Henry VIII’s Artillery Fort

Pendennis Castle was built from 1539 to 1545 as part of Henry VIII’s national programme of military and naval preparations in response to possible invasion from the united power of Catholic Europe.

Perched at the opening to Carrick Roads, it’s easy to see why the location was chosen to protect the important anchorage, alongside St Mawes, against enemy warships.

The fort was only fully garrisoned (guarded) by up to 100 men when there was an imminent threat, most notably during the planned Spanish invasions of 1574, 1579, 1588 and 1596-7.

Image – Henry VIIIs circular gun tower, begun in about 1540

The Siege of Pendennis, 1646

During the First Civil War, Falmouth became an important port for King Charles I’s army and Pendennis’ defences were dramatically tested as the war drew to a close when it became one of the last Royalist strongholds.

Roughly 1,000 soldiers and their dependents endured a five-month siege at the castle, only agreeing to an honourable surrender in August when their food ran out.

Following this, there were no major events at Pendennis, however continuing warfare with the Dutch and French meant that a small garrison was maintained on and off at the castle.

Image credit: Reconstruction of Pendennis as it may have appeared during the siege of 1646©

Historic England (illustration by Ivan Lapper)

Georgian Modernisation

In 1714, the castle was reported to be ‘neglected’ and in ‘very ruinous condition’ when Colonel Christian Lilly carried out a review of England’s coastal defences.

Following the review, repairs were carried out between 1732 to 1739; the old rampart was re-formed, new guns were installed, and new buildings erected, including a storehouse, gunpowder magazine and gunner’s barracks.

Further improvements were made during the long wars with Napoleonic France (1793-1815) when the garrison became permanent and the defences were strengthened by five raised gun batteries, plus a new Half Moon Battery, a host of barracks, a hospital and store buildings were erected. Today, most of these buildings still stand, and visitors can explore both the barracks and Half Moon Battery.

Image credit: The Pendennis Artillery Volunteers in the castle, c.1800© Council of the National Army

Museum (painting by Charles Tomkins)

Pendennis’ Decline and Rearmament

Following the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, Pendennis became neglected and many of the temporary buildings were removed.

However, this changed by the late 1850s when Pendennis was rearmed with more powerful guns as England and France raced for military and naval advantage. Despite this, the fortress received little attention in the nationwide programme of fort-building in the 1860s as it was considered a lower strategic target for the enemy.

It was Falmouth’s designation as a Defended Port in 1887 that resulted in many new defences for the estuary, commanded from Pendennis Castle. These included breech-loading guns, accurate rangefinders, searchlights, telephones and electricity being installed. Due to the intricate defences at the castle, a new barracks was built in 1902 for the 105 th Regiment Royal Garrison Artillery who were based at the castle.

The World Wars

During the First World War (1914-18), Pendennis Castle was the command centre of coast artillery defences for west Cornwall. This meant that key defence points and trenches protected it, and thousands of troops came for training here.

In 1939, Pendennis resumed control of coastal defences in several ways. The threat from torpedo boats was countered by twin 6-pounder and 12-poinder guns and long-range defence guns were put in place in the Half Moon Battery. Today, follow the tunnels down and discover where the ammunition was stored and the camouflaged gun emplacements here.

Following the war, Pendennis Castle continued to be used for training until 1956 when the Coast Artillery Branch of the Army was disbanded. A year later, it was returned to the guardianship of the Ministry of Works for opening to the public.

Visitors to the castle today can discover the fascinating history of the castle while exploring the circular keep, barracks, Half Moon Battery and more. Perched above the sea with dramatic panoramic views across to Falmouth and Carrick Roads it’s an unmissable day out.

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