St Mawes Castle
Local highlightOne of Henry VIII's coastal gun-forts, a neat clover-leaf of stone above the mouth of the Fal, facing Pendennis
Open to visitorsan English Heritage site — check opening times and admission before you go
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Henry VIII built St Mawes in the 1540s as one of a string of forts set to defend the coast against a feared French and Spanish invasion. The plan is unusual and rather elegant — a round central tower with three curved bastions around it, like a clover leaf, kept low and rounded so cannon shot would glance off. Its guns covered the wide anchorage of Carrick Roads together with the larger fort at Pendennis across the water. In the event the invasion never came and St Mawes saw little action; during the Civil War its governor surrendered to Parliament without a fight, which is partly why it survives so complete. English Heritage runs it, on the edge of St Mawes village on The Roseland peninsula. St Anthony’s Lighthouse marks the point just to the south, and Falmouth is a short ferry-hop across the estuary.
More at the National Heritage List entry
