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HER Number: | 23165 |
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Name: | TINTAGEL - Romano British settlement, Early Medieval settlement, Medieval settlement |
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Summary
Tintagel Island, occupation from the Romano-British to present day.
Protected Status
- Scheduled Monument 15446: ROMANO-BRITISH AND EARLY MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT, MEDIEVAL CHURCH, CASTLE AND ASSOCIATED FEATURES ON TINTAGEL ISLAND AND ADJOINING MAINLAND
Other References/Statuses
- National Mapping Programme (Morph No.): 1062.1
- OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SX08NE 1
- Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 23165
- SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SX08NE 1-2
Monument Type(s):
Full description
Tintagel Island is surrounded by sea on all sides except for the narrow neck still connecting it to the mainland. It rises to a height of some 80m but measures only 380m across at its broadest point. The site may have had Romano-British occupation (23165.1) and was extensively used during the early Medieval period (23165.2). It was the site of a large castle in the early Post-Norman period (23165.3), The upper ward of which was re-used as a prison in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries (23165.32, 23165.57). In the modern period extensive mining has taken place, obliterating any trace of earlier mineral workings (b6, b8). The site has long been associated with legend and accepted as the birthplace of King Arthur in stories by Geoffrey of Monmouth which provide the earliest reference to the castle in the thirteenth century (b17). Radford interpreted the island as an Early Medieval monastery site on which the castle was built circa 1140 by Reginal de Dunstanville (h1, b8). However, today there is increasing evidence to support Thomas's re-interpretation of the site as an early entrepot or chieftain's residence which was later built upon by Medieval nobles in the conviction that they were building upon an important Medieval site (h10, b20). The monument was included in the Schedule on 9/10/1981 and the scheduling updated on 18/11/1996. Many of the medieval and post-Norman settlement are visible on aerial photographs (p5-7).
A watching brief carried out by the HES in 2005 (b21) on improvement works to the steps linking the island to the mainland (at SX 05127 88978) failed to find any archaeological or historical features on the very steep and highly disturbed terrain.
(see medieval archaeology (1959) for some mentions of pottery distributions)
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Site history:
2: 1976. QUINNELL, NV / OS
3: 1976. SHEPPARD, PA / DOE
5: 1982. DARK, K / UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
7: 1984. RCHME
8: 1985. PRESTON JONES, A AND HARTGROVES, S / CAU
10: 1986. THOMAS, C / RCHME
12: 1988. THORPE, C / CAU
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Morris, C.D., Nowakowski, J. & Thomas, C., 1990, Tintagel, Cornwall: the 1990 excavations (Article in Serial). SCO27451.
Morris, CD, Harry, R, Johnson, P et al, 1991, Tintagel Castle, Excavations 1991 (Cornwall Event Report). SCO1613.
Ruddle, E, 2005, Tintagel Castle, Mainland Steps (Cornwall Event Report). SCO1994.
Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 2014, Tintagel, Cornwall (Report). SCO27429.
Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 2015, Replacement of signage, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Report). SCO27271.
Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 2016, Replacement of signage, Phase 2, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Report). SCO27359.
Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 2016, The Iron Gate Footpath Steps, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Report). SCO27364.
Historic England, 2016, Tintagel Castle and Island, Cornwall: Archaeological Survey Enhancement (Report). SCO27533.
Archaeology, 2019, A Dark Age Beacon (Article in monograph). SCO28644.
<1> Leland, J, 1535, The Itinerary of John Leland (Bibliographic reference). SCO3862.
OSP, 1973, 73/005/235 - 6 (Photographic Record). SCO15490.
CUC, 19, AX 32 - 4, 36 (Photographic Record). SCO9317.
<2> Carew, R, 1969, The Survey of Cornwall 1602, 191 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3044.
<3> Wilkinson, JJ, 1871, Tintagel Castle, VOL 3, 231 (Article in Journal). SCO5049.
JAT, 19, CORNFILM 2/23A,26A,28A,29A (Photographic Record). SCO9331.
<4> WHITLEY, HM, 1885, NOTES ON GRENVILLE'S PLOT OF TINTAGEL CASTLE (Unedited Source). SCO6437.
CAU, 1989, VARIOUS (Photographic Record). SCO18009.
<5> Ordnance Survey, 1900s, 2nd Edition 1:2500 Map (Cartographic materials). SCO4050.
NMR, 1983, SX0589/1-5, 43-50 (Photographic Record). SCO16867.
