Netley Castle
Encyclopedia
Netley Castle is a castle
in Netley
in Hampshire
, England
. The castle, now situated near the village of Netley Abbey
on Southampton Water
, was built in around 1542 as part of Henry VIII
's chain of coastal fortifications which are known as Device Forts
or Henrician Castles. Whilst estimates of the Fort’s exact construction date vary, it was functioning by at least 25 March 1545, when the records for payments to the garrison began.
It was one of the twelve forts built under the direction of Sir William Paulet
for the defence of Southampton
and Portsmouth
.
The castle was manned until 1647. Its military importance declined and it was eventually sold in 1881 to Col. Sir Harry Chrichton, and converted into a private house. Col. Chrichton lived at the Castle until his death in 1922.
In 1938 the castle was purchased by Middlesex County Council
and spent much of the 20th century as a publicly owned convalescent home. The building was in the 1990s sold once more for accommodation and remains private.
The castle building itself is a Scheduled Monument, (reference Hants 233), whilst both the castle and its adjacent buildings are also Listed Grade II* in the Department of the Environment’s List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest (DoE, 1980). The Scheduled Monument does not include the grounds.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in Netley
Netley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The castle, now situated near the village of Netley Abbey
Netley Abbey
Netley Abbey is a ruined late medieval monastery in the village of Netley near Southampton in Hampshire, England. The abbey was founded in 1239 as a house for Roman Catholic monks of the austere Cistercian order. Despite being a royal abbey, Netley was never rich, produced no influential scholars...
on Southampton Water
Southampton Water
Southampton Water is a tidal estuary north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight in England. The city of Southampton lies at its most northerly point. Along its salt marsh-fringed western shores lie the New Forest villages of Hythe and "the waterside", Dibden Bay, and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley...
, was built in around 1542 as part of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's chain of coastal fortifications which are known as Device Forts
Device Forts
The Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, are a series of artillery fortifications built to defend the southern coast of England by Henry VIII. After his divorce of Catherine of Aragon England was left politically isolated, and the peace of Nice between France and Spain in 1538 aroused...
or Henrician Castles. Whilst estimates of the Fort’s exact construction date vary, it was functioning by at least 25 March 1545, when the records for payments to the garrison began.
It was one of the twelve forts built under the direction of Sir William Paulet
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester
Sir William Paulet was an English Secretary of State and statesman who attained several peerages throughout his lifetime: Baron St John , Earl of Wiltshire , and Marquess of Winchester .-Family origins and early career in Hampshire:William Paulet was eldest son of Sir John Paulet of...
for the defence of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
.
The castle was manned until 1647. Its military importance declined and it was eventually sold in 1881 to Col. Sir Harry Chrichton, and converted into a private house. Col. Chrichton lived at the Castle until his death in 1922.
In 1938 the castle was purchased by Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
and spent much of the 20th century as a publicly owned convalescent home. The building was in the 1990s sold once more for accommodation and remains private.
The castle building itself is a Scheduled Monument, (reference Hants 233), whilst both the castle and its adjacent buildings are also Listed Grade II* in the Department of the Environment’s List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest (DoE, 1980). The Scheduled Monument does not include the grounds.