The Roman Fort of Anderida dates to c340 AD and was constructed to defend the coast from Saxon raiders. The Normans subsequently built a keep inside the Roman walls and developed the fortification throughout the 12th-13th centuries. A gun battery was later emplaced at Pevensey c1587-88 in response to the threat of the Spanish Armada.

It was in 1940, however, that the final period of refortification of Pevensey Castle took place. The invasion scare following the evacuation of Dunkirk in May-June 1940 saw orders issued to make the Castle "100% tank-proof."

An anti-tank perimeter was created, dragon's teeth concrete blocks spanning gaps in the outer Roman wall where centuries of neglect had led to collapsed masonry.

Pillboxes were built to defend the perimeter, and were ingeniously camouflaged with pieces of flint pushed into the wet cement, to help them blend in with the ancient masonry. Two of these pillboxes were demolished shortly after the war, but the rest remain in place as evidence of the continued fortification of the castle down the centuries.

This virtual tour flies you around the defences, and identifies the location of all the pillboxes, including some you've perhaps not been aware of!

The model is very much a work in progress; if you've ever visited the castle, you'll know the ground is not as flat as seen here. The ancient walls are not looking very ruinous - I'm working on these issues and will post updated videos as and when there's something to report.

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