Cornwall
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Cornwall from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Cornwall's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
Bere Ferrers
The official listing for all World Heritage sites is held by UNESCO and can be found on their website.
Large multivallate hillfort known as 'Castle Canyke', 375…
Bodmin
Castle Canyke is a significant Iron Age hillfort in Cornwall, offering insights into ancient social, territorial, and economic aspects despite modern divisions.
Holy well at Trelill, 190m ENE of Trelill House
Wendron
The Holy well at Trelill, a 15th-century site dedicated to St. Wendrona, features stone benches and niches and is rich in local folklore about crows and pin-leaving traditions.
Werrington Park
Werrington
Werrington Park, developed in the 18th century, was owned by notable families including the Morice family and Dukes of Northumberland, featuring landscapes by William Kent.
Pillwood House
Feock
A High-Tech holiday home by John Miller of Colquhoun and Miller with Su Rogers, 1973-1974.
National Explosives
Gwinear-Gwithian
Former explosives factory begun in 1887 for the National Explosives Company, with alterations and additions until its closure in 1920.
Penheale Manor
Egloskerry
Penheale Manor is noted for its early 20th-century gardens designed by Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. The manor's history traces back to the 15th century.
Mount Edgcumbe
Maker-with-Rame
Mount Edgcumbe features early 16th-century parkland, 18th- and early 19th-century landscaped gardens, and historical structures, with significant contributions from the Edgcumbe family and...
St Michael's Mount
St. Michael's Mount
St Michael's Mount is an important historical site with medieval, Bronze and Iron Age origins, extensive gardens, and fortifications, gifted to the National Trust in 1954.
St Constantine's chapel and holy well
St. Merryn
St Constantine's chapel and well, a Grade II medieval site in Cornwall, features a partially excavated chapel ruin and a well historically important for pilgrimages.
Gunnislake Clitters copper, tin, arsenic and wolfram mine
Calstock
Gunnislake Clitters mine in Cornwall operated from the 19th to early 20th century, producing copper, tin, arsenic, and wolfram, reflecting significant technological and economic shifts in...
Earlier prehistoric hillfort and round cairn at St Stephe…
St. Stephen-in-Brannel
The St Stephen's Beacon hillfort is a rare Neolithic monument, crucial for understanding early social organization and interactions, with well-preserved features despite historical mining...
Gunpowder works at Kennall Vale
Stithians
The Kennall Vale gunpowder works is a rare, well-preserved example of 19th-century manufacturing, featuring unique components and significant archaeological remains.
Ennor Castle, Old Town, St Mary's
St. Mary's
Ennor Castle is a rare shell keep on the Isles of Scilly, illustrating medieval settlement patterns and strategic military significance, forming part of an important historical sequence of...
Lower Boscaswell Fogou
St. Just
The remains of a chamber or passage and creep of an above-ground fogou of probable Iron Age date, built into a wide field boundary, located to the west of Lower Boscaswell.
Pendennis peninsula fortifications
Falmouth
Pendennis is a prominent post-medieval fort demonstrating military architectural evolution from Tudor to modern times, spanning roles as a naval base and Royalist stronghold.
Former Ice Works
Penzance
An ice works of 1907, constructed within an earlier granite building and with later alterations.
Roman fort, annexes and temporary camp, 290m south-west o…
Lostwithiel
A small Roman fort of the mid-1st to late-3rd century AD, associated annexes or enclosures, and the buried remains of a Roman temporary camp, also dating to the mid-1st century AD.
Menabilly
Fowey
Menabilly, a historic estate near Fowey, features 18th-century gardens and parkland, developed by the Rashleigh family, with connections to writer Daphne Du Maurier.
Iron Age defended settlement 460m south east of Caer Bran…
Sancreed
Iron Age defended settlement near Caer Bran Farm is a rare site in southwestern England's settlement hierarchy.
World War II fighter pens and defences, and other associa…
St. Agnes
RAF Perranporth airfield features WWII fighter pens and defences, rare nationally, representing Britain's strategic airfields during the war and providing vital support for aircraft...
Enclosure containing eight round cairns known as Bartine …
St. Just
Round cairns at Bartine Castle reflect Bronze Age beliefs, showing diverse funerary and ritual practices.
Deserted medieval settlement and field system with incorp…
Altarnun
The deserted medieval settlement near Tresibbet Farm on Bodmin Moor reveals preserved structures and field systems from Prehistoric to post-medieval times, highlighting historical...
Motte and bailey castle called Cardinham Castle
Cardinham
Cardinham Castle, a motte and bailey structure in Cornwall, was a strategic Norman fortification. Built on a ridge, it was central to local baronial power.
