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The central, and largest, of the three ‘Castles of the Downs’ built on the orders of Henry VIII in 1539. It remains one of the finest preserved of such forts and is maintained by English Heritage for visitors.

The coastal settlement known as Lower Deal grew up from the mid-17th century on the shingle ridge which is now Beach Street, Middle Street and the High Street. The houses were built of brick, which reflected the wealth of the inhabitants.

This panel gives an introduction to the town of Deal and its history, including the seafaring and mining communities.
It is a useful starting point for a journey around the panels.

In the 18th century, the built-up area of Lower Deal ended at the area that is now the south side of Alfred Square. In 1782, land was released to the north and the rest of Alfred Square was laid out.