Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle is a castle in Cornwall, England, UK, built between 1540 and 1545 for King Henry VIII to guard the entrance to the River Fal on its west bank, near Falmouth. St Mawes Castle is its opposite number on the east bank and they were built to defend Carrick Roads from Spanish attack. [Philip Payton. (1996). "Cornwall". Fowey: Alexander Associates] The castle comprises a simple round tower and gate enclosed by a lower curtain wall. It is now in the care of English Heritage.

The siege of Pendennis Castle

The siege of Pendennis Castle began in March 1646 and lasted for five months until 17 August 1646. English Parliamentary forces attacked the castle from both land and sea and the Cornish Royalist garrison at Pendennis was under the command of the 80 year old Sir John Arundel, aided by Sir Henry Killigrew. [ [http://www.pendenniscastle.com/index.php?pageId=History Pendennis Castle - history] ] Pendennis had been the antepenultimate stronghold - after Raglan Castle and Harlech Castle - to hold out for the Royalists. About 1,500 men, women and children survived the 155 day siege at the castle before being forced to surrender because of starvation. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/5266208.stm BBC News 2006 - Pendennis Castle] ] Previously it had given sanctuary to Queen Henrietta Maria, and the Prince of Wales (Charles II), before their escape to France. [ [http://www.pendenniscastle.com/index.php?pageId=History Pendennis Castle - history] ] [Philip Payton. (1996). "Cornwall". Fowey: Alexander Associates]

Recent controversy

In 1999 there was some controversy regarding this site and others under the care of the English Heritage organisation. Members of a pressure group, the Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament, removed several signs bearing the English Heritage name. [ [http://www.cornishstannaryparliament.co.uk/heritage-signs.html Cornish Stannary Parliament tackles English cultural aggression in Cornwall.] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1768853.stm BBC News: Historic signs case trio bound over] ] Three men later paid criminal fines in connection with these actions. [* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1768853.stm BBC news - Historic signs case trio bound over] ]

ee also

*The Great Western Railway named two of its locomotives after the Castle, numbers 3253 and 4079.
*List of topics related to Cornwall
*
* Device Forts
* Martello Tower
* Eastbourne Redoubt
* Pevensey Castle
* Dymchurch Redoubt

References

External links

* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConProperty.296 Pendennis Castle information at English Heritage]