Tintagel Castle is set on a dramatic and picturesque headland that is virtually an island, connected to the mainland by a slim finger of land. Over the centuries much of Tintagel castle has fallen into the sea and very
little remains today.

It was built by Reginald, Earl of Cornwall on Tintagel Head, where according to Cornish legends the ancient Kings of Cornwall held their court. Tintagel castle was built for propaganda purposes and had no real strategic value.

It was claimed by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century that the castle at Tintagel Head was where King Uther Pendragon seduced Queen Igraine of Cornwall, while her husband, Gorlois, was under siege elsewhere. King Arthur was thus conceived and later writers made the castle his birthplace.

The modern day village of Tintagel was known as Trevena until the 1850s, when it was renamed to promote tourism on the back of the King Arthur and Camelot legends. Strictly speaking, Tintagel is only the name of the headland.

hough it is always said that King Arthur was born at Tintagel, early literary sources only ever actually say that he was conceived there. The rest is presumed or implied. But is Tintagel Castle really that old?

Tradition: Geoffrey of Monmouth first told us of King Arthur's association with Tintagel Castle in 1139 when he wrote his History of the Kings of Britain. Duke Gorles of Tintagel lived at the Castle. One day, he brought his young wife, Igraine, to the court of his High-King, Uther Pendragon of Britain, in London. Uther fell deeply in love with the beautiful Igraine and determined to have her for his own. Gorles noted the attention paid by the King to his wife and returned to Cerniw. Upon being summoned back to court, Gorles refused to return and quickly found his lands invaded by his overlord. Igraine was hidden away in the impregnable Tintagel, while Gorles himself defended the nearby stronghold of Dimilioc. Uther, meanwhile, persuaded his magician, Merlin, to turn him into the likeness of Gorles. Using this disguise, he slipped into Tintagel Castle unhindered and seduced Igraine. That night, their son, the future King Arthur was conceived. Gorles was killed the next day and Uther and Igraine quickly became husband and wife.

Ancient Propaganda & Patronage: Though the majority of Tintagel Castle was built by Prince Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in the 1230s, it is believed, by many, that an earlier castle was first constructed here by Earl Reginald around 1141. This latter Earl of Cornwall was brother to Geoffrey of Monmouth's patron, Prince Robert, Earl of Gloucester. So perhaps it was included in the story merely to win Royal favour. Modern opinion, however, tends to support a scenario whereby Reginald built the castle to cash in on the prestige created by Geoffrey's work. William of Worcester first recorded that King Arthur was born at Tintagel in 1478. It is a simple assumption to step from conception to birth.

Modern Archaeology: Extensive excavations undertaken by Radford on Tintagel Island in the 1930s revealed that there was indeed Dark Age occupation around Tintagel Castle. Some twenty plus rectangular stone buildings were uncovered along terraces on the eastern slopes of this promontory, and on the plateau around the Castle Chapel (dedicated to St. Juliot). The discovery of huge quantities of 5th and 6th century Mediterranean pottery amongst these ruins led to their being dated to this period. There was more pottery than the total haul from all other Dark Age sites in Britain: huge Tunisian oil jars, Carthaginian dishes, Aegean amphorae and distinctive Byzantine jars.

More recent investigations have redated these buildings to the medieval period, though the Castle Chapel appears to have been rebuilt on earlier foundations. An extensive fire on the Island in 1985 gave the ideal opportunity to survey the whole area. The contours of perhaps fifty more buildings buried beneath the landscape have now been recognised, particularly on across the expansive plateau. Further keyhole excavations on the eastern terraces indicate that less substantial stone buildings do exist on a lower level to Radford's structures. Other buildings may have been of turf. These are the original source of the Dark Age pottery where investigations in 1998 discovered the famous Artonou Stone.

Possible Interpretations: Radford's excavations of the 30s were explained, at the time, as having revealed the cells and out buildings of a Post-Roman Monastery complex. This theory has been swept aside by Modern archaeologists. The name of the place itself, Din-Tagell meaning Fort of the Constriction, indicates a secular residence. The high levels of expensive pottery imported to the site from the Eastern Mediterranean indicate it was under the control of an important chief with access to large amounts of tradable commodities, probably Cornish Tin. In fact, just such a man as Gorles, the supposed Duke of Tintagel, or King Mark of Cerniw who is also associated with the island. One could easily have followed the other at Tintagel. Such an exposed Dark Age Palace must surely have been the Summer residence of the Kings of Cerniw and Dumnonia. Though their main feasting hall has not been located, it is thought to lay beneath the ruins of the medieval castle. Thomas has suggested adjoining areas of high-status, specialist and war-band occupation. Also a marine landing site and caretaker's residence. The later chapel may originally have been a secular building, though the early dedication to King Brychan of Brycheiniog's son, St. Juliot alias Iltud probably indicates it was always the Dumnonian Chapel Royal.

