Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle was built in the 16^th Century, by Henry VIII to defend the Cornish Coast from possible invasion by the Spanish and French.

Constructed between 1540 and 1545, Pendennis, along with its sister castle at St Mawes was designed to defend the south west coast from the threat of invasion from Europe’s dominant forces; France and Spain, following King Henry VIII ’s denouncement of the Catholic Church. Pendennis Castle has since been defending the Cornish Coast for some 400 years right up to World War II. In 1598, during Elizabeth I ’s reign the castle was further reinforced with a crescent shaped artillery battery. During the Civil War of the 17th Century, Pendennis Castle was the penultimate Royalist Stronghold to be taken by Cromwell’s forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax.

The troops of the garrison were starved out and had to surrender. Previously Pendennis castle hosted Charles II in 1646, before he escaped to the Scilly Isles, en route to mainland Europe.

Pendennis Castle’s 400-year history is on full view to the public. Visitors can see the Guardhouse as it appeared during World War II, as well as the underground tunnels of the Half Moon Gun Battery and the 16th Century Tudor gun deck. During July and August, the Noonday Gun is fired each day at noon.