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Summary

The Bulwards is a fortification built on 'The Island' at St Ives.

Protected Status

• Conservation Area DCO60: ST IVES

Other References/Statuses

• National Mapping Programme (Morph No.): 284.3.1
• OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SW54SW 5
• Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 29924
• Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey North Cornwall: 10219
• Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey North Cornwall: 15436
• SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SW54SW 25

Monument Type(s):

• FORTIFICATION (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FORTIFICATION (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

A fortification known as `the Bulwarks' is extant on St Ives Head. Matthews refers to them as the `two edges' (possibly hedges) (1). The remains consist of ramparts and 2 bastions which cut across the neck of the promontory (2-4), defending a gun position at the top of the hill (5). Sheppard notes that `the Bulwarks' are mentioned in 1535. The site was probably utilised during the Civil War as there is an account of a payment made `to men in breade and beere aboute the bulworks' in 1645. Survey by the O.S. in 1961 revealed details of the fortifications and there is a good description of them on the OS index card. The OS confirm that the remains are 16th century or later (h1). The ramparts are visible on air photographs (6-8) and were plotted for the NMP. Analysis of the lidar imagery by the North Cornwall RCZAS has identified a possible earthwork 18m to the east of the chapel, however, this has not been verified by a site visit (9-10). RCZAS has also identified a short section of bank/buried wall <1m high is visible on LIDAR (9) and recent aerial photographs and could be a remnant of the unrecorded North side of the Bulwark fortification

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Site history:
1: 1961. QUINNELL,NV/OS
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<1> Matthews, JH, 1892, History of the Parishes of St Ives, Lelant, Towednack and Zennor, 16, 47 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3914.

<2> Sheppard, PA, 1980, The Historic Towns of Cornwall, 8 (Report). SCO4422.

<3> Russell, V, 1971, West Penwith Survey, 72 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4314.

<4> Henderson, C, 1935, Essays in Cornish History, 81 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3501.

<5> 1998-2005, CSUS St Ives (Cornwall Archive). SCO23819.

<6> RAF, 1947, CPE/UK/2368/3011&12 (Photographic Record). SCO12648.

<7> RAF, 1947, CPE/UK/2368/4029 (Photographic Record). SCO12730.

<8> OSP, 1961, AO.61.24.3/BP/N (Photographic Record). SCO13745.

<9> Channel Coastal Observatory, 2004, Channel Coastal Observatory Lidar (Survey). SCO29159.

<10> Channel Coastal Observatory, Channel Coastal Observatory Aerial Photography (Aerial Photograph). SCO29156.

<10> University of Southampton, 2018, Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey for South-West England North Coast of Devon (excluding Exmoor) and North Coast of Cornwall (Report). SCO28799.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Related records: none recorded

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