Description

YARMOUTH

SZ3589 QUAY STREET
1354-0/10/383 (North side)
Yarmouth Castle

I

Former coastal fort now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Begun
after the French raid of 1545, the last of Henry VIII's
coastal forts and in use by 1547. Builder George Mills. The
arrow-headed bastion was a new departure in fortifications and
the first to be built in England. c.1560. The building was
modified by Richard Worsley, Captain of the Island and minor
alterations were made in the following century until c.1670
when Sir Robert Holmes, Governor of the Island filled in the
moat, renewed additions and established the present entrance.
It was garrisoned until 1885. Built of ashlar, part of south
front red brick. Square in plan with sides nearly 100 feet
long and sharply pointed bastion at South east corner. North
and west walls face the sea, South and east sides originally
were protected by a moat. The original entrance was to the
east with 4 centred arched entrance with carved royal coat of
arms above. The present entrance in the south side also has a
4 centred archway. To the right is the early C17 gunner's
lodging and brick magazine of c.1718 which has a
beehive-shaped roof. To the left is the Master Gunner's house
of c1560 with top storey added in 1609. This is of ashlar with
renewed slate roof having gable ends with kneelers. 3 storeys.
3 windows. Attic floor has gabled dormers with kneelrs.
Mullioned windows 4 centred arched doorcase to left hand side.
Ground floor kitchen has massive wooden lintel to fireplace
and bread-oven. Corner has garderobe pit. One 1st floor
chamber has a C17 stone fireplace with plain chamfer end beam
with ovolo moulding and bar stops. The other chamber has a 4
centred arched fireplace and beam with heart shaped stops
(1609), 4 centred arched fireplace with high stops and
relieving arch and small garderobe chamber in the corner with
square- headed opening. Attic room over kitchen has renewed
roof of scalloped principal rafters and tie beam with
heart-shaped stop. Attic room over parlour has C17 brick
fireplace and plain collar beam roof. To the right hand side
in the Long Room of 1632 constructed on top of 4 earlier
barrel vaults. This is of brick with tiled roof and has a roof
structure with tie beams and collar. The platform was
constructed between 1559-1565 to carry all the heavier
armament of the castle parapet with parapet of 1632. Its
rounded internal angles date from 1813. It has the remains of
4 rails from the traversing carriage of C19 guns.
(S E Rigold: Yarmouth Castle 2nd edition 1978 an English
Heritage handbook; V C H Hampshire: 289; N Pevsner: B O E
Hampshire: 776 - 777).

Listing NGR: SZ3538889774

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Yarmouth Castle at Wikipedia
• Yarmouth Castle official website
• Wikidata Q8049393

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

• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)