BattlefieldsPortland Castle — Muster and Garrison 1540
Tudor

Portland Castle — Muster and Garrison 1540

1540
Dorset, England
Also known as: Portland Device Fort muster 1540 · Henry VIII Portland Castle commissioning 1540
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
VS
Victor
Henry VIII (crown)
Outcome
Portland Castle garrisoned at the neck of the Portland peninsula; artillery covering the roadstead used as an anchorage by the Channel fleet
The Battle

History & Significance

Portland Castle, built in 1540 and one of the best-preserved of the Device Forts, guarded the anchorage in Portland Roads — a sheltered roadstead used by the English fleet and potentially usable by an invasion force. Its compact D-shaped plan with a single circular keep placed maximum firepower in a limited coastal space. The castle remained in active military use until the twentieth century.

Casualties & Losses

None recorded

Forces Involved

Captain and garrison of gunners; heavy artillery battery

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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