St Piran's Oratory and associated early medieval cemetery
Perranzabuloe
St Piran's Oratory, an early Christian chapel, is significant for its survival and historical pilgrimage associations, remaining a key site in Cornwall's early Christian heritage.
Trelowarren
Mawgan-in-Meneage
Trelowarren, with 18th-19th century gardens on earlier origins, has remained with the Vyvyan family since 1427. Notable for historical restorations and picturesque improvements.
Medieval holy well north east of Holywell Beach, and two …
Cubert
Holy wells, like the one near Holywell Beach, have Christian and pre-Christian significance. They are associated with healing rituals and often linked to periods from the 6th century AD.
Tregantle Fort
Antony
Tregantle Fort is a well-preserved Royal Commission fortification, important for its original features, historical military significance, and its role in Britain's 19th-century coastal...
Round called Lescudjack Castle
Penzance
Lescudjack Castle, also known as 'The Giant's Round,' is an Iron Age agricultural settlement with remains of structures and evidence of trade activities, located in Cornwall.
Tregothnan
St. Michael Penkevil
Tregothnan's landscape features 19th-century designs by Humphry Repton and William Andrews Nesfield, incorporating gardens and a 17th-century deer park.
St Piran's Round
Perranzabuloe
St Piran's Round is a well-preserved archaeological site in Cornwall, originally an Iron Age enclosure and later adapted as a medieval Plain an Gwarry for theatrical performances.
HMS Colossus
Off Southward Well, Samson Island, Isles of Scilly
The site comprises the scattered remains of HMS Colossus; a British 74-gun Third Rate Ship of the Line bound from Naples to Portsmouth with Greek pottery for Sir William Hamilton, and...
Church of St Mary
Grade-Ruan
Mission church. Constructed in 1898, windows replaced in C20, roof-covering altered in C21.
The Goodaver Stone Circle, 610m ESE of Tresibbet Farm
Altarnun
The Goodaver Stone Circle on Bodmin Moor is a rare prehistoric monument significant for its ritual, burial, and calendrical associations, despite early 20th-century reconstruction.
The Tristan Stone, early Christian memorial stone and way…
Fowey
The Tristan Stone, an early Christian memorial in Cornwall, bears inscriptions in Latin suggestive of ties to the Arthurian legends, specifically Tristan and King Mark.
Three bowl barrows, once part of a round barrow cemetery,…
Newquay
Three bowl barrows at Barrowfields are funerary monuments from 2400-1500 BC, showing regional variations and providing insights on prehistoric beliefs and social organizations.
Medieval chapel called St Helen's Chapel with a dwelling …
St. Just
St Helen's Chapel, a medieval chapel on Cape Cornwall, survives well, revealing construction methods and religious significance from the pre-Reformation period.
Explore more
Search for more listed places in CornwallCornwall through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Cornwall changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Cornwall
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Tintagel
Archaeological remains on The Island and mainland, Tintagel, 1947
Tintagel
Hotel Camelot, Tintagel, 1950
Callington
The village, Callington, 1924
Callington
St Mary's Church, Callington, 1928
Truro
Wharves on the Truro River, Truro, 1928
Truro
Truro College, Truro, 1934
Madron
Rosemorran House, Madron, 1947
Madron
Rosemorran House, Madron, 1947
Tintagel
The junction of Fore Street and Molesworth Street, Tintagel, 1930
Tintagel
The village looking towards King Arthur's Castle Hotel and the sea, Tintagel, 1948
Cornwall in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Cornwall's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Charles George Harper Collection
Cornwall
Date created: 1880 - 1920
A view from the north-east of St Levan's Church, with the stone steps and coffin rest, and the early medieval cross, in the foreground
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Crow-An-Wra, Cornwall
Date created: 1967 - 1971
The guide post standing at the crossroads in Crows-an-wra showing the distance to "Saint Just"
Eric de Mare
Cornwall
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of Godolphin Hall in Breage showing the loggia.
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
Cornwall
Date created: 1955 - 1965
A view over the gate towards Treviles Farmhouse, a detached house with hipped roof & dentil cornice, set within a large garden and adjacent to some...
John Gay Collection: Miscellaneous
Cornwall
Date created: 1950 - 1965
Cats warming themselves beside a coal-fired kitchen range, in Gwendreath Farmhouse
John Gay Collection: Counties
Cornwall
Date created: 1950
The rocky coastline and sandy beach of Polpeor Cove in Cornwall, with small wooden rowing boats moored on the older slipway of the old lifeboat...
