Keyhaven

Lighthouse at Hurst castle

Oystercatcher

Redshank

Heyhaven

Keyhaven


The little ferry between keyhaven and Hurst Castle
The Lighthouse.

Hurst castle

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, only ¾ of a mile from the Isle of Wight, and there are good views from the top of the original castle You can either walk out along the spit or you can take a little ferry from Keyhaven to reach the castle.
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.
Charles I was imprisoned here in 1648 before being taken to London to his trial and execution.
The castle was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1870’s when the enormous armoured wings were constructed. Two of the huge 38-ton guns installed in the 1870’s can be viewed in their casemates.
During World War II, Hurst was manned with coastal gun batteries and searchlights.

Hurst Castle

Hurst castle from the ferry

The tiny door leading down into the Tudor part from the roof.

One of the 38 ton guns from1870's

The Tudor part of Hurst castle

Old Door at Hurst Castle

Inside The Oldest part of the Castle

Rusting bath in the Barracks

One of the newer wings of Hurst castle built in the 1870's