Dartmouth Castle
Guarding the entrance of the Dart estuary on the south west coast, Dartmouth Castle dates from the 15th Century and was one of Britain ’s first castles to use artillery.
Dartmouth Castle was built by the wealthy merchants of Dartmouth in the late 15th Century to protect their warehouses and trade in the town from attack or possible invasion. Strategically perched on the edge of a cliff at the mouth of the estuary, the castle consists of a round tower and square tower with multiple cannon positions.
There are seven cannon ports facing out to sea and a number of defensive ports within the inner walls and a number of gun holes designed for musket use. More defensive positions can be found on the roof with pivots for light guns and a strategic vantage point to guard against invasion by land or sea. Immediately facing Dartmouth Castle on the opposite side of the estuary is Kingswear Castle and in the event of an invasion of the port, a huge chain would be drawn across the mouth of the river, blocking the entrance and leaving invasion ships trapped.
Dartmouth Castle saw action in 1646 during the Civil War but survived an invasion and was later preserved as part of the coastal defences against Napoleon and France. Today Dartmouth Castle is almost overshadowed by its Church, but still presents a marvellous vantage point across the Dartmouth coast.
