Castle Dore
Encyclopedia
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
and early mediaeval hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
near Fowey
Fowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
located at .
Description and History
It consists of circular bank and ditch enclosure with a second enclosure nearby thought to have been an animal corralCorral
Corral is a town, commune and sea port in Los Ríos Region, Chile. It is located south of Corral Bay. Corral is best known for the forts of Corral Bay, a system of defensive batteries and forts made to protect Valdivia during colonial times. Corral was the headquarters of the system...
. Excavation between 1936 and 1937 indicated that it was first occupied between the fourth and first centuries BC with the defences been remodelled around 50BC. It was abandoned during the Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
period but supposedly reoccupied in the sixth century AD when a large hall measuring 27m by 12m was built. However, there is no certain evidence for sub-Roman occupation (the supposedly post-Roman bead and ceramics appear to be of late pre-Roman Iron Age date), and the apparently late remains (a structure) may as easily represent Roman period occupation. the custom fort really made a big difference in keeping the people safe and to keep out the invaders mainly romans and others who might have tried to lay siege to the fort. There is however, no evidence that the fort was attacked by 'Romans', or that it was even certainly occupied during the conquest period,
In tradition Castle Dore is the seat of the legendary Dark Age King Mark and is featured as such in the film Tristan & Isolde
Tristan & Isolde (film)
Tristan & Isolde is a 2006 romantic drama film based on the medieval romantic legend of Tristan and Isolde. It was produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, directed by Kevin Reynolds and stars James Franco and Sophia Myles, with an original music score composed by Anne Dudley...
.
In September 1644 Castle Dore was used by Royalist troops during the Battle of Lostwithiel
Battle of Lostwithiel
The Battles of Lostwithiel or Lostwithiel Campaign, took place near Lostwithiel and Fowey during the First English Civil War in 1644.After defeating the Army of Sir William Waller at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, King Charles marched west in pursuit of the Parliamentarian army of the Earl of...
in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
See also
- Castle DorCastle Dor (novel)Castle Dor is a 1961 historical novel by Daphne du Maurier Set in 19th Century Cornwall-Plot introduction:...
a 1942 historical novel by Daphne du MaurierDaphne du MaurierDame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
(1961) - Castle an Dinas, St. Columb MajorCastle an Dinas, St. Columb MajorCastle an Dinas is an Iron Age hillfort near St. Columb Major in Cornwall, UK and is considered one of the most important hillforts in the southwest of Britain. It dates from around the 3rd to 2nd century BCE and consists of three ditch and rampart concentric rings, 850 feet above sea level....
- Prideaux CastlePrideaux CastlePrideaux Castle is a quadrivallate Iron Age hillfort situated atop a 133 m high conical hill near the southern boundary of the parish of Luxulyan, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom...