Hurst Castle
 
Ferries - Lighthouses - Castle - Tramway
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Hurst Castle, its ferries, lighthouses, and the tramway which used to connect the castle with the quay. Hurst Ferries run a regular ferry service from Keyhaven to Hurst Castle, which was built by Henry VIII and once held King Charles I prisoner. Hurst Castle is the nearest point to the Isle of Wight and the views of the big ships passing by are spectacular. The history notes below are from the Hurst Castle website: www.hurst-castle.co.uk.
 
Hurst Castle is situated at the seaward end of the shingle spit that extends 1½ mile from Milford-On-Sea. The end of the spit is only ¾ of a mile from the Isle of Wight, and the views of the big ships passing through are spectacular.
 
Hurst Castle was the perfect location to defend the western approach to the Solent. The castle was built by Henry VIII as one of a chain of coastal fortresses and was completed in 1544. A critical element in the improvement of the defences of the south coast by Henry VIII was the protection of the Solent, for this stretch of water gave access to the important ports of Portsmouth and Southampton. Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle were both strategically situated to provide their protection. Calshot was sited on a shingle spit close to the deep water channel at the mouth of Southampton Water. Although one of the smaller of Henry VIII's forts, its three-storey keep and outer curtain wall nevertheless gave it full command of its position. Hurst Castle was sited at the narrow entrance to the Solent where the ebb and flow of the tides creates strong currents, putting would-be invaders at its mercy.
 
Charles I was imprisoned here in 1648 before being taken to London for his trial and execution. The castle was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1880’s when the enormous armoured wings were constructed. Two of the huge 38-ton guns installed in the 1870’s can still be viewed in their casemates. An 18ins gauge tramway was built around 1895 to transport stores and ammunition around the site, and to a pier. During World War II, Hurst was manned with coastal gun batteries and searchlights.
 
 
 
The map below shows the location of Hurst Castle, and the mainland departure quay at Keyhaven:-
 

 
 
 
Sections on this Page:-
Hurst Point Lighthouses
Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle Tramway
Hurst Ferries
 
Hurst Ferries on this Page:-
Felicity Rose
Solent Rose
Haven Rose
 
Associated Pages:-
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
www.hurst-castle.co.uk
 
References:-
Hurst Castle - An Illustrated History: by Jude James - Dovecote Press
 
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Hurst Ferries
 
 
2004 Sailing Brochure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solent Rose
 
Solent Rose at Keyhaven, the mainland quay for Hurst Castle services.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Solent Rose at Keyhaven, the mainland quay for Hurst Castle services.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Solent Rose arriving at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose leaving Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Solent Rose leaving Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
 
 
Haven Rose
 
Haven Rose arriving at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Haven Rose arriving at Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Haven Rose en route to Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
 
 
Felicity Rose
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
Felicity Rose moored near Hurst Castle on 5th June 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hurst Castle
 
The core of the present castle was built by Henry Vlll between 1541 - 44 in response to the threat of invasion posed by the European Catholic powers. The building comprised of a central twelve sided keep surrounded by three bastions linked by a curtain wall. Its location was ideal for defending the western passage into the Solent and the naval cities of Southampton and Portsmouth. During the Civil War (1642 - 6) it was held by Parliament and in December 1648 became, for three weeks, the prison of Charles l.
 
Although never to see action, Hurst was periodically refurbished in order to keep up with advances in fortifications and naval technology. The vaulted ceilings in the Tudor keep were built in 1803 - 6 to support the weight of the new guns positioned on the roof. At the same time the roof of the basement was also strengthened to protect the magazine.
The major structural changes that took place in the nineteenth century resulted in the Castle as it appears today. From 1861 onwards the East and West wings were built in response to the new faster, iron-hulled ships such as the Warrior (currently on display in Portsmouth's Historic Naval Base). Only thirty years later, in 1893, this massive weaponry was superseded by a battery of three quick firing guns. The remains of this emplacement can still be seen outside the fort at the end of the east wing.
 
Hurst was garrisoned in both world wars and formed part of the Coastal Artillery defences until 1956. Remains of twentieth century armaments can be seen on the roof of the west wing.
 
These history notes are from the Hurst Castle website: www.hurst-castle.co.uk.
 

Aerial view of Hurst Castle, showing Henry VIII's central keep and the east and west wings added in the 1880s.
The approximate route of the tramway outside the castle can be seen behind the east wing (right), passing the lighthouse to the sea.
 
Approaching Hurst Castle from the Solent, seen from the SS Shieldhall on a Round Isle of Wight cruise.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th September 2004.
 
