Yarmouth Castle

-1547 (Fortification Raised)

Fighting between England and France during the Italian War demonstrated the Isle of Wight's need for more substantial fortifications. Plans for Yarmouth Castle commenced, and construction was completed in just six months by George Mills under the management of Richard Worsley, Captain of the Isle.  

Built with stone from the neighbouring Quarr Abbey, this square artillery fort was possibly constructed over a former church site destroyed in a 1543 raid by the French. Protected by a triangular bastion shaped like an arrowhead, the castle encircled a central courtyard and was equipped with a variety of artillery on all four sides.  

Upon completion, Mills received £1,000 for his efforts. Richard Udall became Yarmouth's first captain, with a team of 17 soldiers plus a porter and a master gunner as its garrison.

-1558 (Master Gunner’s House Built)

Queen Mary's reign had brought about Richard Worsley's dismissal as captain in 1553 and Udall's execution in 1555. Worsley was reappointed when Elizabeth I acceded to the throne, and - at his own expense - he commenced an extensive redevelopment of Yarmouth.

The northern half of the courtyard was filled to create a platform for eight heavy guns - providing a continuous fire range over the water. The remaining courtyard was converted for domestic and storage purposes. Presumably, the master gunner's house was also built at this time. 

-1586

An inspection of the castle noted it to be in poor condition.

-1587 (Repairs/Guns Added)

For £50, repairs were made, and an earth bulwark was raised so more guns could be mounted alongside the castle walls. 

-1588 (Repairs/ External Gun Platform)

Further repairs and modifications were carried out during the Elizabethan period after the English Civil War commenced, including building a gun platform outside the castle. 

-1599

The Crown receives a report that the castle - still a critical Solent defence - required costly repairs.

-c.1603

Yarmouth continued to have significance as a military fortification, and the recommended repairs from 1599 were carried out at the start of the 17th century. By this time, it was used not only as a fortress but as a transport centre and store yard as well. 

-1609

James I invested £300 in the castle, funding the addition of two corner buttresses on the seaward sides.

-1623, 1625, 1629 (Castle Is Ruinous)

The castle's garrison consisted of just four gunners, and John Burley, the castle's captain, reported its structures "ruinous" and its defences in need of repair; These concerns were echoed in subsequent years. 

-1632 (Enhancements)

Under Charles I, Yarmouth was allocated funds for upgrades. The parapet was raised, and additional lodgings and a long room for stores to serve the gun platform were built within the castle. 

-1642 (Castle Surrendered)

Despite its enhanced defences, the castle was surrendered to Parliamentary forces at the onset of the Civil War. Captain Barnaby Burley - the castle's governor and loyal Royalist - negotiated the terms of surrender to include his continued occupation of the castle (with armed protection) and that Parliament maintained control of the castle for the duration of the War. 

The garrison size was increased during the Interregnum from thirty to seventy soldiers, a force costing around £78 annually.   

-1655

The garrison was reduced to lower costs. 

-1661 (Guns Withdrawn)

Charles II demobilised much of the army upon returning to the throne, and Yarmouth's garrison received a four-day notice to leave. The King offered the townspeople the option to keep the artillery by financing the castle themselves, but they declined, and the weaponry was sent to Cowes Castle.

-1666 (Town Funds the Castle)

Charles II again offered the town of Yarmouth a chance to fund the castle, which they accepted, and a garrison of four soldiers was appointed. However, a commanding officer was not assigned, and no repairs were carried out to the unkempt castle. 

-1670 (Guns Returned/New Mansion Built)

The Crown regained control of the castle, and the new captain of the Isle of Wight, Sir Robert Holmes, had some of its artillery returned from Cowes. He filled the moat with earth and destroyed the external gun platforms. A new battery was added on the adjacent quay, reconfiguring the armament to face entirely seaward. A new entrance was built on the south side of the castle, and the original eastern access was obstructed. 

Holmes also built himself a mansion next to the castle, where he hosted the King on three occasions. 

-1718-1760

Records from this time indicate the castle continued to be used and was equipped with a total of thirteen guns, five 9-pounders (about 4.08 kg) and eight 6-pounders (about 2.72 kg). Local militia garrisoned the fortress during wartime, comprising probably only six gunners and a captain. 

 

In 1725, six 6-pound (about 2.72 kg) guns and twelve 18-pound (about 8.16 kg) guns were maintained by just two gunners and a master gunner. Holmes' mansion was remodelled, and the house in the southern range became known as the Master Gunner's House around this time. 

-1741(Upgrades)

The guns were interchanged with eight 5¼-pound (2.38 kg) guns and four 9-pounders (4.08 kg).

-1805

Four 9-pounders (4.08 kg) and eight 6-pounders (2.72 kg) were now in inventory, and the main guns were placed traversing carriages on the castle platforms, allowing for easy movement. 

-1813

Near the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the castle underwent its final altercations, including a change to parapet's design and a fitting for four naval gun rails. 

-1815

Though the castle had little purpose once the wars ended, a master gunner continued to look after the guns.

-1855 (Repaired & Garrisoned)

Yarmouth Castle had substantial repairs carried out when England's southern coast was refortified for the Crimean War, and a country army was brought in for its garrison.

-1859

A review of Yarmouth revealed that the castle had served as barracks for 21 soldiers and one officer, though it wasn't being used at the time. Also, a coastguard station had been set up adjacent to the castle, and the quay battery had been taken out. 

-1881

Modernisation of the entire fortification was proposed.  

-1885 (Castle Abandoned)

The '81 proposal to modernise was rejected, as guarding responsibilities for the eastern Solent were assumed by a host of other forts and batteries on both the Isle of Wight and the mainland; Yarmouth had its guns and garrison withdrawn. 

-1898

The castle was repurposed by the coast guard as a signalling station. 

-1901

The Commissioners of Woods and Forests received the castle from the War Department. 

-1912

Sections of Yarmouth, including Robert Holmes' mansion, were leased to the Pier Hotel. (Known today as the George Hotel, the property still occupies a portion of the castle's old moat.)

-1913-Present

Once in the care of the Office of Works, the castle underwent considerable repairs. It later served the military in both World Wars and was ultimately relieved of all military duty in the 1950s.

Since 1984, the site has been managed by English Heritage and open for public viewing. Yarmouth is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument, protected by law.