For important guidance on the use of this record, please click here.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Elizabethan fortifications at Pendennis

Protected Status

• Conservation Area: FALMOUTH
• Scheduled Monument 10552: PENDENNIS PENINSULA FORTIFICATIONS

Other References/Statuses

• OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SW83SW 4
• Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 18709.31
• SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW83SW 9

Monument Type(s):

• FORTIFICATION (16th Century - 1501 AD to 1600 AD)

Full description

The Elizabethan re-fortification of Pendennis Castle surrounding the Henrician tower (18709.21) took place in the last years of the C16 (b18). Christian Lilly's plan of 1715 shows the layout of the bastioned trace, and names the 6 bastions (b2). These were re-used in the late C19 (18709.71). Morley describes the Elizabethan fort as being over 2 acres in extent, enclosed by ramparts formed mostly by terracing into the natural slopes (b18). He notes that the interior was not largely open, as it now appears, but contained barracks (18709.33).
In 2002 the CAU carried out a watching brief during recobbling in the walkway above the W gate, (SX 82299 31879). This revealed a rubble firing step along the inner edge of the parapet. Finds collected from the bedding below the undisturbed cobbles gave this a date of c1700, around which time the Renaissance gate (18709.61) and guard barracks are believed to have been built (b21).

--------------------------------
Site history:
1: 1927. DRAKE, S/IAM
3: 1987. WESTON, SM/IAM
4: 1988. HARTGROVES, S/CAU
5: 1988. HARTGROVES, S/CAU
--------------------------------

Johns, C, 2003, Re-cobbling at Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. Archaeological Watching Brief (Report). SCO1237.

<1> Hals, W, 1740, The Compleat History of Cornwall, 129 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3429.

<2> Lilly, C, 1715, An Exact Plan of Pendennis Fort (Bibliographic reference). SCO3870.

<3> Norden, J, 1728, Speculi Britanniae Pars (Bibliographic reference). SCO4001.

<4> Polwhele, R, 1803, History of Cornwall (Bibliographic reference). SCO4140.

<5> Lysons, D & S, 1814, Magna Britannia, VOL III, CORNWALL, 989, 99, 104 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3885.

<6> Hitchins, F & Drew, S (Eds), 1824, The History of Cornwall (Bibliographic reference). SCO3595.

<7> TREGONNING HOOPER, 1827, UNKNOWN TITLE, VOL I, NO 6, 7-9 (Unedited Source). SCO5851.

<8> Thomas, R, 1827, History and Description of the Town and Harbour of Falmouth, 110-113 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4698.

<9> Thomas, R, 1851, Letters to the West Briton (Article in newspaper). SCO4699.

<10> Brine, F, 1855, Shilling Trip to Falmouth (Bibliographic reference). SCO2906.

<11> Pasfield Oliver, S, 1875, Pendennis and St Mawes (Bibliographic reference). SCO4086.

<12> Beckett, R, 1961, Tercenteniary of Falmouth (Bibliographic reference). SCO2815.

<13> Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, 1963, Pendennis and St Mawes Castle (Unedited Source). SCO7885.

<14> Carew, R, 1969, The Survey of Cornwall, 1602 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3044.

<15> Institute Of Cornish Studies, 1987, Place-Names Index (Bibliographic reference). SCO3621.

<16> Padel, OJ, 1985, Cornish Place-Name Elements, 85, 177-180 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4064.

<17> Hartgroves, S & Sharpe, A & Roberts, C, 1985, Pendennis Castle and the Headland, Falmouth (Report). SCO3459.

<18> Morley, B, 1988, The Castles of Pendennis and St Mawes (Bibliographic reference). SCO3957.

<19> Sharpe, A, 1989, Pendinas Castle (Report). SCO4367.

<20> Walker, R, 1989, Pendennis Castle Resistivity Survey 1989 (Bibliographic reference). SCO5007.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECO1968 - Re-cobbling at Pendiennis Castle. Archaeological watching brief (Ref: 2003R046)
• ECO400 - Pendennis Castle. Signage Installation. Archaeological Recording (Ref: 1999R032)
• ECO378 - Pendennis Castle: Gunpowder Store/Alarms (Ref: 1999R041)

Related records

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.