Kingswear Castle

Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle
Devon, England
	Kingswear Castle, seen from Dartmouth Castle
	Kingswear Castle
Coordinates	50°20′29″N 3°33′35″W / 50.34125°N 3.55983°W
Grid reference	grid reference SX891502
Type	Artillery tower
Site information
Owner	Landmark Trust
Open to; the public	No
Condition	Restored
Site history
Materials	Slate rubble
Events	English Civil War

Kingswear Castle is an artillery fort, built to protect Dartmouth harbour in Devon, England. It was constructed between 1491 and 1502 in response to the threat of French attack and was one of the first purpose-built artillery forts in Britain. By the end of the 16th century, however, improvements in the range of artillery weapons had reduced the utility of the castle. It took part in the English Civil War and continued to be armed until the early 18th century, but fell into ruin. Restored as a summer house in 1855, in the 21st century it is managed by the Landmark Trust as a holiday let.