Hastings Castle

Hastings Castle stands on cliffs above the town of Hastings in East Sussex. The ruins overlook the English Channel, parts of which have fallen away with the crumbling sandstone. A wooden motte-and-bailey was built in 1066 by William of Normandy soon after he landed. Stone replaced the wood in 1070, and St Mary’s Chapel was added at the same time. The castle changed hands several times through the centuries. The Counts of Eu held it until William of Eu chose French lands over English ones in the 13th century. Henry III gave the castle to Peter of Savoy, who later returned it to Edward I. Storms in 1287 and French raids in the 14th century damaged the structure, while erosion carried more of it into the sea. Visitors find remains of the stone keep and bailey on the cliff top. Archaeologists rebuilt parts of the chapel floor and chancel arch in the 19th century. A garden now covers the motte, and a replica siege tent shows an audio-visual telling of the 1066 story. The ruins and the views across the Channel remain the main attraction.