Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 426909
Hob Uid: 426909
Location : Cornwall St. Anthony-in-Meneage
Grid Ref : SW7870025600
Summary : Civil war battery. Possible promontory fort and later fortified works.
More information : (SW 7875 1565) Little Dennis (NR). (1) The Little Dennis promontory is occupied by a well documented Royalist fort, built 1643-4 and surrendered to the Parliamentary forces in 1646; involved with it, and probably within it, was a 'Chapl' (2) (either contemporary or pre-existing (3) ). Previous to Colonel Vyvyan's publication of the Trelowarren Papers about it, Borlase (3,4) had noted the 'modern fortifications' on 'Little Dinas' and also described 'an old vallum probably Roman' stretching from sea to sea on the west side (see map diagram). Vyvyan himself says that there are no traces of earlier occupation, and the VCH describes 'Little Dinas' as a Cliff-castle, larger than usual, citing Borlase among others and seemingly only vaguely aware of the Civil War works. Cotton lists 'Little Dinas ( or Little Dennis)' as a Cliff Castle of 21.5 acres, but without references (presumably relying on VCH). The name 'Little Dennis' or 'Little Dinas' seems to apply to the whole promontory or to a Cliff Castle on it. It certainly does not apply to the Civil War fort, which is only described as 'The Dennis fort'. (See enlarged OS 25" plan with annotations based on Vyvyan and Borlase, and copy of rough sketch of the proposed fort from the Trelowarren papers). (2-7) Promontory fort and Civil War battery scheduled. (8) According to Kenyon, the 3 original gunports have internally splayed embrasures suggesting a pre-1539 date. (9)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1963
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : JRIC 18 1910-11 62-65 (Col Courtenay Vyvyan).
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : JRIC NS 2 1955 16-17 (C Henderson).
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Ants of Cornwall 1769 312 (W Borlase)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Par Mem 1740 214-5 (W Borlase) (B M Egerton MS 2657).
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : VCH Corn I 1906 458
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : PWCFC 2 1958-9 119 (M A Cotton)
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : DoE(HHR) Sched List 31.12.77 25 35
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Source Number : 9
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Page(s) : 83
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Promontory Fort
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Pre-1539
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1539
Monument Type : Loopholed Wall
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Extant 1643
Monument End Date : 1643
Monument Start Date : 1643
Monument Type : Battery
Evidence : Earthwork, Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CO 437a
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CO 437b
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SW 72 NE 4
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 426909