Cornwall, England

The Earl Reginald of Cornwall began work on this Norman Castle on the neck of land between the mainland and Tintagel Island about 1145. He was the brother of Robert Earl of Gloucester. He made it possible for Geoffrey of Monmouth to write his 'History of the British Kings'.

The site of the Tintagel Castle is very sheltered and is on an island. The Normans may have built on top of a former stronghold, whose remains would be hidden beneath these castle ruins. Most of what is seen of the castle today was built in the 1230's by Prince Richard Earl of Cornwall who was the younger brother of Henry III.

The Black Prince owned the castle during the 14th century and he made further additions to the castle. Later in the century the castle served as a bleak and isolated prison.

Tintagel Castle began to erode away and now it is a shell and has 90 feet of great hall that remains. This castle must have been magnificent.

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