Upnor Castle was intended to help protect warships of the English Navy at anchor in the River Medway and at Chatham Dockyard. Alas, it proved ineffective when called to arms to defend against the infamous Dutch Raid of 1667. Lieutenant-Admiral de Ruyter of the Dutch Navy commanded the attack that saw the destruction of shipping and the capture of the King Charles, the flagship of the navy.

The story is retold through the castle’s interpretation, which also details how the site was developed to house what is now the country’s second oldest purpose built barracks.

Upnor Castle's ancient and atmospheric rooms are also proving to be a very popular venue for weddings.