In its chequered history the castle changed owners many times. The Romans built the fort probably in the early 4th century and by the early 5th century the place was abandoned. Anglo-Saxon chronicles records a massacre of Britons by the Saxons at Pevensey in 491 AD, but excavations have found no evidence to prove this.

 

William I granted Pevensey to his half brother Robert de Mortain, the Roman walls became the outer bailey of the timber castle erected within at it's south-eastern corner. It was besieged four times, having been held by Robert of Mortain against William Rufus in support of Odo's, the Bishop of Bayeux , attempt to put Robert of Normandy on the throne in 1088 and the castle was only surrendered when supplies ran out.

 

After William, Count of Mortain joined Robert de Bellesme's rebellion against Henry I in 1101 Pevensey was forfeited and given by the King to Richard de Aquila, and it was about this time the keep was built. In 1147 it received the picturesque title of 'Honour of the Eagle', as Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke was besieged here by King Stephen, again only famine caused the garrison to surrender. Pevensey was then given by King Stephen to his son Eustace.

 

Possession of the castle fell to Henry II in 1154-5 and he returned it to Gilbert de Aquila. His namesake grandson sided with Louis of France against King John to which Pevensey was forfeited once more, but returned to him by Henry III. During the 1220's the gatehouse was probably built by Gilbert de Aquila to further strengthen the castle, this was however, the last time he or the family held Pevensey.

 

During the 1230's, his heir sided with the French and Pevensey then passed to Peter de Pivallis, and then on to the de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, and then to Gilbert Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. 1246 saw Pevensey granted to Peter of Savoy, Earl of Richmond and uncle of Queen Elanor. It was Peter of Savoy who built the curtain wall and the towers of the inner bailey before he retired to Savoy. The outer bailey around this time was abandoned as a military defence as a 50 metre section of the Roman wall on the north side had collapsed and also the rebuilding of a chapel from the inner to the outer bailey took place to make it more accessible to parishioners.

 

1264 saw the next defence of the castle when Henry III's forces fleeing from their defeat at Lewes took refuge here. Although besieged by the younger Simon de Montfort, they managed to hold out despite a large section of the curtain wall falling to the attackers onslaught.

 

For the next century the castle fell into obscurity and neglect. Held by a succession of Queen consorts with a wide range of residences, Pevensey became a backwater. It was during this period that the castle was allowed to fall into ruin with many of the wooden sections falling into disrepair. In 1372 the castle passed to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Edward III's son but had little use from him.

 

The next notable piece of history came in 1399 when the castle was successfully defended against Richard II by Lady Joan Pelham whilst her husband was away with John of Gaunts son Duke Henry who contested the throne. It is here that Pevensey has the oldest English letter written by the hand of Lady Joan Pelham with the following words as an extract;

 

'I recommend me to your high Lordship with heart and body and with all my poor might; and with all this I thank you as my dearest and best loved of all my earthly lords. By my troth I was never so glad as when I heard that ye were strong enough with the grace of God to keep you from the malice of your enemies. And, my dear Lord, if it like you to know my fare I am here laid by in a manner of siege with the county of Sussex, Surrey, and a great parcel of Kent so that I may not go out nor no victuals get me.
Farewell, my dear Lord, the Holy Trinity keep you from your enemies, and soon send me good tidings of you. Written at Pevensey in the Castle by your own poor J. Pelham.'

 

After Richard II was deposed Duke Henry became King Henry IV and he showed favour to the Pelhams by granting Pevensey to Sir John Pelham. From this time it became more of a prison than a castle and Sir John had custody of James I, King of Scotland, in 1406 and later it again became a Royal prison to Henry IV's widow Queen Joan, who was accused of witchcraft by her stepson Henry V.

 

Pevensey was eventually allowed to once more fall into a ruinous state and from the mid 15th century was probably abandoned and in 1573 the castle was recorded as being in too bad a state for repair. With the threat from the Armada in 1587 the castle was partially restored as a defence and it was reported to have contained two 'demiculverins of small value', one of which bears the Tudor Rose surmounted by a crown and the initials ER, and this may be seen today in the inner bailey. These two guns were originally sited on a platform on the south side of the outer bailey overlooking the sea.

 

The Bentinck family were given Pevensey by William III but they sold it to the Earl of Wilmington and in 1782 it passed to the Duke of Devonshire. It continued to fall into ruin and the walls fell into such a state they collapsed and no one cared. Castles by this time had long since had their day and the way of warfare had moved on leaving defences such as these a beacon from the past. In 1925 the Duke gave the castle to the Office of Works for preservation and work began on saving what was left of the historic ruins.

 

Events had one more role to play in the history of Pevensey Castle however, and World War II began before works were completed. It's last role as a defensive position was as an observation and command post for the army during the war years with floors and roofs being installed, Pillboxes built on the keep and towers, even a blockhouse built in the Roman west gate against tanks. Fortunately it never had to be used as a defensive position and after the army left, works carried on and slowly the site came to be a centre of attraction for those interested in the history of Britain.

 

English Heritage now manage the castle and grounds and it is indeed worth a visit, especially to the inner bailey to stand upon the very walls of history and to look down on the earth that has seen much of the shaping of this pleasant and fair land. With but a little imagination you may even hear the sound of sandled feet as Roman Legionaries go marching past on their way to far outposts scattered around this Sceptred Isle.

 

 

 

 

 

Top of Page   main page: www.yeoldesussexpages.com