Hurst Castle seen from the SS Shieldhall.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th September 2004.
 
The seaward side of Hurst Castle seen from the SS Shieldhall.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th September 2004.
 
Hurst Spit looking toward the mainland from the Castle.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Hurst Castle keep from the east wing.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Hurst Castle east wing from the keep.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Hurst Castle west wing looking towards the keep.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hurst Castle Tramway
 
An 18ins gauge tramway was built at Hurst Castle to transport stores and ammunition around the site. Separate branches entered the east and west wings through the main gateways, and ran to a pier outside the castle (just off the plan below - the tramway is shown in red). The tramway was laid around 1895, and donkeys were used to pull the ammunition and stores wagons - locomotives were never provided.
 
 
Plan of Hurst Castle and the tramway (in red).
Copyright Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for Endland.
 
The tramway running along the back of the gun batteries, with the junction to the west wing gateway.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway running along the back of the gun batteries, looking west.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway running along the back of the gun batteries, looking west.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
View in the opposite direction, looking east, from where the photo above was taken.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway running along the back of the gun batteries, looking west.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Replica tramway wagon with shells.
Donkeys were used to pull the trucks, no locomotives were ever provided.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
Replica tramway wagon with shells.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway running along the back of the gun batteries, looking east.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway tracks to the gateway in the east wing of the castle.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The tramway tracks in the east wing of the castle, viewed from the east gateway.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lighthouses
 
 
Hurst Point Lighthouse, Position 50 42'. 44 N 01 32'.94 W, guides vessels through the hazardous western approaches to the Solent, indicating the line of approach through the Needles Channel.
 
Although it is said that a light was shown on Hurst Point as early as 1733, the first Trinity House record relates to a meeting of shipmasters and merchants in 1781 to approve the terms of a formal petition to Trinity House for lights in the neighbourhood of the Isle of Wight. As a result a patent was obtained in January 1782 which stated that "ships and vessels have been lost... and the lives, ships and goods of His Majesty's subjects as well as the King's Royal Navy continue to be exposed to the like calamities more especially in the night time and in hard southerly gales". The patent directed that the lights should be "kept burning in the night season whereby seafaring men and mariners might take notice of and avoid dangers..... and ships and other vessels of war might safely cruise during the night season in the British Channel".
 
In 1785, negotiations with Tatnell fell through and Trinity House erected to the designs of R. Jupp three lighthouses at the Needles, St. Catherine's Point and Hurst. The Hurst Tower, sited to the south west of the old Hurst Castle, was lit for the first time on 29th September 1786. In due course, however, shipping found that this light was obscured from certain directions and the Corporation constructed in 1812 an additional and higher light, both to remedy this defect and to give a guiding line to vessels. Extensive additions were made to the castle between 1865 and 1873 necessitating the repositioning of the lights.
 
In 1866, a new lighthouse which was called the Low Light, was built to replace the old Hurst Tower. The new lighthouse consisted of a white circular granite tower with a red lantern. This light was replaced in 1911 with a new Low Lighthouse, a red square metal structure standing on a framework of steel joists attached to the wall of Hurst Castle. The 1812 High Lighthouse was also replaced in 1867 by the 26 metre tower which is still working today.
 
A major modernisation of Hurst Point High Lighthouse was completed in July 1997. Prompted by the growth in volume and diversity of traffic using the Needles Channel and following extensive consultation with the marine community, high intensity projectors were installed on Hurst High Lighthouse. These are exhibited day and night to mark the channel between the Needles and the Shingles Bank. The projectors, sited in the service room below the lantern of the High Lighthouse, provide an accurate system of red, green and white directional lights giving precise cut offs over narrow arcs of visibility which can be realigned in the event of movement of the Shingles Bank.
The main light at Hurst High still uses the unusual first order lens which is separated into sectors of different focal lengths with a red sector provided by shades inside the lantern. The acetylene light source has been replaced by standard Trinity House electrically powered equipment. The Low Lighthouse, which was built on the wall of Hurst Castle, was decommissioned and painted grey to match the surrounding background colours in order to eliminate navigational confusion.
 
These lighthouse notes are from the Hurst Castle website: www.hurst-castle.co.uk.

 
The High Lighthouse of 1867.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The Low Light of 1866 is on the right, with its 1911 metal replacement behind.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
The Low Light of 1911.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
View of the west wing from the keep, with the Low Light of 1866, and its 1911 metal replacement behind.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th June 2004.
 
 
 
 
 
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