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The Significance of Monuments

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Tintagel Cliff Castle - Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle in England in Cornwall

Submitted by Bladup on Monday, 09 September 2013  Page Views: 5385

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Tintagel Cliff Castle
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle
Nearest Town: Camelford  Nearest Village: Tintagel
Map Ref: SX0498489124
Latitude: 50.669038N  Longitude: 4.761115W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

lauraaurora saw from a distance on 14th Jun 2022

lichen visited on 4th Sep 2015 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 4

TwinFlamesKiss visited on 1st May 2013 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 2 Long walk down a track from nearest park in village, but when we went there was a 4WD you could pay a pound for a lift back up to village.

Ergler TheCaptain AnnabelleStar hevveh DaygloViking have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.5 Ambience: 4.5 Access: 3

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup : Tintagel Cliff Castle, This is one massive Cliff castle, You can tell how important it was by the other lesser cliff castles along the coast near it, All maybe not much more than lookouts for this main living area, All long before the ages that has made the place famous. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Tintagel, an Iron age cliff castle, later reused in Dark age and medieval times.

It is also said that King Arthur could have been born here.

This site has a number of settlements, churches, monasteries, castles and associated features in a complex relationship "which demonstrates how significant this headland has been for successive societies". This site is scheduled as Historic England List ID 1014793 (Romano-British and early medieval settlement, medieval church, castle and associated features on Tintagel Island and adjoining mainland).

Pastscape includes a number of entries for Tintagel Island:
Tintagel Castle, a Romano British and Post Roman early Medieval Settlement : Monument No. 968302;
Medieval Settlement/Monastic Remains: Monument No. 968302;
St Julietta's Chapel with its cross incised slab: Monument No. 968432, and
Romano-British occupation surfaces succeeded by large 5th to 6th century settlement: Monument No. 968445.

The Journal of Antiquities also includes an entry for the Tintagel Head Celtic Monastery, Cornwall, which includes plans of the site, background information and a list of reference sources for more information.
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Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup : Tintagel Cliff Castle (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine : 2007 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine : The fogou or ice chamber, 2007

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine : 2007

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Antonine

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by TwinFlamesKiss : Tintagel Cliff Castle

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by AngieLake : From the lower slopes of the land near St Materiana's Church, one could see the men working on erecting the new footbridge [R of centre]. I would not want to be the guy abseiling down those cliffs! 2 May 2019. (2 comments)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by AngieLake : A zoomed-in view showing the King Arthur statue on Tintagel Castle. 2 May 2019

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by AngieLake : On 2nd May while visiting St Materiana's Church, this was the view just down the slope by the cliff top. The new(ish) statue of King Arthur can be seen on the summit. (6 comments)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by theCaptain : Enjoying a pleasure flight in an old DH89 Rapide biplane, the spectacular Tintagel Head and castle was clearly visible from my side of the aeroplane as we did a 270 degree turn above it.

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by theCaptain (1 comment)

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by theCaptain

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by theCaptain

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by theCaptain

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup : Part of the truely massive ditch at Tintagel cliff castle.

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup : The south cliffs on Tintagel cliff castle.

Tintagel Cliff Castle
Tintagel Cliff Castle submitted by Bladup : Looking over ancient houses and the haven at Tintagel cliff castle.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 157m SE 125° Merlin's Cave (Cornwall)* Cave or Rock Shelter (SX05118903)
 199m WNW 290° Tintagel Head Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX048892)
 217m E 94° Barras Nose Cave* Cave or Rock Shelter (SX052891)
 627m S 172° St. Materiana standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX05058850)
 672m SSE 154° Standing stone near Wootons Inn* Marker Stone (SX05268851)
 675m S 174° St Materiana's Church (Tintagel)* Ancient Cross (SX05038845)
 755m SSE 161° Tintagel Earthwork Misc. Earthwork (SX052884)
 844m S 190° Glebe Cliff Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (SX048883)
 1.1km SE 131° Aelnet's Cross (Tintagel)* Ancient Cross (SX0575888410)
 1.1km SE 137° Merlins Cave Modern Stone Circle* Modern Stone Circle etc (SX057883)
 1.1km S 177° Glebe Cliff Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SX050880)
 1.3km ENE 66° Bossiney Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX062896)
 1.5km SW 219° Tintagel Cup Marks Rock Shelter Rock Art (SX0488)
 1.5km S 185° Dennis Scale Caves Cave or Rock Shelter (SX048876)
 1.7km ESE 103° Bossiney Mound* Artificial Mound (SX066887)
 1.8km S 174° Hole Beach Caves Cave or Rock Shelter (SX051873)
 2.3km E 84° Rocky Valley* Carving (SX073893)
 2.3km ESE 108° Fenterleigh* Ancient Cross (SX07178832)
 2.6km E 88° Trethevey Roman Stone* Sculptured Stone (SX076891)
 2.7km E 86° St Peran's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX07668920)
 2.8km E 80° King Arthur's Quoit* Chambered Tomb (SX07808951)
 3.1km E 100° St Nectan's Glen* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX080885)
 3.2km ENE 58° Ladies' Window* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SX07749069)
 3.2km ENE 72° Trevalga Cross* Ancient Cross (SX081900)
 3.6km S 186° Start Point Tumuli Barrow Cemetery (SX045856)
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"Tintagel Cliff Castle" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: Latest (funny) news on the bridge to Tintagel Castle by AngieLake on Saturday, 03 August 2019
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7314421/King-Arthurs-Tintagel-Castle-new-5-million-bridge-strength-tested-bouncing-workers.html