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Cornwall
Date created: 08 Jul 1893
A view showing South Gate and the adjoining house from the south-east
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Lizard, Cornwall
Date created: 18 Aug 1910
EXTERIOR VIEW SHOWING A ROW OF THATCHED COTTAGES
Margaret Tomlinson Collection
Cornwall
Date created: 01 Mar 1943 - 17 Jul 1943
The remains of the former great hall at Arwenack House viewed from the east
John Gay Collection: Counties
Polpeor Cove, Cornwall
Date created: 1950
A woman walking up the steep path rising from Polpeor Cove, with a rock wall to her right and a view of the ocean beyond
Alfred Newton and Sons
Lizard Point, Cornwall
Date created: 1896 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS LIZARD HEAD AND STAGS
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Cornwall. Skip this section and go to education
Historic ‘Pilot Gigs’ Boat Sheds on the Isles of Scilly Revealed in New Archaeological Project
Mentions Cornwall
Project funded by Historic England and led by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit documents 90 sites of historic boat sheds.
30 New Projects Explore England’s Rural and CoastalWorking-Class Heritage
Mentions Cornwall
Funded by Historic England's Everyday Heritage grants programme, these projects will explore untold stories and celebrate the heart of our history.
A Brief Introduction to Arts and Crafts Architecture
Mentions Wheal Betsy
Emerging in reaction to the 19th century Industrial Revolution, the Arts and Crafts movement embraced local materials and traditional craftsmanship.
10 Historic Locations Featured in Classic British Horror Movies
Mentions The Headland Hotel
England's heritage as the location for horror films.
7 Places That Tell the Story of England’s Seaside Heritage
Mentions Harbour wharfs and piers, Newlyn tidal observatory and part of the south pier, Huer's House
Discover how the sea has impacted the history of the British Isles, from recreation and health to culture and science.
What Happened After the End of Roman Rule in Britain?
Mentions Romano-British and early medieval settlement, medieval church, castle and associated features on Tintagel Island and adjoining mainland, The South Hill inscribed stone, an early Christian memorial stone in South Hill churchyard, 50m west of St Sampson's Church
After the fall of the Roman Empire in Britain around AD 410, many towns declined, industries ceased, and the Roman army left England's shores.
The Legend of King Arthur
King Arthur was central to the legendary tales of medieval romance. Discover the places connected to Camelot, Tintagel, and the Battle of Badon Hill.
Battles, Castles and Ships: England’s Military History from the Air
Mentions Cromwells Castle
Discover England's military history through aerial photography from the Aerofilms Collection.
The Life and Work of John Smeaton, the ‘Father of Civil Engineering’
Mentions Wheal Busy
Discover the remarkable feats of engineering by British civil engineer John Smeaton.
Cornwall’s Surprisingly Queer Literary History
Mentions Godrevy Lighthouse,
Discover the writers who carved queer literary legacies in Cornwall’s inspiring coastal landscapes.
16 Historic Gardens and Landscapes to Visit
Mentions Tresco
Try these English gardens if you’re looking for somewhere with spectacular garden scenery.
A Brief Introduction to Military Pillboxes
Mentions World War II pillbox and Civil War battery at Tolman Point, St Mary's
Explore some of the anti-invasion defences built across England during the First and Second World Wars.
The History of Ukrainians in England
Mentions Ukrainian cross
Ukrainians have influenced several sites across England. Here is a small selection.
The Buildings of Philanthropist John Passmore Edwards
Mentions Passmore Edwards Free Library and former Redruth College, and boundary walls, Blackwater Literary Institute, The Passmore Edwards Institute
Over 70 buildings were constructed in 14 years, including libraries, literary institutes and art galleries.
Mentions Cornwall
This episode begins the Art, Architecture & Sculpture category by exploring some of England’s most stunning sculpture.
The Angel of the North, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Barbara Hepworth’s home
This episode begins the Art, Architecture & Sculpture category by exploring some of England’s most stunning sculpture. The host Dr Suzannah Lipscomb takes us to the Angel of the North, the beautiful landscape of Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Barbara Hepworth’s home and studio in Cornwall. The 100 places featured in this series have been nominated by the public and chosen by a panel of judges. Together they help tell England’s fascinating history. Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places is a Historic England podcast, sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical ecclesiastical.com
Mentions Cornwall
Join Dr Suzannah Lipscomb as she explores the great Georgian Piece Hall in Halifax, a small thatched pub in Cornwall, which has been brewing its own...