<6> Radford, CAR, 1935, Tintagel, Castle and Monastery, VOL 15, 4, 415 (Article in Journal). SCO5143.
CAU, 1989, F20/95-103 (Photographic Record). SCO17874.
<7> Ordnance Survey, 1970s, 1:10,000 OS Map (Cartographic materials). SCO4045.
NMR, 1999, SX0489/31-33 (Photographic Record). SCO18813.
<8> Radford, CAR, 1935, Tintagel Castle (DOE Guide) (Bibliographic reference). SCO4214.
<9> Thomas, AC, 1981, A Provisional List of Imported Pottery from Post Roman Western Britain & Ireland (Bibliographic reference). SCO4597.
<10> Browse, RG, 1982, Tintagel Castle, VOL 21, 189-190 (Article in Journal). SCO2926.
<11> Thomas, AC, 1984, Tintagel Site Report, 25/5/1984 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4640.
<12> THOMAS, AC, 1986, TINTAGEL CASTLE (ENGLISH HERITAGE GUIDE BOOK) (Unedited Source). SCO8852.
<14> Hartgroves, S & Walker, R, 1989, Excavations in the Lower Ward, Tintagel Castle, 1986 (Cornish Studies No.16, 1988), VOL 16, 9-30 (Cornwall Event Report). SCO5116.
<15> Thomas, AC, 1988, Minor Sites at Tintagel Island, VOL 16, 31-48 (Article in Journal). SCO4627.
<16> Thomas, AC, 1988, Cau Excavations at Tintagel Island in 1988, VOL 16, 49-60 (Article in Journal). SCO4600.
<17> Padel, OJ, 1988, Tintagel in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, VOL 16, 61-66 (Article in Journal). SCO5135.
<18> O'Mahoney, C, 1988, Medieval Pottery from Tintagel: a Summary, VOL 16, 69-78 (Article in Journal). SCO4040.
<19> Thorpe, C, 1988, Incised Pictorial Slates at Tintagel, VOL 16, 69-78 (Article in Journal). SCO4717.
<20> THOMAS, AC, 1989, LECTURE TO CAS, 20 JAN 1989 (Unedited Source). SCO8919.
Sources / Further Reading
--- | SCO1613 - Cornwall Event Report: Morris, CD, Harry, R, Johnson, P et al. 1991. Tintagel Castle, Excavations 1991. |
--- | SCO1994 - Cornwall Event Report: Ruddle, E. 2005. Tintagel Castle, Mainland Steps. |
--- | SCO27271 - Report: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. 2015. Replacement of signage, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall. |
--- | SCO27359 - Report: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. 2016. Replacement of signage, Phase 2, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall. |
--- | SCO27364 - Report: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. 2016. The Iron Gate Footpath Steps, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall. |
--- | SCO27429 - Report: Cornwall Archaeological Unit. 2014. Tintagel, Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall. |
--- | SCO27451 - Article in Serial: Morris, C.D., Nowakowski, J. & Thomas, C.. 1990. Tintagel, Cornwall: the 1990 excavations. |
--- | SCO27533 - Report: Historic England. 2016. Tintagel Castle and Island, Cornwall: Archaeological Survey Enhancement. Devon and Cornwall. |
--- | SCO28644 - Article in monograph: Archaeology. 2019. A Dark Age Beacon. |
[p1] | SCO15490 - Photographic Record: OSP. 1973. 73/005/235 - 6. |
[1] | SCO3862 - Bibliographic reference: Leland, J. 1535. The Itinerary of John Leland. |
[2] | SCO3044 - Bibliographic reference: Carew, R. 1969. The Survey of Cornwall 1602. 191. |
[p2] | SCO9317 - Photographic Record: CUC. 19. AX 32 - 4, 36. |
[3] | SCO5049 - Article in Journal: Wilkinson, JJ. 1871. Tintagel Castle. JRIC. 3. VOL 3, 231. |
[p3] | SCO9331 - Photographic Record: JAT. 19. CORNFILM 2/23A,26A,28A,29A. |
[p4] | SCO18009 - Photographic Record: CAU. 1989. VARIOUS. |
[4] | SCO6437 - Unedited Source: WHITLEY, HM. 1885. NOTES ON GRENVILLE'S PLOT OF TINTAGEL CASTLE. |
[p5] | SCO16867 - Photographic Record: NMR. 1983. SX0589/1-5, 43-50. ABP. |
[5] | SCO4050 - Cartographic materials: Ordnance Survey. 1900s. 2nd Edition 1:2500 Map. |
[p6] | SCO17874 - Photographic Record: CAU. 1989. F20/95-103. ABP. |
[6] | SCO5143 - Article in Journal: Radford, CAR. 1935. Tintagel, Castle and Monastery. Antiquaries Journal, The. 15. VOL 15, 4, 415. |
[p7] | SCO18813 - Photographic Record: NMR. 1999. SX0489/31-33. ABP. |
[7] | SCO4045 - Cartographic materials: Ordnance Survey. 1970s. 1:10,000 OS Map. |
[8] | SCO4214 - Bibliographic reference: Radford, CAR. 1935. Tintagel Castle (DOE Guide). |
[9] | SCO4597 - Bibliographic reference: Thomas, AC. 1981. A Provisional List of Imported Pottery from Post Roman Western Britain & Ireland. |
