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27. Sandwich, Kent. Fisher Gate 123 28. Sandwich, Kent. Barbican 126 29. Dover. Bird’s-eye view of town and harbour, temp. Queen Elizabeth 131 30. Saltwood Castle, Kent. The Gate House 135 31. Portsmouth Harbour, temp. King Henry VIII 143 32. Southsea Castle, temp. King Henry VIII 147 33. Southampton. Plan 150 34. Deal Castle, Kent 163 35. Tilbury Fort in the Year 1588 166 36. Tilbury Fort in the Year 1808 167 37. General Plan of Henry VIII’s Blockhouses on Kent and Sussex Coasts 170 38. Sandown Castle. Plan 171 39. Deal Castle. Plan 172 40. Walmer Castle. Plan 173 41. Walmer Castle from the North 175 42. Sandgate Castle. Plan 177 43. Camber Castle. Plan 178 44. Upnor Castle, Kent 180 45. Hurst Castle, Hants 183

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PART I

PREHISTORIC CAMPS

THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN

THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE

ROMAN COAST FORTRESSES

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ENGLISH COAST DEFENCES

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PREHISTORIC CAMPS

Round the coast of England there are many prehistoric earthworks of great extent and strength. These fall generally under the heads of hill-top fortresses and promontory camps. The works comprised under the former head are so arranged as to take the greatest possible advantage of natural hill-tops, often of large size. On the line where the comparatively level top developed into a more or less precipitous slope a deep ditch was dug, and the earth so removed was in most cases thrown outwards so as to form a rampart which increased the original difficulties of the sloping hill-side.

The latter type of earthwork, called promontory camps from their natural conformation, were strengthened by the digging of a deep ditch, so as to cut off the promontory from the main table-land from which it projected, and in some cases the sides of the camp were made more precipitous by artificial scarping.

An examination of these types of earthworks leads to the conclusion that they were probably tribal enclosures for the safe-guarding of cattle, etc.; that, strictly speaking, they were not military works at all, and, in any case, had no relation to national defence against enemies coming over-sea.

One finds in different parts of the country a prevalent tradition that the Romans occupied the more ancient British hill-top strongholds, and the name