Forts in Cornwall facts for kids
Cornwall, a beautiful county in the southwest of England, is famous for its stunning coastline and rich history. For thousands of years, people have built strongholds here to protect themselves and their communities. These amazing structures are called forts. They range from ancient earthworks built on hills to more modern stone castles and blockhouses. Cornwall has over 80 of these historic sites, showing how important defense was throughout history.
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Ancient Forts of Cornwall
Many of Cornwall's forts date back to the Iron Age, a time over 2,000 years ago. These early forts were built by the ancient Cornish people. They show how people lived and defended their homes long ago.
Hillforts: Homes on Hills
Hillforts are large, fortified settlements built on top of hills. They were often surrounded by huge earth banks and ditches. These provided a safe place for families and their animals. Many hillforts in Cornwall show signs that people lived in them for a long time. Some were even used again after the Romans left Britain.
Two of the most impressive hillforts are Chûn Castle near Penzance and Warbstow Bury in North East Cornwall. Other important hillforts include Caer Bran, Castle An Dinas (near Goss Moor), and Castle Dore.
Promontory Forts: Cliff Edge Strongholds
Another type of ancient fort is the promontory fort, also known as a cliff-top fort. These forts used the natural protection of steep cliffs on three sides. People would build strong defenses, like walls and ditches, across the narrow neck of land leading to the fort. This made them very hard to attack.
You can find examples of these dramatic forts all along the Cornish coast. Some well-known ones are Trevelgue Head near Newquay, Maen Castle near Sennen, and Treryn Dinas, which is famous for the Logan Rock. Other sites include Dodman Point and The Rumps.
Forts in Later Times
Forts continued to be important for defense long after the Iron Age. Later forts were built to protect Cornwall from different threats, especially from the sea.
Tudor Defenses
During the Tudor period, around the 1500s, England faced threats from other European countries. King Henry VIII ordered new coastal defenses to be built. One famous example is St Mawes Castle, which still stands today.
At Polruan, there is a special type of fort called a blockhouse. It guarded the entrance to the Fowey River. There was another blockhouse on the opposite side of the river in Fowey. Between these two blockhouses, a huge defensive chain could be stretched across the water. This chain stopped enemy ships from entering the harbour but could be lowered for friendly vessels. This system was mainly used during wars with the Dutch.
Napoleonic Era Forts
In the early 1800s, during the Napoleonic Wars, many new forts were built in South East Cornwall. These forts were designed to protect Plymouth Sound and the important naval docks in Devonport. Some of these strong forts are still used today by the Ministry of Defence, the government department that looks after the country's defense.
