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St Catherine's Castle
Fowey |
Restormel
NGR: SX 11871 50932 |
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St Catherine’s Castle is situated on the tip of the rocky headland
known as St Catherine’s Point at the entrance to the River Fowey
estuary. This prominent site has potentially been of varying
importance since prehistory; for example, the Ordnance Survey map of
1880 shows extensive earthworks suggestive of a late prehistoric
cliff castle here. A mediæval chapel to the north of St Catherine’s
Castle was replaced in the 19th century by a granite arched
mausoleum commemorating the Rashleigh family which stood within
contemporary ornamental gardens on the slopes above Readymoney Cove.
A D-shaped two storey blockhouse was commissioned on the site
between 1538 and 1540 by Henry VIII to strengthen the harbour
defences as part of a response to increased military threat from
Spain and France in the aftermath of the Reformation. It replaced
two earlier blockhouses on opposite sides of the estuary at Fowey
and Polruan, still visible today. It was built on a prepared
platform in the rock on the highest point of ground giving it
uninterrupted and all encompassing views along the estuary and out
to sea. Splayed gun ports on the ground and first floors would have
allowed for observation and small arms fire. A parapet walk flanked
by high battlements containing further gun embrasures would have
given further protection. Steep slopes fall away from the blockhouse
walls to a curtain wall and rectangular bastion which meets the
precipitous cliffs either side. This was added prior to 1734 and
subsequently modified during major refurbishment of the site in 1855
during the Crimean War. At this time a battery for two guns was
added, built onto a level platform below and slightly east of the
blockhouse, with a magazine for storing ammunition built into the
rock beside the entrance to the curtain wall. A series of square
granite plaques commemorates the refurbishments and documentary
evidence of 1887 records the Crimean War battery as being armed by
two 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns manned by Artillery
Volunteers. The practice battery was abandoned by the end of the
19th century as the guns became obsolete.
During World War II St Catherine’s Point became a gun battery and
observation post. The south-westerly of the two Crimean gun
emplacements was modified to take a 4.7 inch naval gun and a large
protective concrete shelter and neighbouring pill box were
constructed. A further gun was mounted on the higher ground to the
west of the site, whilst the blockhouse became the firing point for
a controlled minefield laid across the mouth of the Fowey estuary.
The site was dismantled after the war.
St Catherine’s Castle can be accessed by the coastal path leading
south-west out of Fowey through Covington Woods. It is owned and
managed by English Heritage: access is available at all times of the
year and entry is free.
Sources
Thomas, N, 1999. St Catherine’s Castle, Fowey. An Archaeological
Assessment. Historic Environment Service, Cornwall County
Council. |
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Ground & Aerial photographs |
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