Tintagel, North Cornwall, however, is still well worth a visit if only to see the Old Post Office NT, a fourteenth century manor house with a topsy turvy slated roof, or to walk out to the ruins of the 12th century Castle- birthplace of so many Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. 15 miles away on Bodmin Moor is Dozmary Pool the last resting place of Excaliber, Merlin 's magical sword, or to walk the Cornish Coastal Path. In Tintagel village there are also several Inns and restaurants.

On the Cornish cliffs overlooking the sea spectacular views are to be had. After stopping to have a look at the castle remains constructed in the 13th Century by Richard Earl of Cornwall. Cross the wooden bridge to the Island and climb the steps to more ruins. The views are even more memorable with a winter gale lashing in from far out in the Atlantic Ocean. Excavation have dated these to the 6th century, a time when the Celts where introducing Christianity to the county, but likely to have been a stronghold of Cornish Kings. The 12th century historian, Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae ( History of the Kings of Britain ) cites this as the place where King Arthur was conceived. N.B. It is a half mile walk down a hill from the village so, unlike the author, check to see that Tintagel Castle is open before setting out. A landrover runs a passenger service in season for those of you unable to face the walk back up.

Don’t miss the opportunity to walk along the Cornwall Coast Path from Tintagel Castle, west along Glebe Cliff to St Matriana's - a Norman church in a stunning setting high on the cliff top. Views back to the castle ruins, north to Lundy Island, and far out into the Atlantic Ocean. Still feeling fit? Continue to walk south along the North Cornwall Coast Path, past the abandoned slate quarries to Trebarwith Strand, hence to Port Isaac.

Whilst visiting the Castle, wander down to the Haven. It is hard to imagine that hundreds of years ago schooners and barques would load slate from this very narrow harbour. For dramatic scenery follow the Coast path from tintagel castle and around Barras Nose, one of the National Trust's first acquisitions. Continue on to Willapark and Bossinney. Off shore are the two rocks known as the Sisters, the breeding home of a large colony of razorbill and guillemot, you will need a telescope to see them, though if the wind is in the right direction you might just catch their delightful calls in the breeze.

bossiney boscastle-harbour On the northern outskirts of Tintagel Village, is Bossiney Cove reached via a longish walk down a steep path from the nearest car park. In spring at least 50 pairs of fulmars and hundreds of House Martins nest on the cliffs above the Cove. At low water there is a large sandy beach, and lots of rock pools for the kids to explore. The Coast Path throughout Cornwall offers superb scenery, no more so than the stretch from Padstow to Bude and beyond to the Devon- Cornwall Border.

Between Boscastle and Tintagel, a short walk inland from the Coast Path is St Nectans Glen with its waterfall. Walk out to the Coast down Rocky Valley with its intriguing iron age carvings. An awesome spot in a winter storm so best avoided if a rough sea is running. You have been warned.

Perhaps the most familiar of all the sites associated with Arthur. Local tradition, founded largely on the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth in his twelfth-century History of the Kings of Britain, claims this is the birthplace of Arthur, from
Tintagel Castle
The first gate into Tintagel Castle.
where Merlin took him to be fostered in secret. The dramatic ruins of the castle, dating from the twelfth or thirteenth centuries, are too late to have anything to do with the real Arthur. None the less, they are responsible for a good deal of romantic inspiration. The anonymous medieval writer of The Folie Tristan said that tintagel castle was built by giants and that it used to vanish twice a year - at midwinter and again at midsummer. Thomas Hardy visited tintagel and later drew the castle from memory, reinstating its medieval might. Sir Arnold Bax (1883-1953) composed a wonderful tone-poem evoking the majesty and mystery of the place in 1917; to listen to it is to hear the waves crashing against the rocks below the castle.

A much earlier monastic site on tintagel island promontory behind the castle dates from a time more or less contemporary with Arthur. More recent discoveries, following excavations in 1994, indicate that it may have been a Celtic site of some importance. The most recent thinking suggests that there may well be something in the legends surrounding the place.




North Shore Gallery
Bossiney Road
Tintagel
PL34 0AH

Tel: 01840 779200

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