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Pevensey Castle is a complex fortified site in Sussex that originated as a Roman Saxon Shore fort of the late third century, built to defend the coast against Germanic raiders. The Romans constructed distinctive D-shaped outer walls, portions of which survive to substantial height, enclosing an area of approximately four hectares. Following the Norman Conquest, the castle was developed within the Roman enclosure, with William de Warenne constructing a motte-and-bailey fortification in the south-eastern corner, later replaced by a stone keep and additional domestic structures. The site continued in use through the medieval period, serving as an important military stronghold and residence, with subsequent modifications and maintenance undertaken during the Hundred Years War and later conflicts, making it a palimpsest of Roman, Norman, and medieval military architecture.
Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1013379. View the official record →
Pevensey Castle is a complex fortified site in Sussex that originated as a Roman Saxon Shore fort of the late third century, built to defend the coast against Germanic raiders. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1013379.
Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1013379.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including The Wish Tower: martello tower no 73 (7.2 km), Bowl barrow west of Paradise Plantation (8.3 km), Bowl barrow and adjacent double bowl barrow E of Pashley (8.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains stands on Wealden Group, bedrock that formed in the Barremian. The rock here is sandstone and siltstone, interbedded.