Square format view of the flint and stone rubble core of the East gate in the curtain wall of Anderitum, a Late Roman fort that defended the south coast of the province of Britannia at Pevensey, now in East Sussex, England, UK. After the Normans invaded in 1066, the wall enclosed the outer bailey of Pevensey Castle, a medieval fortress, surrounded by a moat, that was never taken by force despite being besieged several times.
Pevensey, East Sussex, England, UK: the east gate in the Roman curtain wall enclosing the 13th and 14th century fortifications of Pevensey Castle combines three periods of construction - Late Roman, medieval and 19th century - but in this square format view, probably now looks much as it did when Anderitum fort defended the south coast of the Roman province of Britannia against barbarian attacks. Anderitum was built between 290 and 340 AD. The ramparts and towers of its m (14ft) thick wall still stand up to m (27 ft) high, although much of its ironstone and sandstone facing has been stripped, revealing the rubble and sandstone core inside. Excavations have shown that the wall was built on strong foundations of rubble-packed oak piles and beams. Anderitum, originally washed on three sides by the sea, was probably built as one of the forts on the British side of the Saxon Shore, a Roman military command. The fort fell into ruin when the Romans left Britain, but after William the Conqueror’s army landed at Pevensey Bay in 1066, the Normans saw it as a strategic stronghold. Robert de Mortain, William’s half-brother, repaired the Roman walls and created a moated inner bailey within them. In time, the original Norman earth and wood defences were replaced by strong stone walls, towers and a keep. Pevensey Castle was besieged several times in the Norman and later medieval eras and although its garrison was twice starved into surrender, it was never taken by force. The fortress, abandoned in the 1500s, remained a crumbling ruin until it was given to the state in 1925. During World War Two, it was garrisoned by Allied troops with machine-gun posts built into both Roman and medieval walls. The entire site is now in the care of English Heritage.
Size: 2832px × 2832px
Location: Pevensey Castle, Pevensey, East Sussex, England, UK.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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