In 1216, King John gave orders to destroy (slight) the castles at Hastings and Pevensey, while he retreated from a French army led by Dauphin Louis that had landed in Kent.

In time however the house of Eu forfeited control of Hastings Castle, when the family heir William made the decision to keep his French assets over the English ones, and was denied the right to his inheritance.

In 1249, Henry III bestowed rule of the castle and its lands, the Honour of Eu, to his wife's uncle, Peter of Savoy.

[1] In February 1287, violent storms hit the south coast of England with such force that the soft sandstone cliffs eventually succumbed to the elements.

As a result of these, the chapel floor and parts of the chancel arch and walls were re-constructed out of blocks found lying on the ground.