[10] | SCO2926 - Article in Journal: Browse, RG. 1982. Tintagel Castle. Cornish Archaeology. 21. VOL 21, 189-190. |
[11] | SCO4640 - Bibliographic reference: Thomas, AC. 1984. Tintagel Site Report. Copy At CAU. 25/5/1984. |
[12] | SCO8852 - Unedited Source: THOMAS, AC. 1986. TINTAGEL CASTLE (ENGLISH HERITAGE GUIDE BOOK). |
[14] | SCO5116 - Cornwall Event Report: Hartgroves, S & Walker, R. 1989. Excavations in the Lower Ward, Tintagel Castle, 1986 (Cornish Studies No.16, 1988). Cornish Studies (JICS) Vol 16. VOL 16, 9-30. |
[15] | SCO4627 - Article in Journal: Thomas, AC. 1988. Minor Sites at Tintagel Island. Cornish Studies. 16. VOL 16, 31-48. |
[16] | SCO4600 - Article in Journal: Thomas, AC. 1988. Cau Excavations at Tintagel Island in 1988. Cornish Studies. 16. VOL 16, 49-60. |
[17] | SCO5135 - Article in Journal: Padel, OJ. 1988. Tintagel in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. Cornish Studies. 16. VOL 16, 61-66. |
[18] | SCO4040 - Article in Journal: O'Mahoney, C. 1988. Medieval Pottery from Tintagel: a Summary. Cornish Studies. 16. VOL 16, 69-78. |
[19] | SCO4717 - Article in Journal: Thorpe, C. 1988. Incised Pictorial Slates at Tintagel. Cornish Studies. 16. VOL 16, 69-78. |
[20] | SCO8919 - Unedited Source: THOMAS, AC. 1989. LECTURE TO CAS, 20 JAN 1989. |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- ECO1051 - Tintagel Castle
- ECO2310 - Tintagel Castle, Steps Area
- ECO2316 - Tintagel Castle
- ECO3589 - Tintagel Castle, Interpretation signs watching brief
- ECO589 - Excavations in the Lower Ward, Tintagel Castle, 1986
- ECO4438 - Replacement of signage, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Ref: 2015R048)
- ECO4523 - Replacement of signage, Phase 2, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Ref: 2016R009)
- ECO4528 - The Iron Gate Footpath Steps, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Ref: 2016R027)
- ECO4589 - Tintagel, Cornwall (Ref: 2014R061)
- ECO4675 - Tintagel Castle and Island, Cornwall: Archaeological Survey Enhancement (Ref: 33-2016)
- ECO4918 - Archaeological evaluation trenching and watching brief during geotechnical investigations at Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Ref: 2016R060)
- ECO4922 - Tintagel Castle, Cornwall (Ref: 2017R020)
Related records
23165.54 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Bronze Age cup marked stone, Undated cup marked stone (Monument) |
23165.55 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Early Medieval chapel, Medieval chapel (Monument) |
23165.51 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Early Medieval harbour, Post Medieval harbour (Monument) |
23165.20 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Early Medieval occupation site (Monument) |
23165.40 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Early Medieval settlement, Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.41 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Early Medieval settlement, Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.30 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval castle (Monument) |
23165.31 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval castle (Monument) |
23165.32 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval castle (Monument) |
23165.33 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval castle (Monument) |
23165.52 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval garden (Monument) |
23165.42 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.43 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.44 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.45 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.46 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.47 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval settlement (Monument) |
23165.53 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Medieval tunnel (Monument) |
23165.10 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Romano British occupation site (Monument) |
23165.56 | Parent of: TINTAGEL - Romano British well, Medieval well, Post Medieval well (Monument) |
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