Yorkshire's great piazza, a Cornish pub and the Rochdale Pioneers' shop
Join Dr Suzannah Lipscomb as she explores the great Georgian Piece Hall in Halifax, a small thatched pub in Cornwall, which has been brewing its own ales for many years, and the shop in Rochdale known as the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement. The 100 places featured in this series have been nominated by the public and chosen by a panel of judges. Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places is a Historic England podcast, sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical ecclesiastical.com
Mentions Cornwall
In this episode join Dr Suzannah Lipscomb to learn about the 13 monks from York who set up Fountains Abbey over 1000 years ago and an atmospheric...
Fountains Abbey and a Jewish cemetery in Cornwall
In this episode join Dr Suzannah Lipscomb to learn about the 13 monks from York who set up Fountains Abbey over 1000 years ago and an atmospheric Jewish cemetery in Falmouth. The 100 places featured in this series have been nominated by the public and chosen by a panel of judges. Together they help tell England’s fascinating history. Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places is a Historic England podcast, sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical ecclesiastical.com
The National Pipe Archive
Mentions Cornwall
Historic England funding enables online access to digital resources and guidance notes from the National Pipe Archive.
Project to Uncover Possible Hidden Stone Circle in Cornwall Awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant
Mentions Cornwall
A National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will help reveal the secrets of a prehistoric site described by experts as "Cornwall's ancient sacred heart".
Celebrating the Harold Wingham Collection Through Active Participation
Mentions Cornwall
A collaborative project remembers the work of Harold Wingham, an unsung hero of aerial photography.
Introduction to Issue 23
Mentions Cornwall
Claudia Kenyatta, Director of Regions, Introduces this issue on the theme of research into the heritage of England's High Streets.
Historic ‘Pilot Gigs’ Boat Sheds on the Isles of Scilly Revealed in New Archaeological Project
Mentions Cornwall
Project funded by Historic England and led by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit documents 90 sites of historic boat sheds.
Articulating Loss: Understanding and Communicating the Loss of Coastal Heritage
Mentions Cornwall
A collaborative PhD project researching methods of communicating the physical and emotional impacts of loss of coastal heritage.
Planting Trees for the Future Whilst Protecting the Past
Mentions Cornwall
Developing new datasets to ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place.
From Pixels to Pasts: Uncovering the Value of Shipwrecks Through Social Media
Mentions Cornwall
A new study examines how social media platforms can illuminate the social values of shipwreck heritage.
First Phase of Major Roof Repairs Complete at King Arthur's Great Halls, Tintagel
Mentions King Arthur's Great Halls, Cornwall
A Historic England grant has supported the first significant repairs in 90 years to Grade II* listed King Arthur's Great Halls in Tintagel, Cornwall.
30 New Projects Explore England’s Rural and CoastalWorking-Class Heritage
Mentions Cornwall
Funded by Historic England's Everyday Heritage grants programme, these projects will explore untold stories and celebrate the heart of our history.
Managing Lithic Sites
Mentions Cornwall
New advice addresses research and management issues for sites where prehistoric stone tools contain unique evidence.
Cornwall's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Workings, South Crofty Mine, Camborne, Cornwall
Period: 1990s (1990 - 1999)
Camborne was one of the main areas of the Cornish tin mining industry in the 19th century.
Workings, South Crofty Mine, Camborne, Cornwall
Workers making hay, Cornwall
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A general view of people making hay in Kerrier or Penwith districts.
Workers making hay, Cornwall
White House, Berepper, Helston, Cornwall
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
An exterior view of the cottage with Mrs Lugg. The workmen look to be building stone walls.
White House, Berepper, Helston, Cornwall
Western Promenade Road, Penzance, Cornwall
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A view looking south-west along the promenade in Penzance, with horse-drawn tourist carriages on the Western Promenade Road.
Water Mill, Kennal Vale, Stithians, Cornwall
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This water powered mill was used for grinding gunpowder. It was built in the early to mid 19th century for the Kennal Vale Gunpowder Works.
Water Mill, Kennal Vale, Stithians, Cornwall
Water carrier, Newlyn Harbour, Penzance, Cornwall
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
The coastguard and others collect water in pails from a water carrier on Newlyn harbour. Fishing boats are moored behind them.
Water carrier, Newlyn Harbour, Penzance, Cornwall
War Memorial, Redruth, Cornwall
Period: 1920s (1920 - 1929)
This war memorial was put up in the 1920s. There is a panel in each side of the pedestal with raised lettering.
War Memorial, Redruth, Cornwall
View of Penzance, Cornwall
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A view of terraced housing and roof tops taken from Luscudjack Hill.
View of Penzance, Cornwall
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Wheal Martyn, Carthew, Cornwall
Wheal Martyn is unique, as the UK's only china clay museum.
Discover more
Ready for more local stories? Take a look at these other places nearby