Hastings Castle is one of my favourite Sussex castles and it was the first Norman motte and bailey castle ever built. It is perched up on West Hill, overlooking the sea, the town of Hastings and East Hill opposite and although in ruins, it’s still very evocative. It was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
Before the castle
It’s no surprise that such a strategic position was occupied long before the Normans arrived. There have been finds here from the Stone Age, Iron Age and the Roman era. From the 6th Century, the area was occupied by the South Saxons and there may have been a Saxon church on the site where the castle was built.
The castle history
The castle was first built by William the Conqueror in timber before the successful invasion of 1066. After the invasion, William ordered that it be rebuilt in stone. In 1162, Henry II built a keep at the castle. The castle was then later partly dismantled by King John in 1216, visited by Edward I in 1274, and fortified in 1308. In the 12th century there was a massive storm in the area which caused much of the cliff face below the castle to collapse.
In 1339, Hastings was sacked by the French and in 1343, the people of Hastings pillaged the castle. In 1377, the castle burnt to the ground during the 100 years war and in 1591 it came into the ownership of the Pelham family, and over the next 200 years, slowly fell into decay.
Hastings developed into a fashionable seaside town during the 18th and 19th centuries and by the Victorian era, the castle was rescued from the pile of rubble it was becoming as it became a popular attraction with a rose garden and tea room. During WWII, anti-aircraft guns were positioned on West Hill and in 1951 the Hastings Corporation bought the castle. In short, it’s had a long and chequered past.
The castle church
The Collegiate Church of St Mary-in-the-Castle was built around 1075 possibly incorporating some of the original Saxon chapel. Some believe that the Bayeux Tapestry shows William standing outside the chapel. This church continued to function even after the castle lost its importance but it was eventually dissolved by Henry VIII in 1546.
West Hill
West Hill has had many occupants over the years. It’s been home to windmills and used for smuggling in the 17th and 18th century. In fact, you can visit the smugglers caves while you’re there. As a result, West Hill is now considered to be an area of considerable local heritage and social history interest. And apart from all of that, it’s a fabulous spot with views far and wide.
Visiting the castle
There are three ways to get to the castle. You can drive and park at Castle Hill Road car park. You can walk, by climbing through the steep and narrow streets of the Old Town that slowly climb up the cliff. Or you can catch the West Hill Funicular from George Street. This opened in the 1890s.
The castle ruins are only half the size of what the castle once was but there is lots of open space and panoramic views too, as well as nooks and crannies to explore. There are also helpful information boards which give you a taste and understanding of what it was once like and a chronological timeline of events. You can stand on the site of the church, and learn how in 1824, workman found a coffin containing perfectly preserved human remains as well an altar table, coins, a bell and more. And you can visit the dungeons, climb steps, and sit on the mound and survey your kingdom. Above all else, you can walk in the footsteps of those Norman invaders who changed the course of Sussex history.
The castle opens for the year in February. Check website for prices. If you’ve enjoyed this post about Hastings Castle, you may also like:
