Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

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No. 247283 

  THE GATEHOUSE 

The comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of Cornwall

With thanks to Philip Davis

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Polruan Blockhouse

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Polruan Castle

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

Boom tower survives as a two storied rectangular building constructed on a low rocky promontory which juts out into the River Fowey, and is located opposite another boom tower, Fowey Blockhouse. The structure is roofless and is constructed of the local slate stone with moulded granite surrounds to some windows, gun ports and the main entrance. The boom tower was probably built in response to a raid on the town of Fowey by the French in 1457. Leland states that the towers were built during the reign of Edward IV (1461-1483). Polruan Blockhouse was also equipped for use with guns. The two boom towers were designed to have a chain laid across the river between them which could be raised to prevent enemy shipping reaching the town of Fowey. Advances in artillery made the tower obselete and it was superseded by St Catherine's Castle in the 1520s, on the opposite side of the river

This site has been described as a;
Chain Tower / Artillery Fort.

A form of harbour defence where a chain is extended across the entry into a harbour to prevent access by enemy vessels. The mechanism housing the chain and allowing it to be raised and lowered was housed in a defensive tower, often an artillery fort in it's own right.

Fortifications designed specifically for mounting artillery, usually as coastal defence against warships. Vary from large stone structures to small earthwork bulwarks with room for one or two pieces. Although some of the large royal buildings were of high quality with good detail these are actually practical military works.

The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.

Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 60592)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX12335108

 

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 number; 1315213

• Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p31
    Saunders, Andrew, 1997, Channel Defences (London; Batsford/English Heritage) p117
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p20
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p75
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p112 [a confusing passage]
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p3
    Lysons, D. and S., 1814, Magna Britannia Vol3 Cornwall [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.asp?pubid=403]
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol1 p23
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol8 p16-21

• Journal Articles

  • Kenyon, J.R., 1981 'Early Artillery Fortifications in England and Wales: a Preliminary Survey and Re-appraisal' Archaeological Journal Vol138 p215

• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p77, 80, 86