The Castles of Henry VIII

A device for the fortification of the realm

Henry's national defence scheme for fortifying the harbours and coasts of southern England has been called 'the Device'. In fact, it was just one of many plans or 'devices' on the agenda for the Parliament on 1539; others included a device 'for the poor people in this realm', a device 'for the unity of religion', and a device 'that one man shall not have too many offices in Wales, nor the leading of too many men'.

The programme has been described by the late Brian ST John O'Neil as 'the one scheme of comprehensive coastal defence ever attempted in England before modern times'. Initially, the plan called for the fortification of certain points along the coastline from the Thames to the Solent, as well as the English-controlled French towns of Calais and Guisnes. This went as follows:

Device by the King for three new bulwarks to be made in the Downs and other places on the frontiers of the sea, viz.: - In the Downs, 3 blockhouses or bulwarks … In the Camber, 1 blockhouse … At Calshottes Point, 1 blockhouse … The bulwarks in the Thames…

A 'Rembrance' written in Thomas Cromwell's hand sometime later notes that letters should be sent to the captain of the Isle of Wight 'for the fortification of the castle and isle there', but there is no mention in 1539 of additional defences for the harbours of Portland or Falmouth which would not be planned and constructed until the following year.

In addition, the plan called for the appointment of commissioners to travel around the coastline bordering the English Channel and report on existing defences as well as to locate areas suitable for the building of new fortifications. For instance, the Lord Admiral, the Earl of Southampton, went to Portsmouth in April 1539 and then reconnoitered the area around Southampton Water and the Solent. Other districts were examined, including Dorset and the West Country, which was inspected by Sir John Russell.