Tintagel Castle
The spectacular ruins of Tintagel Castle sit on a headland on the coast of north Cornwall.
The castle is inextricably linked with the legend of King Arthur and was named by the Welsh cleric, Geoffrey of Monmouth, as the place where King Arthur was conceived in his book Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) which was written about 1130.
Spectacular as the castle remains are, they actually date from 1233 and were built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, (who also build Lanceston Castle) as a feasting hall – possibly because of the sites connection with Arthurian legend.
Early medieval remains on the headland indicate that the site was once a very important, high status, royal settlement during the 5th to 7th Century – which maybe where the connection with King Arthur derives from.
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All images © W N BISHOP