England > Dorset > Castles > Portland Castle

Portland Castle

Portland Castle was built by Henry VIII as part of that monarch's ambitious scheme of coastal defences against the French and Spanish. It has survived largely unaltered since the 16th century, making it one of the best preserved examples of Henry's castles. The low-profile fortress, built of white Portland stone, overlooks Portland and Weymouth Harbour. The castle did indeed see military action, though not against a threat from outside England! During the English Civil War Portland Castle was taken and retaken by Royal and Parliamentary supporters.

During the Victorian period the castle was a private residence for Captain Charles Manning, builder of the Portland Breakwater, but the government retook ownership of the castle in 1870. The castle was used as a Seaplane base in WWI and as part of the D-Day operations in WWII. The castle sits within the Royal Naval Dockyard at Portland.

Location map for Portland Castle

Nearest Hotels to Portland Castle

Heights Hotel & Leisure Centre - 1 miles away Portland, Dorset Stay from: 65.00

Portland Lodge - 1.2 miles away Portland, Dorset Stay from: 46.00

The Portland Spa Hotel - 2.6 miles away Easton, Dorset Stay from: 103.35

More Hotels near Portland Castle