Castles

Bodiam is one of Britain’s most picturesque castles in the heart of a historic landscape. As was Sir Edward Dallingridge’s vision when he built the castle in 1385, the approach to the castle with towers rising majestically from the moat is awe inspiring. With spiral stairs, battlements, windows for loosing arrows and ruins where knights once roamed, Bodiam is a place where you can let your imagination run free.

The oldest brick building of note still standing in the country, Herstmonceux Castle was also once the largest private home in fifteenth century England. Today, the majestic, moated castle is the centrepiece of a beautiful 300 acre estate.

Camber Castle was one link in the chain of forts built along the south coast by Henry VIII in 1544. It was abandoned soon after it was built and is a rare example of its kind.

Walk the massive outer walls and gatehouse of one of the Romans' Saxon shore forts, within which the Normans built another oval-shaped castle, now ruined. Parts of the towers, keep and chapel remain and Elizabethan catapult balls and cannon can also be seen.

Take a step back in time and discover the fascinating history of Britain’s first Norman castle.

Many displays on smuggling, military, police, coastal and maritime history and with things for children to do! See how Women prisoners were treated in the 19th Century. Open all year round.

The East Street Museum was originally a bottling factory but it now houses exhibitions from Rye's history including its unique C18th fire engine.