• England July 2025
    Straight of Dover
    Straight of Dover that further away becomes the North SeaWalmer CastleBeautiful garden plants for sale from the Walmer GardensI love old doors!Walmer CastleView from the top of Walmer CastleThis little jewel hung out with me for about 3 minutesQueen Mum's Garden, Queen Eliz mom lived here towards the end of her life after her duties retiredView of Walmer Castle from the gardensAnother garden area at Walmer CastleDeal CastleEntrance to Deal CastleOn the top with the Straight of Dover behind usWhite Cliffs of DoverView from our restaurant The Coast Guard Pub

    Walmer & Deal Castles

    July 24, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Since we bought the annual pass for English Heritage (in the US a National Park annual pass) we decided to head up the coast to see a couple of local castles. Henry VIII, after being excommunicated, starting the Protestant Church of England, divorcing 1 wife, beheading another, and annoying all his neighboring royals, thought it would be a good idea to establish a line of defensive forts to protect against invasion from Europe.
    Walmer castle was converted from a battlement to become a summer home for various royals, including the Queen Mum. Henry “appropriated” the original land in 1539, the Crown eventually bought all the land to the ocean and several acres which became the Queen Mums garden.
    Deal castle remains largely a defensive fort. It’s still in good shape unlike the Sandown castle which fell into the sea.
    After the castle tours, we went to the Coastguard aka “the English pub closest to France”. Good fish, atmosphere and out of the rain. Just perfect before naps!
    Cheers!    Read more