Castle Horneck

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Iron Castle; Hornocke

In the civil parish of Penzance.
In the historic county of Cornwall (Modern Authority of Cornwall, 1974 county of Cornwall).

Vanished possible C12 castle near Penzance. Grade 2* listed C18 house on presumed site. From Polsue - About a quarter of a mile to the west of Penzance is Castle Horneck, the Iron-castle thought to be the site of a castle so denominated from its supposed strength, and built by the family of Tyes, who were lords of this district early in the times of the Plantagenets, and whose title as baron Tyes became extinct in 1322. "Castle Hornocke, " writes Norden , "an auntient ruyned castle standinge on a mounte nere Pensans , and as it seemeth in former times of some accompte." Norden is, presumably, John Norden, C16 cartographer. PastScape mentions Post medieval house only. This site is about 400m east of Lesingey Round and it is possible that this is the site of the C12 castle and that the place name has been utilised by a later building on a nearby but different site.

This site has been described as a Masonry Castle. These include castles designed from the outset to have masonry defences and timber castles where the fortifications or significant building have been replaced in Stone. This includes all the classic castle types such as Shell Keep, Great Tower and bailey, Enclosure, Concentric castles etc. These are the buildings which are what are generally thought of as castles and are well described in many books, web sites etc. Masonry is stonework bounded with mortar. A few castles have dry-stone walls, these are listed under earthwork castles, since the dry-stone walling basically requires a similar level of expense and skill as earthwork defences.

The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Nothing visible remains.

This site is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 69402)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SW45743026

Modern Map from

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from

Good for general location

Air Photo from

1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape
Web site links
- http://west-penwith.org.uk/madron5.htm#castle
Books
- Spreadbury, I. D., 1984, Castles in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Redruth)
  Polsue, Joseph, 1867–72, A complete parochial history of the county of Cornwall (William Lake, Truro and John Camden Hotten, London)

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