STAR CASTLE

St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly

Star Castle, very aptly named as it is star-shaped, stands on St. Mary's above the 'capital' of the Scillies, Hugh Town.

The opposite side of Hugh Town harbour was protected by "Harry's Walls" - which despite their name were constructed during the reign of Edward VI - but the Castle was built during Elizabeth I's reign to protect not only the north harbour, but also the approaches to the island from the direction of St. Agnes and Gugh (the route still taken today by the ferry from Penzance).

The Castle's design is a kind of modernised version of the Henry VIII "Tudor Rose" of Castles such as Deal and St. Mawes, but with the then fashionable arrow bastions - giving it the distinctive star shape.

Like many late Castles, the only action it ever saw was in the Civil War, in 1646 it was taken by Parliament and spent the rest of the War and subsequent Commonwealth in the role of prison.

In 1746 the whole of the peninsula upon which Star Castle stands (known as "The Hugh") was fortified with further walling.

Star Castle is a luxury hotel today, and must be the ultimate destination on the Scillies - one of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of Britain.

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2001