St Mawes Castle, St Mawes (Cornwall)

Sat overlooking the Sea, the elaborately decorated St Mawes Castle offers families a great day out.

Summary

16th century buildings
No smoking
Gift shop
Information provided
Gardens
Audio guide
Free car parking (on site)

Food and Drinks

Picnic area

Introduction

Sat overlooking the sea, the elaborately decorated St Mawes Castle offers families a great day out. Let the audio tour guide you around one of Henry VIII's best preserved forts exploring the rooms and battlements. Then enjoy the gardens and maybe a picnic as you take in the views over the Cornish coast.

History to the present day

Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all. One of the chain of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, it guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary.

A charming clover-leaf shape originally surrounded by octagonal outer defences, St Mawes was designed to mount heavy 'ship-sinking' guns. But particular care was also taken with its embellishment, and it is still bedecked with carved Latin inscriptions in praise of Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. It owes its fine preservation for modern visitors to the fact that, unlike Pendennis Castle, it was little developed after its completion. Easily falling to landward attack by Civil War Parliamentarian forces in 1646, it remained neglected until partial re-arming during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Other coastal forts built by Henry VIII include Portland, Deal and Walmer Castles.
'History rewritten?'
According to history the castle surrendered to the Civil War Parliamentarians "without a shot being fired". Well, there was at least one, and we now have it on display. The cannon ball was fired away from the castle as a warning shot to intimidate the Royalists.
We are therefore thankful to the Royalist commander who surrendered so easily! When you visit, make sure you see this facinating piece of history.

Other facilities

Toilets: One adapted WC.

Shop: Level access via a shallow step.

Refreshments: Drinks and ice creams available from shop. Picnics welcome in gardens.

Access to castle: Level access for wheelchair users through shop and across drawbridge into main entrance floor. Battlements and bastions not accessible, and spiral staircase to other floors is narrow.

Gardens: Reached through side door via large, wide steps. All parts including defences are accessible on impacted gravel paths and smooth grass slopes. Benches. Excellent viewpoints.

Parking: Near entrance; there are steps with handrail down to the entrance and slopes for wheelchairs. Help available.

Visually Impaired Visitors: Sounds of seabirds; a few scented plants in gardens.

Hearing Impaired Visitors: Audio tour with hearing loop included in admission price.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: St Mawes Castle, Cornwall, , United Kingdom

Road Access: In St Mawes on A3078

Train Access: Penmere (Falmouth), 4 miles via Prince of Wales Pier and ferry..

Bus Access: Truronian T50 - St Mawes to within 1⁄2 mile.

Opening Times:

2011/12
1 Apr-30 Jun 10am-5pm* daily except Sat.
1-30 Sep 10am-5pm* daily except Sat.
1-31 Oct-1 Nov 10am-4pm daily incl Sat.
1 Nov-31 Mar 10am-4pm Sat, & Sun.

*Closed Sat. Property may close at 4pm on Fridays and Sundays for private events

24-26 Dec & 1 Jan Closed

Prices: 2011/12

Adult: £4.30

Children: £2.60 (5-15 years)

Concession: £3.90

A 'combination' ferry and castle admision tickets is also available from the Falmouth Vistior Information Centre or Prince of Wales Pier, St.Mawes ferry kiosk.

Photographs courtesy of English Heritage Photo Library.