts, built at a cost of »3887-4s-1d. PLAN:
originally a central block of 2 storeys and basement, with NW
entrance gate, and an octagonal gun-room on the seaward side.
The outer walls with gatehouse remain in part, much decayed,
but the gun-room has practically disappeared through coastal
erosion.
EXTERIOR: the entry front has remains of the left side of the
gatehouse over an entry with straight-sided low arch, with
remains of walling each side, unfaced. The right side has
remains of walling to basement, ground and first floors, with
substantial ashlar remnants to the upper level with 4 large
openings to deep reveals on 4-centred heads over square
openings, and very steep sloping sills. Beneath, in unfaced
walling, are 6 lights to peaked heads, with 5 square-headed
openings to the basement. The opposite flank has 4 deep
casements, in some ashlar facing, above 4 openings to the main
level; the basement level is below ground level on this side.
INTERIOR: is completely unroofed and without floors or
fittings except for remains of a fireplace and doorways at the
seaward end.
HISTORICAL NOTE: the building suffered early erosion, already
referred to in 1584, was abandoned for military use in 1644-5,
and used as a store until 1691. It has importance as one of
the coastal defences built for Henry VIII; the corresponding
Portland Castle (see Portland) is still complete. RCHME has
drawings of the ruins (p.337).
(RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 336-337).

Listing NGR: SY6748277372

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Sandsfoot Castle at Wikipedia
• Sandsfoot Castle official website
• Wikidata Q1164888

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)