Conservation charity English Heritage has issued a warning regarding the danger that climate change poses to the survival of several castles on the UK coastline, some of which have stood for hundreds of years. 

The charity, which manages over 400 historic sites across England, highlighted six castles threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels, and it has launched a multimillion pound fundraiser to repair their walls and improve their defences against storms and more powerful waves.

Although coastal erosion is nothing new, English Heritage has stressed the effect that climate change has had on accelerating its progress. The heritage body described the rate of land lost over the last few years as “alarming”, warning that sea levels are now rising at their fastest rate for nearly three millenia.

“Climate change is accelerating the issues faced by our coastal heritage and creating huge challenges for organisations like English Heritage seeking to...