Medieval Courtyard, Tintagel Castle, Tintagel, Cornwall
Reconstruction drawing of the island courtyard of Earl Richard's castle in the 13th Century. Tintagel Castle is a medieval castle on the site of a possible Roman outpost and possible Anglo-Saxon century trading settlement. Joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, Tintagel Island faces the full force of the Atlantic. Even before Richard, Earl of Cornwall, built his castle here between 1227-33, Tintagel was already associated in legend with the conception of King Arthur. This site is famous mostly because of these Arthurian connections, although these are largely unfounded, deriving from Geoffrey of Monmouth's writings in the 12th century. After a period as a Roman settlement and military outpost, Tintagel became a trading settlement of Celtic kings of Cornwall during the 5th and 6th centuries. High-status imported Mediterranean pottery of the 5th and 6th centuries was found, as well as some fragments of fine glass believed to be from 6th or 7th century Málaga in Spain. In the 14th century the Great Hall was reconstructed on a smaller scale. A survey of 1337 records additional detail: two chambers over the gateway, an upper element above the Lower Ward entrance, and a stable for eight horses. A cellar and a bakehouse are also documented. By the late 15th century the castle was noted as being strong but ruinous. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2011). Find out more.
