Remnants of Henry VIII's long-lost castle found in unexpected location, researcher reveals

Mysterious Tudor Stones Recycled Into Modern Buildings, Study Finds

Researchers at the University of Kent have uncovered evidence that stones from a lost Tudor fortification—King Henry VIII’s Sandown Castle—were repurposed in several surviving structures, including Dover Castle and a chapel in Kent. The findings, announced in early September, shed new light on how medieval builders reused material and how the physical legacy of the Tudor era persists in today’s landscape.

A Forgotten Castle Re‑emerges Through Re‑used Stone

Sandown Castle was built between 1539 and 1540 as part of Henry VIII’s coastal defence network. Located roughly eight miles northeast of Dover, the fortress was abandoned and dismantled in the following centuries. Despite its disappearance, researchers have traced fragments of its masonry to other locations.

Lead researcher Christopher Moore, an associate professor of hidden and lost heritage at the University of Kent, followed clues in historical documents and architectural analyses. An 1883 survey recorded that material was transported from Sandown to Dover, and Moore’s detailed study has identified at least five sites where the stones found new homes.

Dover Castle and the Constable’s Gate Extension

The most visible example is Dover Castle, one of Britain’s most celebrated fortifications. Moore’s research shows that a Victorian addition to the castle’s Constable’s Gate was constructed from stone quarried from the dismantled Sandown site. The reuse of the Tudor masonry is evident in the stonework’s distinctive texture and composition, which match the surviving blocks of the former Sandown fort.

“Even though Sandown is no longer standing,” Moore explained, “many of the Norman monasteries that were robbed to build these Tudor castles also no longer exist. That’s why discovering these connections is so fascinating.”

Eastry Union Chapel: A Patchwork of History

Perhaps the most intriguing case is Eastry Union Chapel, a modest parish building in Kent. Moore notes that the chapel was built on a small budget, resulting in a varied mix of stone types—what he calls “freestones,” stones that can be easily cut. Chemical analysis of samples from the chapel matched those of the Sandown fragments, indicating that some of the freestones had been sourced from the abandoned castle and even from older Norman monasteries predating the Tudor period.

“The stonework in Eastry Chapel likely contains material with a history of nearly 1,000 years,” Moore said. “It’s a tangible link to a range of periods that would otherwise be invisible to us.”

Broader Implications for Reused Masonry

Moore believes that Sandown’s stones were widely recycled across the region. “I know of at least five sites where stones were taken from Sandown for use elsewhere and still stand today. However, there will be vastly more,” he added. The study highlights the extensive practice of repurposing building material, a common strategy in post‑medieval Britain when new construction was costly and resources scarce.

The researcher also contextualized the durability of Tudor fortifications, pointing to Deal Castle—Sandown’s sister fortress—as a surviving example that endured little damage during World War II bombing raids. “For it to fall in the sea is a myth,” Moore said. “Sandown was systematically robbed through the centuries for a number of uses.”

Future Research and Public Interest

Moore has published a chapter on the forgotten history of Sandown Castle in the recent book Revivalism in Architecture: Referencing and Reworking the Past. The work argues that ancient buildings hold stories that can be read through their stonework, provided scholars can “speak their language.”

The University of Kent plans to expand its survey of Tudor stone reuse, hoping to uncover additional sites where Sandown’s legacy lives on. For residents of Kent and visitors to Dover Castle, the new findings add a layer of intrigue to familiar landmarks, revealing how the past continues to shape the present through the stones that quietly endure.