Hurst Castle: collapse, stabilisation and future

Hurst Castle, a Henrician artillery fort with two Victorian wing batteries and scheduled monument, sits on the end of a shingle spit at the entrance to the Solent. Changes in long shore drift, increasing sea levels and more frequent storms led to the collapse of a section of the nineteenth century east wing battery in February 2021. The vaulted masonry structure of the west wing battery also sustained significant structural damage. English Heritage have since embarked on an ambitious project to attempt to stabilise the castle. A new permanent revetment to protect the most vulnerable area in front of the east wing and geotechnical investigations to allow the severely damaged west wing to be assessed and repaired have already been completed. The health and safety challenges and complex access, either by way of boat or along the mile-long shingle spit, have required the adoption of innovative design solutions and complex monitoring arrangements. Funds permitting, the next phase of works will include permanent structural repairs to the west wing along with further coastal protection work to ensure the longevity of the castle. However, before this can begin, complex questions around the future of the spit and the implications of climate-related loss in the long term must be answered.