Cromwell's Castle
Cromwell's Castle is an artillery fort overlooking New Grimsby harbour on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. It comprises a tall, circular gun tower and an adjacent gun platform, and was designed to prevent enemy naval vessels from entering the harbour. The castle was built in two phases; Sir Robert Blake constructed the tower between 1651 and 1652 in the aftermath of the Parliamentary invasion of the islands at the end of the English Civil War, and Master Gunner Abraham Tovey added the gun platform during the War of Jenkins' Ear around 1739. The tower fell into disuse soon afterwards, and in the 21st century is managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.
| Cromwell's Castle | |
|---|---|
| Tresco in the Isles of Scilly | |
The castle, seen from the land | |
Cromwell's Castle | |
| Coordinates | 49.9616°N 6.3505°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference SV881159 |
| Type | Artillery tower |
| Height | 15.1 metres (50 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | English Heritage |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone rubble |
Scheduled monument | |
| Official name | Cromwell's Castle mid-17th century blockhouse and 18th century gun platform on the western coast of Castle Down, Tresco |
| Designated | 9 October 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1013275 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Cromwells Castle |
| Designated | 14 December 1992 |
| Reference no. | 1141198 |
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