Crown fortress

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Crown fortresses are fortresses or castles that belonged to the British Crown for military purposes, not as royal palaces.

The earliest Crown fortresses were likely motte-and-bailey castles built across England after the Norman Conquest. They were often royal in origin but many were given to knights or nobles, while others remained royal residences or were kept for military reasons. These forts were useful for defence, projecting royal power in rebellious areas, collecting taxes, and dispensing justice. Many were later rebuilt in stone.

As counties formed, some motte-and-bailey castles became seats of sheriffs and eventually the centers of county government. Examples include Chester, Exeter, Lancaster, Leicester, Lincoln, Norwich, Shrewsbury, and York.

During medieval times, the Crown often confiscated castles when nobles fell from favour or for tax reasons. Not all confiscated castles were kept for Royal use, and many were given away, sold, or simply designated as Crown Fortresses.

Under Henry VIII, many new Crown fortresses were built because artillery made older castles obsolete and threats from France and Spain grew. Along the southern coast, examples include Deal, Pendennis, St Mawes, and Walmer.

In the English Civil War, Crown fortresses were highly contested between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces. After captures, Oliver Cromwell sometimes ordered recapture castles demolished, such as Bridgnorth and Pontefract.

After the Glorious Revolution of 1689 and against Jacobite threats, fortresses were built along the Scottish coast to deter Jacobites and French ships, with Fort William as an example. In the Napoleonic Wars, many Martello towers were built around the coast.

The last Crown fortresses were built in the 19th century, such as Coalhouse Fort, and later, Maunsell Sea Forts in the Thames Estuary during World War II.

Today the term Crown Fortress is rarely used. Many survive, sometimes still in state hands, but not always as defensive structures; Fort George in the Scottish Highlands is one example.