Hurst Castle

Coastal fortification in Hampshire, England, about 6 km/4 mi southwest of the port of Lymington, at the mouth of the western arm of the Solent. The castle lies at the end of a long shingle spit, and was originally erected by Henry VIII for the purpose of defending the Solent.

Charles I was imprisoned at Hurst Castle in 1648, during the English Civil War, and further fortifications were added when England was threatened with invasion by Napoleon I early in the 19th century. Two lighthouses are also located on Hurst Point. The castle is now administered by English Heritage, and may be reached on foot along the spit, or by a seasonal ferry service across the salt marshes from Keyhaven.