The Castles of Henry VIII (Fortress Book 66)

In the last years of his reign Henry VIII needed a radically modern system of defense to protect England and its newly Protestant Church. Anticipating a foreign onslaught from Catholic Europe after his split from Rome, Henry energetically began the construction of more than 20 stone forts to protect England's major ports and estuaries, whilst modernizing existing fortresses from Hull to Milford Haven. The majority of this was paid for with his new-found fortune plundered from the monasteries, allowing Henry to employ a strong workforce well supplied with materials. Aided by excellent full-color illustrations and a range of photographs and diagrams, Peter Harrington explores the departure from artillery-vulnerable medieval castle designs to the low, sturdy stone fortresses inspired by European ideas. He explains the scientific care taken to select sites for these castles, and the transition from medieval to modern in this final surge of English castle construction. With many of these fortifications still standing today, this is an ideal book for fortification enthusiasts and tourists alike.

in The Last Years Of His Reign Henry Viii Needed A Radically Modern System Of Defense To Protect England And Its Newly Protestant Church. Anticipating A Foreign Onslaught From Catholic Europe After His Split From Rome, Henry Energetically Began The Construction Of More Than 20 Stone Forts To Protect England's Major Ports And Estuaries, Whilst Modernizing Existing Fortresses From Hull To Milford Haven. The Majority Of This Was Paid For With His New-found Fortune Plundered From The Monasteries, Allowing Henry To Employ A Strong Workforce Well Supplied With Materials.

aided By Excellent Full-color Illustrations And A Range Of Photographs And Diagrams, Peter Harrington Explores The Departure From Artillery-vulnerable Medieval Castle Designs To The Low, Sturdy Stone Fortresses Inspired By European Ideas. He Explains The Scientific Care Taken To Select Sites For These Castles, And The Transition From Medieval To Modern In This Final Surge Of English Castle Construction. With Many Of These Fortifications Still Standing Today, This Is An Ideal Book For Fortification Enthusiasts And Tourists Alike.

In the last years of his reign Henry VIII needed a radically modern system of defence to protect England and its new Church. Anticipating a foreign onslaught from Catholic Europe after his split from Rome, Henry energetically began construction of more than 20 stone forts to protect England's major ports and estuaries. Aided by excellent illustrations, Peter Harrington explores the departure from artillery-vulnerable medieval castle designs, to the low, sturdy stone fortresses inspired by European ideas. He explains the scientific care taken to select sites for these castles, and the transition from medieval to modern in this last surge of English castle construction. Following Henry VIII's break with the Church of Rome in 1533, an invasion aimed at re-establishing the Pope's authority in England seemed inevitable and imminent. To counter this threat, Henry began to construct a chain of artillery forts and batteries along the south and east coasts, covering the major ports and estuaries. A second series of structures was erected in the early 1540s as a contingency against any future attacks. This book explores the design and development of these Henrician castles and shows how they were part of a much broader scheme involving not only masonry stru Anticipating a foreign onslaught from Europe after his split from Rome, Henry VIII began construction of more than 20 stone forts to protect England's major ports and estuaries. Aided by illustrations, the author explores the departure from artillery-vulnerable medieval castle designs to the low, sturdy stone fortresses inspired by European ideas. Cover; Title; Contents; Introduction; Chronology; Design and development; The principles of defence; A tour of the sites; The living sites; The castles in war; An assessment of the castles; Aftermath; Visiting the castles today; Bibliography; Glossary; Related Titles; Imprint