Portland Castle

Portland Castle Description

This coastal fortress, overlooking Portland harbour, has enjoyed a diverse and fascinating history. Built to defend Weymouth Harbour against potential French and Spanish invasion, it survives largely unaltered to this day.

Its squat fan appearance is typical of the castles built by Henry VIII in the early 1540s, and the castle's guns and emplacements reflect the developments in weaponry occurring at the time, the new types of heavy gun made possible by better casting techniques perfected in the king's own foundries.

But it was not until the Civil War that the castle witnessed serious fighting, when it was seized by both Royalists and Parliamentarians at various intervals.

In Victorian times the castle became the private residence of one Captain Charles Manning, builder of the great Portland breakwater, but the government resumed control of it in 1870. From then Portland Castle has continued to play an important part in the defence of the country; in the First World War it was a Seaplane Station and during the Second World War it was at the forefront of the preparations to recapture northern Europe - D-Day.

Opening Times - 2012

• 31st March - 30th June: Daily, 10 am - 5pm
• 1st - 22nd July: Daily, 10 am - 6 pm
• 13th - 31st August: Daily, 10 am - 6 pm
• 1st - 30th September: Daily, 10 am - 5 pm
• 1st October - 4th November: Daily, 10 am - 4 pm
• Open Bank Holidays.

Closed: November - March

Admission Price - 2012

• Adult - £4.70
• Child (5 - 15 years) - £2.80
• Concession - £4.20
• Family - £12.20

Groups (11+) - 15% discount