NETLEY CASTLE
| Netley Castle was built in 1542, six years after
Henry V111 abolished the monastery on the site of Netley Abbey.
The Castle or more accurately, fort was built from stone taken from the Abbey. It was one of the twelve forts built under the direction of Sir William Paulet for the defense of Southampton and Portsmouth.
|
The castle in 1542 |
| The Castle was armed and garrisoned until
1627. In 1643 during the Civil War, the then unmanned Castle was raided by
Parliamentary forces for its provisions and arms.
In 1881the Castle was bought by Col. Sir Harry Chrichton who had many alterations carried out to turn it into a comfortable dwelling. Col. Chrichton was a great influence in the village and was instrumental in having St. Edward's Church built in 1886. He lived at the Castle until his death in 1922. In 1938 the Castle was purchased by Middlesex County Council for use as a Convalescent Home, but due to the intervention of the war, the Castle became a Home for elderly men who were transferred from other Homes which were being used as hospitals. |
| The Castle did eventually become a Convalescent
Home in 1946. It has now been turned into luxury apartments. |
