Tintagel Castle - Magical Memories in photos by Leigh Allan, Cornwall

Tintagel Castle, legendary birthplace of King Arthur.

Cross at St Matriana's Church in Tintagel

The Parish Church of Saint Materiana at Tintagel

St Materiana Church at Tintagel

A lot of the photos in this nostalgic album are from our first visit to Tintagel Castle and St Materiana Church on the hill across from it. That was in 2000. We've been there countless times since and continue to visit frequently as it's only 40 minutes away from our house. We loved it so much we moved home and business down in 2003. It's our magic place - as it is for many. Perhaps it is for you too and why you're here now. Welcome.

Sword in the Stone on the crown of Tintagel Castle in Cornwall

Legend has it that Uther Pendragon, King of England was overcome by desire for the wife of one of his close friends, Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. To prevent Uther from taking his wife, Gorlois took her to Tintagel Castle a supposedly impregnable Castle off the North Cornish coast. However King Uther sought the help of Merlin who cast a spell that caused a thick fog to descend on the castle and surrounding area, it also gave King Uther the appearance of Gorlois. Thus whilst Uthers men were fighting Gorlois and his men, King Uther slipped away into the the castle.

Ygraine, the wife of Gorlois, thinking her husband had returned took King Uther to her bed and Arthur the future King of England was conceived. In the battle outside Gorlois was killed leaving Uther able to marry Ygraine which he promptly did. Merlin's condition for casting the spell was that he should take charge of the child when he was born, which he did.

ref : Brookesmith P,1991, Legends of the Lost, Blitz Editions, Leicester.

Tintagel Castle

Is it the place the Romans called Durocornovium? Was it a Celtic Christian monastery? Is it the stronghold of the kings of Cornwall in the Dark Ages? Questions like these just add to the magic and mystery of Tintagel, buffeted by the sea on its windswept island. What is clear is that the present castle was laid out in the thirteenth century and by Tudor times had fallen into the ruins you see now

Was it here that Tristan wooed Isolde? Where Merlin magicked Uther Pendragon into the bed of Igerna, wife of King Gorlois, to father Arthur? And when Arthur became king, did he place his foot in "Arthur's Footprint" as part of ancient inauguration rites?

As you walk to the top of the headland, take in the view from Trevose Head in the south, to Hartland Point in the north, and listen to the waves breaking in Merlin's Cave below.

When the conquering Normans reached the westernmost land of England they heard that the ancient seat of Cornwall's kings had stood atop this soaring headland, surrounded on three sides by the ceaseless surge of the Atlantic.

So in propaganda terms it made sense for Earl Richard of Cornwall, younger brother of Henry III, to build a castle on the spot where his legendary predecessors had held court. There was no strategic reason for the choice, as there had been for the other Norman castles in Cornwall, Launceston and Restormel - and Earl Richard rarely stayed there.

Though Norman realpolitik put Tintagel on its windy headland, it is as a castle of the imagination that it holds us spellbound - a place of 'magic casements, opening on the foam of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.'

In 1139 Geoffrey de Monmouth published his 'History of Britain' and claimed that Tintagel was the birthplace of King Arthur. Although there may have been the remains of the community established by St Juliot in the 6th century, when Reginald, Earl of Cornwall built his stronghold here in 1145 there was no record of Arthur's castle.

Reginald, the illegitimate son of Henry I, was responsible for the Great Hall and Chapel. In the middle of the 13th century further buildings were added by Earl Richard, the younger brother of Henry III. The main part of the castle dates from his tenure. In the 14th century, with other Cornish castles, it was passed into the ownership of the Black Prince. He carried out some restoration but after his death the castle fell into decline.

It was used as a prison at the end of the 14th century but was never used again as a fortress. Today it forms part of the Duchy of Cornwall. Coastal erosion has resulted in the castle being part the mainland and part on a peninsula. The narrow causeway that connected the castle to the mainland in Geoffrey of Monmouth's time has been washed away and access to the castle is now by two steep stairways.

St Materiana Church at Tintagel

click the photo

There are many ghosts in this part of the world.
Look around you, as the sea-light dances and the salt-spray flies, and you can believe whatever you want to believe.

Before you go.....

Perhaps you would like to get to know the ghost children. They are represented by their ghost-made dolls on the websites below. You can learn about them and read a snippet of their story which is under pen now. It is a tragic ghost story of nine poor orphans who perished at sea not far from Tintagel Castle in the early 1800s. The spirit children are fading in their unseen world and it's through their dolls they communicate with the living.

Get to know the ghost children. Visit their website and do bring your loved ones as well. Help save the nine from vanishing.
Once you know them they will haunt you forever.

Our visit to the Tower of London

EXPERIENCE CORNWALL FOR YOURSELF!
Visit Tintagel Castle also Camelot Castle Hotel, overlooking Tintagel Castle

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