Video and pics of workers bouncing up and down on the bridge to see if it is safe!
:-)
[ Reply to This ]

Re: New bridge at Tintagel by AngieLake on Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Article in today's Daily Mail online regarding the new King Arthur's Bridge being built to access the cliff castle and Dark Age site's remains:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6724297/Birthplace-King-Arthur-set-restored-former-glory.html
There was a clip on South west TV News' 'Spotlight' last night showing workmen dangling from harnesses while inserting the anchoring points into the cliffs for this bridge.
The design looks a little fragile to me, and I hate heights, so smiled when I read this tongue-in-cheek comment:
" I'm not riding a horse over that bridge certainly not while laden with armour....cos that's what I do a lot of the time. "
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Tintagel Castle a royal site with Mediterranean trading links. by AngieLake on Friday, 11 August 2017
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The local SW TV news featured a story about this summer's archaeological dig today. I see Daily Mail had the results, up to then, back in July:
See:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4691774/Tintagel-Castle-royal-site-Mediterranean-trading-links-experts-suggest.html

"Early Cornish kings feasted on oysters, roast pork and wine out of bowls imported from Turkey and glass goblets from Spain, excavations at Tintagel Castle have shown.
The evidence of fine dining and luxury in the late 5th and early 6th century was unearthed as part of the first research excavations to take place in decades at the legendary coastal castle, by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) in 2016.
While Tintagel is intricately bound up in the legend of King Arthur, who was said to have been conceived there, experts said the finds showed it was almost certainly a royal site with trading links to the Mediterranean during “Cornwall’s First Golden Age”.

"Results of the dig, which have now been published by (CAU) and English Heritage, show finds include oyster shells, livestock bones with signs of burning and butchering and a cod cranial bone which provides the first evidence of deep sea fishing at Tintagel.
The dig, which only covered a small area, also turned up a Phocaean red slipped ware bowl from Turkey, amphorae or jars from southern Turkey or Cyprus, and fine glassware from Spain, as well as iron brooches and dress hooks, knives and nails.
The excavations uncovered a selection of stone-walled structures on the southern terrace of Tintagel Castle’s island area, with substantial stone walls and slate floors reached by a flight of slate steps."

"Following on from the successful dig, the archaeologists have returned to examine a much wider area, with the public able to see them in action.
English Heritage properties curator Win Scutt, said the finds drew a “highly evocative picture” of life at the site in the post-Roman period.
“These finds reveal a fascinating insight into the lives of those at Tintagel Castle more than 1,000 years ago."
[Just a few pre-2017 excerpts above.]

More on the 2017 dig at:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/tintagelcastle
and here:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/tintagel-dig




[ Reply to This ]

Bridge to Tintagel raises philosophical and practical objections by Andy B on Friday, 30 June 2017
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Critics of planned bridge say increased footfall could erode island’s structures – that is, if anyone is willing to cross it

Plans for a footbridge soaring high above the waves between the Cornish mainland and the island fortress of Tintagel have caused a storm of protest.

The site’s custodians, English Heritage, say the bridge will help more visitors reach the island and understand its history better.

It is to be created out of two cantilevers that reach across the windswept void from either side but do not quite meet in the middle. Plans for the £4m project have been formally submitted to Cornwall council but there have been objections ranging from the philosophical – is it all about raising money? – to the practical: might not people get a foot stuck in the gap?

In recent months English Heritage has been criticised for turning Tintagel into a “fairytale theme park” focusing more on its legendary associations with King Arthur than its real, fascinating history.

There was an outcry last year after the head of Merlin was carved into a rockface and a statue of a regal figure that most visitors take to be Arthur was helicoptered on to a prominent spot on the island. The bridge scheme is creating more concern.

Bert Biscoe, a Cornwall councillor and Cornish bard, is among those who have now officially objected to the 72-metre-long (236ft) bridge.

Biscoe said the planning application was one of the most important ever to be put before a council in Cornwall and possibly in the UK and should be subject to a planning inquiry.

More
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/30/bridge-to-tintagel-raises-philosophical-and-practical-objections
[ Reply to This ]

Kingly statue plunges sword into Tintagel's Arthurian row by Andy B on Sunday, 24 April 2016
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Perched above the Atlantic breakers, the imposing bronze statue of a regal figure clutching a sword and gazing back across the ruins of Tintagel castle and towards the Cornish mainland is certainly impressive.

“Brilliant, isn’t it?” said Matt Ward, the property manager of this most atmospheric spot. “I think the visitors are going to love it. Imagine it when a sea mist comes in. It will look amazing.”

Press Ward on who the statue represents, however, and he becomes a little more wary. Is it King Arthur? Is that sword Excalibur? “It’s up to you, it’s up to the visitors to decide. You can interpret it how you like.”

Ward is probably right to be careful. Earlier this year a row broke out over Tintagel, the legendary site of King Arthur’s conception, after its modern-day guardians, English Heritage, unveiled a carving of Merlin’s face in a rockface at the site.

There were howls of protest from Cornish nationalists and historians, who claimed English Heritage was guilty of the “Disneyfication” of Tintagel and ignoring its true Cornish history.

Later this week the public and the critics will get a chance to cast an eye over the new statue, which is so large that it had to be helicoptered to the peninsula fortress, and decide for themselves if it is the “once and future king” – and whether or not it is an example of rampant commercialisation.

More in the Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/24/kingly-statue-plunges-sword-into-tintagels-arthurian-row
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