Cromwell's Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cromwell Castle |
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| Tresco in the Isles of Scilly | |
The castle, seen from the land
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 Cromwell Castle
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| Coordinates | 49°57′42″N 6°21′02″W / 49.9616°N 6.3505°W |
| Type | Artillery tower |
| Height | 15.1 metres (50 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | English Heritage |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone rubble |
Cromwell's Castle is an old fort on the island of Tresco. It overlooks New Grimsby harbour in the Isles of Scilly. This castle was built to stop enemy ships from entering the harbour.
The castle has a tall, round tower and a nearby platform for cannons. It was built in two main stages. Sir Robert Blake built the tower between 1651 and 1652. This was after the Parliamentary forces took over the islands. Later, around 1739, Abraham Tovey added the gun platform. This happened during a conflict called the War of Jenkins' Ear.
The tower was not used much after that time. Today, English Heritage looks after the castle. It is open for people to visit and explore.
Contents
History of Cromwell's Castle
How the Castle Was Built (17th Century)
Cromwell's Castle is an artillery tower. It was built by Sir Robert Blake. This happened after the Parliamentary forces took over the Isles of Scilly in 1651.
During the English Civil War (1642-1646), people in the Isles of Scilly supported King Charles I. In 1648, they rebelled against Parliament. Tresco became a base for Royalist privateers, who were like armed ships that attacked enemy vessels. Parliament worried that the Dutch, who were not friendly with England, might use the islands. They also feared Royalist forces from Ireland might attack England from there.
In 1651, Parliament sent Robert Blake and his navy to take back the islands. The Royalists had made the islands stronger with defenses.
After gaining control, Blake built Cromwell's Castle on Tresco. It was named after Oliver Cromwell, the leader of Parliament. The castle was meant to protect the deep water entrance to New Grimsby harbour. This route could also let enemy ships reach other Scilly Isles. Parliament was especially worried about any attacks from the Dutch.
There were already two forts nearby. The main one, King Charles's Castle, was built in the 1550s. But it was not in a good spot. Its defenders blew it up when Blake's forces arrived. There was also a small blockhouse from the 16th century below it. The new Cromwell's Castle was built on top of this older site.
The castle first had a round tower with three levels. It was about 13.45 metres (44.1 ft) wide and 15.1 metres (50 ft) tall. Its walls were very thick, almost 13 feet (4.0 m). They were made from huge pieces of stone rubble. One old report called the tower "a Huge Mass of Masonry." Some stones came from the ruined King Charles's Castle.
The roof had six openings for cannons. These openings were wide on the outside. This allowed the cannons to fire across the channel between Bryher and Tresco. There might have been a small gun platform next to the main tower. The castle's design was old-fashioned. It looked like the round forts built by Henry VIII in the mid-1500s.
Changes Over Time (17th–20th Centuries)
After Charles II became king again in 1660, the castle was checked. People suggested it needed repairs. A check in the late 1730s showed the castle had ten places for cannons. But there were not enough guns on the island for all the defenses. Some of the available guns also did not work.
In 1739, the War of Jenkins' Ear started between Britain and Spain. So, it was decided to make Cromwell's Castle stronger. Abraham Tovey, the Master Gunner at the Garrison, built a large gun platform. This platform was for six cannons. It was on the south-west side of the tower. It might have been built on top of an older 16th-century platform. A wall protected the guns. A new entrance was made into the main tower, and other changes were done.
William Borlase, a person who studied old things, visited the castle in 1752. He saw that the gun platform had 9-pounder (4 kg) cannons. The tower roof had 4-pounder (1.8 kg) guns. But the castle was empty and falling apart. This was even after Tovey's work. The writer John Troutbeck later said the tower had a "special bomb proof" roof. It also had 6-foot (1.8 m) high walls on top. He noted that some old iron cannons were still there. But the castle was still empty and in bad condition.
The Crown, which means the King or Queen, owned the Scilly Isles. They leased them to the Godolphin family in 1687. Then, Augustus Smith leased them in 1834. In 1922, the lease went to Smith's grand-nephew, Arthur Dorrien-Smith. He agreed to let the Ministry of Works take care of several places on Tresco, including the castle.
Cromwell's Castle Today (21st Century)
Today, English Heritage manages Cromwell's Castle. They took over from the Ministry of Works. The castle is open for visitors to explore. The wooden floors inside are gone. But the spiral staircase and the stone, vaulted roof are still there and can be used.
English Heritage says the castle is "one of only a few stone fortifications that survive from the Interregnum." The Interregnum was the time when England had no king. The castle is protected by UK law as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
