PENDENNIS CASTLE

Cornwall

Along with St. Mawes, across the other side of the River Fal, Pendennis was one of the two Castles constructed by King Henry VIII between 1540 and 1545 to protect the Carrick Roads network of rivers.

Initially it was just a small circular tower, with a gatehouse added to the landward side (pictured above) along with "Little Dennis" a blockhouse lower down the cliff, but after the fright of the Spanish Armada and continuing Spanish raids on the Cornish coast Pendennis was expanded around 1600 with walls and buildings being added to the whole headland, along with the then ultra-modern arrow-head bastions.

This ended a period of intense competition between the governors of Pendennis and St. Mawes, and the latter slowly slipped into a subsidiary role.  The expansion of Pendennis Castle was finished in 1611 - not very many years later the Civil War arrived and the defences were put to the ultimate test.

In 1646 the Roundheads arrived.  St. Mawes surrendered immediately.  But Pendennis besieged by land and blockaded by sea held out for six months - longer than any other Henry VIII Castle. It finally surrendered that August, and some slighting took place, particularly to the outer walls.

Both Pendennis and St. Mawes Castles are owned by English Heritage - and it is strongly recommended to visit both on the same day.  Like Deal and Walmer in Kent they make an excellent pair.

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© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
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2001