31/10/2026
Cowes Castle originally served as a Henrician coastal fortress.
Built between 1538 and 1539 by King Henry VIII, the low, circular stronghold was part of his strategic Device Programme to protect the Solent against French and Holy Roman Empire invasions.
Much of the limestone ashlar used in its construction was salvaged from the ruins of nearby Beaulieu Abbey following the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The castle officially traded its military role for maritime prestige in 1855, when it was purchased by the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Architect Anthony Salvin was commissioned to extensively remodel the structure, adding the prominent castle-style battlements and domestic wings seen today.
Though it remains a strictly private clubhouse, its famous seafront platform and 22 brass starting cannons have marked the beginning of world-class yacht races for generations.
No.28- Cottage in Cowes
Cowes Week
Royal Yacht Squadron