Henry VIII ordered Deal Castle built through the Crown, after a feared invasion by France and the Holy Roman Empire. It was built in 1539 and 1540, and work began in April and was mostly complete by December. The article says it is not known who designed it. The historian John Hale considered it a transitional design between medieval English castles and newer Italian defensive styles.
A central keep 86 feet (26 meters) across is flanked by six rounded bastions, and the whole castle measures about 234 by 216 feet (71 by 66 meters). The moat is 66 feet (20 meters) wide. It was originally built with 66 firing positions for artillery.
Sir John Norris redeveloped it as a private residence in 1728 and 1729. English Heritage now runs it as a tourist attraction.
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