One of the most mystical places in England. According to one legend the infant Arthur was thrown by the waves on the beach by Merlin's cave. King Arthur's time in history was in the fifth century. He is identified with the known history of a Celtic chieftain of the period who led his countrymen in the West in their resistance against Saxon invaders. Many believe that Arthur was of a mixed Roman and British parentage.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, in his 12th. century History of the Kings of Britain asserted that Arthur was conceived at Tintagel, during the troubled times of the Roman withdrawal from these Isles. It is probable that Arthur is not entirely fictitious, but heavily based on a character in earlier Welsh literature.
Whoever he was (or maybe wasn't) is largely irrelevant. The important point is that he was important in binding together the people from the disparate tribes of the British Isles. He became the hero that everyone, no matter where they came from, could believe in.
It is always difficult to prove if Arthur did exist but certainly there was a great warrior in the West of England who had some kind of fortress where Tintagel Castle, (King Arthur's Castle) is today. The original fortress has gone but archaeologists have found proof in their diggings on the Tintagel Castle, that fifth century citizens lived on the site. The replacement Castle was built between 1230-1236 & is now nearly 800 years old. Within two hundred years the Castle was in ruins & remains so to this day.
Who built the castle is not known for certain, but it seems likely that it was the work of Richard, Earl of Cornwall (brother to Henry III). Richard owned the site from about 1234, which seems to coincide neatly with the presumed age of the castle.
The ruins are on top of two separate cliffs, which are reached by two very steep staircases. The access to them is down below the village of Tintagel, and they thoughtfully run a landrover shuttle up and down the hill. Which is just as well, because, believe me, after climbing up to the ruins, the last thing you want to do is walk back up the hill to the village.
For many years, one of my favourite pieces of classical music has been 'Tintagel' by Arthur Bax. I climbed up to the main ruin, sat on the grass looking out over Merlin's Cave, and listened to it on my iPod. It really brought home to me just how much Bax must have loved the place, and the mysteries surrounding it. If you are not familiar with this marvellous tone poem, here it is. It's only 15 minutes or so long, but for me, it completely encapsulates this world:
Since I last visited, there has been an overhaul of the access routes up to the castle ruins, with new steps and a bridge connecting the two halves. It is apparently now far less of an arduous climb. There is also a stunning new statue, which everyone assumes is of King Arthur.
(not my picture)
In fact, the statue, by Rubin Eynon, is called 'Gallos', which is 'power' in the Cornish language.
The Old Post Office (above) is a rare survival of a small manor house, built in the 14th. century. It was first built over 600 years ago as a farmhouse during the medieval period. Slowly modified over the centuries, it became more fashionable than functional. The house has served many purposes over time, but it has always been a home. Its final use was as the letter-receiving office for the village during the 1870s. It is Grade I listed.
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