Black Head (St Austell), Cornwall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Head |
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 Location in Cornwall
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| Location | St Austell Bay, Cornwall |
| OS grid | SX 039 480 |
| Coordinates | 50°17′57″N 4°45′16″W / 50.29917°N 4.75444°W |
| Operator | National Trust |
| Designation | Scheduled monument |
Black Head is a beautiful piece of land that sticks out into the sea, called a headland. You can find it at the western end of St Austell Bay in Cornwall, England. This special place is looked after by the National Trust, an organization that protects important historical and natural sites.
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Exploring Black Head's History
Black Head is more than just a pretty view; it's also a place with a long history! Long ago, during the Iron Age (which was about 2,000 to 3,000 years ago), people built a promontory fort here. A promontory fort is a type of fort built on a piece of land that sticks out into the water, using the natural cliffs for defense.
The Ancient Fort
The people who lived here built strong defenses. You can still see parts of two parallel walls, called ramparts, which were once up to 5.2 meters (about 17 feet) high. There were also ditches, about 2.1 meters (nearly 7 feet) deep, in front of these walls. These features helped protect the people living inside the fort from enemies.
This ancient fort is so important that it has been made a scheduled monument. This means it's a nationally important historical site that is protected by law.
Other Historical Clues
Later, in the 1880s, a rifle range was built at Black Head. A rifle range is a place where people practice shooting. Parts of this old range can still be seen today, even though it was changed a few times over the years.
A Tribute to a Writer
You'll also find a special stone at Black Head that remembers a famous Cornish writer named A. L. Rowse. He was a historian and poet who loved Cornwall very much. He lived in a small village nearby called Trenarren after he retired. The stone has a special message carved into it: "This was the land of my content," which shows how much he loved this beautiful area.
Black Head is a great place to visit to enjoy nature and learn about the past, from ancient times to more recent history.
