Portland Castle

Over het museum

Portland Castle was built in 1539–40 for Henry VIII, who feared invasion by Catholic France and the Holy Roman Empire after his break with Rome. It was one of two forts guarding Portland Roads, a deep and sheltered anchorage on the Dorset coast. The second fort stood at Sandsfoot, and the two sets of guns could fire across each other at ships in the roads.

Unlike most of Henry's other coastal forts, it was not built on a circular plan. A curved, two-storey gun battery faces the sea, with a three-storey keep behind it for living quarters and stores. The surrounding wall and moat date from the 1620s. During the First English Civil War the castle changed hands several times between Royalists and Parliamentarians and withstood a four-month siege in 1644.

The garrison was always small, and the castle was often neglected. Its military use ended in 1816, when it was let as a private home to the Manning family, who added the porch and the fashionable castellated look of the Captain's House. The army then used it as officers' quarters, and in both world wars it served the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, including as a seaplane base in 1916–19. The Royal Navy's HMS Osprey was based here until 1980. The castle opened to the public in 1955 and is now run by English Heritage, who also care for the modern garden created in 2002.

Hoogtepunten

• Tudor artillery fort built for Henry VIII
• Gun decks and armoury with views over Portland Harbour
• Tudor kitchen with objects to handle
• Governor's Garden with a stone amphitheatre
• Free audio tour of about 40 minutes
• Tactile model of the whole castle in the main hall

Vaste collectie

• Tudor kitchen and Garrison Hall – A recreated Tudor kitchen with objects to touch and a figure of Henry VIII in the Garrison Hall show everyday life in the fort.
• Castle story and audio tour – Presentations, interactive displays and the free audio tour trace the castle's 450-year history, including its part in both world wars.

Opgericht

1539

Beheerder

English Heritage

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices depend on the date and are lowest when booked online until midnight the day before. Shown are the lowest advance prices on off-peak days without the optional Gift Aid donation (standard days: adult £8.50, peak days £9.26); tickets bought at the gate cost more (adult £9.00 off-peak, £10.00 standard, £10.90 peak). English Heritage members enter free, and up to six children enter free with an adult member. Tickets are valid all day.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The Captain's House, the ground floor of the castle, the gift shop and the Governor's Garden are accessible for wheelchair users; there is no access to the first floor or the outer gun deck. Paths are mostly gravel with some stone surfaces. There are 10 disabled parking bays about 5 metres from the entrance. A permanent induction loop is installed in the shop. A tactile model of the castle stands in the main hall, handling objects are in the Tudor kitchen, and hand-held Braille plaques and large-print panels are available. Benches and seating are provided. Dog bowls are available for assistance dogs.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek: niet aanwezig

Family activities include Family Playtime, a Meet the Governor session and the World Builder fort-building trail. Children can dress up as castle guards and explore the Tudor kitchen. There is no formal playground, but plenty of open space; ball games are not allowed. Pushchairs are welcome, but the upper level is hard to reach with them, and they can be left in the Captain's House or on the castle's ground floor. A high chair, bottle warming and child-sized portions are available, and slings can be borrowed. Family tickets are available.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Sat nav postcode DT5 1AZ; what3words racing.encoder.skid. The National Cycle Network (Sustrans) route can be used to reach the castle by bike.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

The Captain's Tearoom serves hot and cold drinks, cakes, ice cream and cream teas, with vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options and seating in a sheltered courtyard. The gift shop is in the Captain's House. Picnics are welcome in the grounds. Toilets include accessible toilets with baby changing. Dogs are welcome on a short lead, including in the castle and the lower part of the tearoom.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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