Old Town, Isles of Scilly#Ennor Castle
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| map_type = Cornwall
| coordinates = {{coord|49.9125|-6.3|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Old Town
| cornish_name = Treveglos
| population =
| civil_parish = St Mary's
| unitary_england = Isles of Scilly
| lieutenancy_england = Cornwall
| region = South West England
| constituency_westminster = St Ives
| post_town = ISLES OF SCILLY
| postcode_district = TR21
| postcode_area = TR
| dial_code = 01720
| os_grid_reference = SV914102
| static_image = Old Town, St. Mary's - geograph.org.uk - 929131.jpg
| static_image_width = 240px
| static_image_caption = Old Town Bay — the island's airport is seen atop the right-hand hill, whilst Ennor Castle was located at the small wooded hill towards the left.
}}
Old Town ({{langx|kw|Treveglos}} "church town"){{cite web|title=Akademi Kernewek - Henwyn Tyller|url=https://www.akademikernewek.org.uk/place-names}} is a village on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly located southeast of Hugh Town.{{cite book|title=Landranger 203: Land's End & Isles of Scilly|url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=90945&Y=10332&A=Y&Z=120|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=9 May 2012}} It is thought to be the oldest settlement on the island.
It is a popular tourist area and is only a short distance from the island's airport. As well as a number of self-catering holiday properties, Old Town also has a large proportion of dwellings permanently occupied by local residents. The Five Islands School, as well as the main sports and fitness centre for St Mary's, is located just by Old Town, at the settlement of Carn Gwaval.{{Cite web|title=Map & Location - Visit Isles of Scilly|url=https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/home/location-map|access-date=2022-01-23|website=www.visitislesofscilly.com}}
Old Town Bay ({{langx|kw|Porth Treveglos}}) forms a natural harbour and links the village with the open sea; there is an old quay and there continues to be a slipway in use.
History
File:St. Mary's graveyard, Old Town - geograph.org.uk - 934232.jpg
In medieval times this was the main harbour, administrative centre and settlement of the Isles of Scilly. The island of St Mary's was then known as Ennor, and the Old Town was named Porth Ennor or Porthenor (being the main harbour settlement of the island). It declined with the development of the Garrison and neighbouring Hugh Town, which in turn replaced Old Town as the main harbour, administrative centre and settlement of the Isles.
Amenities and landmarks
= Ennor Castle =
File:The remains of Ennor Castle (Isles of Scilly).jpg
On a small but prominent knoll are the fragmentary remains of a small shell keep castle dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, known as Ennor Castle, the only medieval castle on the islands.{{NHLE|num=1014994 |desc= Ennor Castle|accessdate=27 April 2015}} It became redundant after Star Castle, built on the Garrison, was built in the late sixteenth century. Some of the castle's stone was used to build Star Castle, with much of the rest robbed for buildings in Old Town.{{PastScape|mnumber=304082 | mname=Ennor Castle | accessdate=9 May 2012}}{{Cite book|last=Bowley|first=R. L.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60559326|title=The fortunate islands : the story of the Isles of Scilly|date=2004|publisher=Bowley Publications|isbn=0-900184-40-X|edition=9th|location=St Mary's, Isles of Scilly|pages=44|oclc=60559326}} During 2014, overgrowth clearances were carried out, which made the castle far more visible. The project was supported by Natural England, English Heritage and the owners of the site.{{Cite web |date=2014-05-14 |title=Scilly’s Oldest Castle Revealed For First Time In Living Memory |url=http://www.scillytoday.com/2014/05/14/scillys-oldest-castle-revealed-for-first-time-in-living-memory/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Scilly Today}}
= Church =
File:Old Town Church and Churchyard , Isles of Scilly.jpg
On the other side of the bay to the settlement lies St Mary's Old Church (commonly known as Old Town Church) which is surrounded by an old, terraced graveyard as well as the newer municipal cemetery. The dedication of the church to St Mary then gave that name to the island parish, replacing the older name of Ennor; the naming after the parish church is also the case with a number of other islands in Scilly. Common with other Cornish parishes, the church is located a little distance from the main settlement of the parish, and there once was a small churchtown surrounding the church; today however there are no other buildings in the vicinity of the church. The parish church of St Mary's is now in Hugh Town, also dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, though the Old Church is used for Sunday evening services (Easter-September)[http://www.scillybells.co.uk/church.php Scilly Bells] Church and the cemetery belonging to the Council of the Isles of Scilly lies adjacent.[http://www.scilly.gov.uk/environment-transport/open-spaces/cemetery Council of the Isles of Scilly] Cemetery
Notable residents
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Wilson was a regular visitor to the Isles of Scilly, and often stayed at Hugh Town in a bungalow named 'Lowenva'. He is buried in the cemetery at the church at Old Town.{{Cite web|date=2016-05-27|title=Scilly, where Harold Wilson, the first PM to show his knees, found peace |first=Ian |last=Jack |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/27/scilly-harold-wilson-prime-minister|access-date=2022-01-23|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
References
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
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{{Isles of Scilly}}
{{Cornwall}}
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Category:Villages in the Isles of Scilly