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aerial photograph of Deal Castle Kent England UK.Deal Castle was constructed 1539-40 by Henry VIII as part of a chain of defences around the south coast to defend against attacks from France. The other forts in the chain were Sandown and Walmer,both of which followed a similar design. Although a French attack never came, the castle was heavily fought over during the English Civil war when it was captured by Royalists and then retaken by the Parliamentarians after prolonged fighting. In the early part of the 20th Century the castle was used for residential purposes and then during the second world war as an artillery observation post. It was restored and opened to the public in the 1950s.