Star Castle, Isles of Scilly

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File:Star Castle - geograph.org.uk - 615094.jpg
Star Castle

Star Castle is a fortress on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, built in 1593 by Robert Adams, Surveyor of the Royal Works (d.1595) and Francis Godolphin, Captain of the Scilly Isles, during the "Spanish invasion scare."

Description

The Star Castle is in the shape of an eight-pointed star and features on the flag of the Council of the Isles of Scilly. It is at the centre of a fortification system around the west side of St Mary’s known as the Garrison. The walls of the castle take the shape of an eight-pointed star. It comprises an outer wall around the outcrop of Hew Hill, protecting the town and the castle, with strategically placed gun batteries at regular intervals around the outer wall, allowing covering fire at all angles.

History

The Star Castle was built in 1593 by the Surveyor of the Royal Works and mapmaker Robert Adams, under the direction of Francis Godolphin, Captain of the Scilly Isles, following the Spanish Armada of 1588.[1] Fearing another Spanish invasion, in May 1593 Queen Elizabeth I ordered the construction of a fort and two sconces as a lookout for any intruder ships.[2][3]

In 1740 Master Gunner Abraham Tovey transformed the Garrison building walls with gun batteries, including Colonel Boscawen's Battery,[4] in a circular shape following the coast line of The Hoe. Star Castle is now a hotel.

File:Scillies 2011 081 crop.jpg
Name plate on Colonel George Boscawen's Battery

It is now used as a hotel. Much of the Aaron Elkins novel Unnatural Selection (2006) takes place in and around the Castle.

References

  1. ↑ Colvin, Howard M., ed., History of the King's Works, vol.3 (1975), pp.94-5, see also vol.4, (1982) for description.
  2. ↑ Calendar State Papers Domestic, 1591-1594, London (1867), pp.346-7, 365-367
  3. ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner (1970) Cornwall; 2nd ed. (The Buildings of England). Penguin; p. 210
  4. ↑ http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/garrison-walls/history-and-research/

External links

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