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| | Isle of Wight Nostalgia Site: Island History |
 | | The Island's only fortification, the Norman Castle at Carisbrooke, assumed a defence role for which it was unsuited owing to its central position; The French could land on the coast and burn and plunder while ignoring the castle. |
 | | On the same occasion the French besieged the castle, but, according to the legend, retired on the death of their commander, shot from the castle's west wall. |
 | | Although the Armada was defeated in 1588, the Spanish threat remained, and the outer fortifications of Carisbrooke Castle were built between 1597 and 1602 in response to the invasion scare. |
| www.invectis.co.uk /iow/history.htm (996 words) |
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