Portland Castle

Discover one of Henry VIII's finest coastal fortresses - Portland Castle. Perfectly preserved in a waterfront location overlooking Portland harbour, it is a marvellous place to visit for all the family whatever the weather. You can try on armour, explore the Tudor kitchen and gun platform and see ghostly sculpted figures from the past. An excellent audio tour, included in the admission price, brings the castle's history and characters to life. Features include the Captains House (tea-room) and Governor's Garden for visitors to relax in enjoying the harbour views.

The history of the Castle stretches back 450 years to its origins as a Tudor stronghold built to defend Britain against French and Spanish invasion. Its later history includes Civil War sieges and use by Oliver Cromwell as a jail for his enemies. In Victorian times it became a private residence for one of the great citizens of Portland, Captain Charles Manning, builder of the great Portland breakwater, which turned the bay between Weymouth and the Isle of Portland into the largest man-made harbour in the world. During the First World War it was a Seaplane Station and during the Second World War was at the forefront of the massive preparations to recapture northern Europe culminating in D-Day.

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