Star Castle, Isles of Scilly
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{about||the computer game|Star Castle|the rock band|Starcastle}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Star Castle
| image = The Star Castle Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 3428472.jpg
| caption =
| type = Fortress
| locmapin = Isles of Scilly
| map_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|49.915378|-6.321056|display=inline,title}}
| location = St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
| area =
| built = 1593
| architect = Robert Adams
| architecture = Military architecture
| governing_body = Privately owned
| designation1 = Grade I
| designation1_offname = Star Castle Hotel
| designation1_date = 12 February 1975
| designation1_number = 1291756
| designation2 = Grade I listed building
| designation2_offname = Bastions and Walls of Star Castle
| designation2_date = 12 February 1975
| designation2_number = 1141188
| designation3 = Grade I listed building
| designation3_offname = Powder Magazine and Blast Walls
| designation3_date = 14 December 1982
| designation3_number = 1141187
| designation4 = Grade I listed building
| designation4_offname = Outer Walls and Gateway
| designation4_date = 14 December 1982
| designation4_number = 1291751
| designation5 = Grade II* listed building
| designation5_offname = Gatehouse Cottage
| designation5_date = 12 February 1975
| designation5_number = 1218853
}}
Star Castle is a fortress on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, built in 1593 by Robert Adams, Surveyor of the Royal Works (d.1595) and Francis Godolphin, Captain of the Scilly Isles, during the "Spanish invasion scare."
History
The Star Castle was built in 1593 by the Surveyor of the Royal Works and mapmaker Robert Adams, under the direction of Francis Godolphin, Captain of the Scilly Isles, following the Spanish Armada of 1588.Colvin, Howard M., ed., History of the King's Works, vol. 3 (1975), pp.94–5, see also vol. 4 (1982) for description. Fearing another Spanish invasion, in May 1593 Queen Elizabeth I ordered the construction of a fort and two sconces as a lookout for any intruder ships.Calendar State Papers Domestic, 1591–1594, London (1867), pp. 346–7, 365–367{{cite book |first=Nikolaus |last=Pevsner |author-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |date=1970 |title=Cornwall |edition=2nd |series=The Buildings of England |publisher=Penguin |page=210}}
In 1740 Master Gunner Abraham Tovey transformed the Garrison building walls with gun batteries, including Colonel Boscawen's Battery,{{Cite web|url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/garrison-walls/history/ |title = History of Garrison Walls, St Mary’s |publisher=English Heritage |access-date=14 August 2024}} in a circular shape following the coast line of The Hoe. In the 18th century it was garrisoned by troops from the Corps of Invalids.
Star Castle is now a hotel.{{Cite web|title=Star Castle Hotel. – Isles of Scilly, St Marys – 4 Star Accommodation|url=https://star-castle.co.uk/home/|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Star Castle Hotel – Isle of Scilly|language=en-GB}}
Description
The Star Castle is in the shape of an eight-pointed star and features on the flag of the Council of the Isles of Scilly. It is at the centre of a fortification system around the west side of St Mary’s known as the Garrison. It comprises an outer wall around the outcrop of Hew Hill, protecting the town and the castle, with strategically placed gun batteries at regular intervals around the outer wall, allowing covering fire at all angles.
Star Castle is a Grade I listed building.{{NHLE|num=1291756|desc=Star Castle Hotel|grade=I|access-date=14 August 2024}} Three other structures within the fort complex are listed at Grade I, the highest grade, comprising the totality of the Grade I listed buildings on the Isles of Scilly: the bastions and walls to the castle;{{NHLE|num=1141188|desc=Bastions and Walls of Star Castle|grade=I|fewer-links=yes|access-date=14 August 2024}} the powder magazine,{{NHLE|num=1141187|desc=Powder Magazine and Blast Walls|grade=I|fewer-links=yes|access-date=14 August 2024}} and the outer walls.{{NHLE|num=1291751|desc=Outer Walls and Gateway|grade=I|fewer-links=yes|access-date=14 August 2024}}
Gallery
Star Castle - geograph.org.uk - 615094.jpg|Bastions
Scillies 2011 081 crop.jpg|Name plate on Colonel George Boscawen's Battery
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
- [http://www.star-castle.co.uk/ Official Star Castle Hotel Website]
{{Isles of Scilly}}
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1595
Category:Buildings and structures in the Isles of Scilly
Category:1593 establishments in England
Category:St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
Category:Grade I listed buildings in Cornwall