Upnor Castle Castle

Upnor Castle is a small Elizabethan artillery fort on the south bank of the River Medway at Upnor in Kent, built in the late 16th century to defend the naval installations at Chatham.

Built between the 1560s and early 1570s during the reign of Elizabeth I, the castle served to guard Chatham Dockyard and was notably involved in the Dutch Raid on the Medway in 1667. Its role later shifted to ordnance storage and support for naval operations before entering heritage care.

The castle sits on the south bank of the River Medway at the village of Upnor, opposite the historic dockyard area of Chatham in Kent, within easy reach of Rochester and Medway towns.

• Defense role and 1667 action: Constructed in the late 16th century to defend the naval anchorage at Chatham and later involved in the 1667 Dutch Raid on the Medway.
• Public access and ownership: Now managed by English Heritage and open to the public, with exhibits on its military history and riverside setting.

What to See#

• Central keep and curtain walls: A central stone keep and surrounding curtain walls form the core of the fortification, built to mount and direct artillery fire on the river approach.
• Riverside gun platforms: River-facing gun platforms and batteries were designed to cover the Medway channel and protect Chatham Dockyard; these remain visible as key features of the site.

Upnor Castle is near Rochester in Kent. From Rochester railway station it is a short taxi ride (10-15 minutes) or a 25-40 minute walk following the riverside path. Driving from the M2/A2 routes is straightforward; local signage directs visitors toward Upnor and the river bank.

• Check English Heritage or local tourism pages for opening hours and events before visiting.
• Walk the riverside path south to get good views of the castle from the river and the dockyards.
• Combine with a visit to nearby Rochester or Chatham for a broader picture of Kent's naval history.