Henry VIII's Lost Sandown Castle Rediscovered in East Kent

Recent research reveals that stone from Henry the Eighth's lost Sandown Castle, built in 1539 to 1540 and later victim to coastal erosion, survives within the Victorian extension at Constable's Gate in Dover Castle and other sites across East Kent. Dr. Christopher Moore from the University of Kent combined archival records, including an 1883 report, with surviving architecture to trace how masonry from the demolished Tudor fortress was repurposed for new construction. The findings demonstrate how lost historical structures can persist in plain sight through material reuse, offering visitors a tangible connection to early modern architecture and coastal heritage. The discovery highlights the importance of combining archival documentation with physical architectural analysis to preserve and understand lost heritage across East Kent.