Castle an Dinas, St Columb Major facts for kids
Castle an Dinas is an ancient hillfort from the Iron Age. It sits on top of Castle Downs in Cornwall, UK. Many people think it's one of the most important hillforts in southwest Britain.
This fort was built a very long time ago, around 300 to 200 years before Christ. It has three big rings of ditches and banks that were used for defense. The fort is about 259 meters (850 feet) above sea level. In the early 1960s, a team led by Dr. Bernard Wailes from the University of Pennsylvania studied the site.
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King Arthur's Legend
According to old stories, Castle an Dinas was a hunting lodge for King Arthur. He supposedly rode from here during a big hunt on Tregoss Moor. There was even a stone near St Columb Major that people said had the four footprints of his horse!
The first written record of this legend comes from William Worcester. He visited Cornwall in 1478. He wrote that legend says this fort is where Gorlois died. Gorlois was the Duke of Cornwall and the husband of King Arthur's mother.
English Civil War
In March 1646, during the English Civil War, something important happened here. Sir Ralph Hopton and his Royalist soldiers camped inside the fort. They stayed for two nights.
While there, they held a meeting called a Council of War. At this meeting, they decided to give up to the Parliamentarians. Only Hopton and Major-General Webb wanted to keep fighting. A few days later, Hopton surrendered at Tresillian Bridge near Truro.
Other Interesting Stories
Ghost Army A strange event was recorded by a Cornish historian named Samuel Drew. He wrote that a "ghost army" was seen in the sky above Castle an Dinas. This happened around the end of the 1700s. It might have been a very unusual type of mirage.
In 1867, Henry Jenner heard a similar story. An old man told him he had seen the ghosts of King Arthur's soldiers. They were drilling there, and the moonbeams shone on their muskets!
Midsummer Bonfires The Old Cornwall Society holds a special event here every year. They light traditional midsummer bonfires on the highest point of the fort. This ceremony is very old. It dates back to times before Christianity. People used to light these fires to celebrate the Summer Solstice.
Castle-an-Dinas Mine
From 1916 to 1957, Castle an Dinas was home to Cornwall's biggest wolfram mine. Wolfram is a metal used in many things, like light bulbs. Many of the old mine buildings and workings are still standing today.
This mine is also famous for a mineral called Russellite. It's the place where this mineral was first found. Other minerals found here include:
Images for kids
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A 3D view of the digital terrain model of Castle an Dinas
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An old stone at Castle an Dinas
