West Cowes Castle

West Cowes Castle, now the Royal Yacht Squadron Club House, is a complex building with origins as a coastal defence fort. It was built in 1539 by Henry VIII as one of two forts defending the mouth of the River Medina and protecting the town of Newport. This is the only surviving example; the other was built at East Cowes.

From the original 16th-century fort, the following elements remain: a low bastion fronting the promenade along the sea, complete with a castellated parapet, and a fragment of the northern segment of a two-storey squat round tower behind. These fragments are constructed of limestone ashlar, said to have been brought from Beaulieu Abbey, which was then partially demolished.

The Castle was remodelled in 1716, when the greater part of the round tower was demolished. A staircase turret was added to the south-eastern corner of the tower, and wings were built for residential use. This 18th-century staircase is of good quality, with curved handrail, column newel and stick balusters.

In 1856-58, architect Anthony Salvin (1799-1881) adapted the building for the Royal Yacht Squadron. The 18th-century house was altered and enlarged by the addition of a gabled profile and a distinctive north-west tower, as well as a castellated gatehouse. A service wing was probably added as an L-shape projecting west from behind the north-west tower. The Platform, a conservatory-like front extension, was added in the 1880s and remodelled in the 1970s. It is supported on cast iron late 19th-century columns but features 1970s glazing.

In the 1920s, architect J J Joass (1868-1952) added a mansard roof, extended the service wing and created a northern extension in matching style. This extension is two storeys with attics, mansard roof and sash windows with vertical glazing bars only.

Later 20th-century additions, not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest, include alterations by A G Biggs in 1962-68 to provide the Ladies Balcony and Ladies facilities, the Gentlemen's Locker Room, an Office Block and Flat. A prefabricated conservatory extension to the Platform was erected in 1988.

The building is an L-shaped structure of two to three storeys in stone with slate roofs, cemented chimneystacks and irregular fenestration. The squat Henrician tower to the south-east is three storeys with a crenellated cambered entrance. A three-storey 18th-century circular stair turret with conical roof and metal finial adjoins to the south-east. To the north-east and north-west are the 1716 wings, of three storeys in the centre and two at the sides, with gables added by Salvin and sash windows. At the extreme north-west is Salvin's three-storey curved tower with steeply hipped roof, metal finial and weathervane.

Interior features of note include the 18th-century staircase already mentioned, two 18th-century marble fireplaces in the Members' Dining Room with panels depicting cherubs, a circa 1858 fireplace with cast iron firegrate, and 1880s cast iron columns in the Platform.

The Castle has significant historical associations. During the Commonwealth period, it was used as a prison and among its notable inmates was Sir William Davenant, who wrote the heroic poem "Gondibert" during his captivity. Following its use as a private house in the 18th century, West Cowes Castle was purchased by the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1856. The Squadron had been founded in 1813 and had previously been housed in what became the Gloucester Hotel on The Parade. Cowes developed its fortunes in the 19th century through visits by the Duke of Gloucester, the Prince Regent and other royal princes, who became early patrons of the Yacht Club. After 1863, the Prince of Wales became a patron, which made the town fashionable. The distinctive Royal Yacht Squadron Platform, as seen from the Solent, has long been a well-recognised landmark for the start and finish of some of the most famous yacht races in the world.