Famous landmark in Cornwall at risk from coastal erosion

There is a warning that the famous Cornish landmark, immortalised in British mythology as the birth place of King Arthur, is facing increased coastal erosion.

English Heritage says areas around Tintagel Castle are among those most at risk from rising sea levels.

The heritage body described the rate of land lost over the last few years as "alarming", while warning sea levels are now rising at their fastest rate for nearly three Millenia.

The charity has now launched a major fundraising appeal to fund works to halt the damage to the sites it manages.

Rob Woodside, director of estates at English Heritage, said: "Erosion along England's coastline is nothing new but the rate of land loss that we have seen over the past few years is alarming, and some scenarios indicate that sea levels could increase by up to a metre by the end of the century".

He continued: "To give this some context, last century sea levels rose by 14cm along the southern coast of England.

“Climate change is accelerating the issues faced by our coastal heritage and creating huge challenges for organisations like English Heritage seeking to protect it".

Mr Woodside added: "Rising sea levels and more regular storms pose a real risk to the future of many of our site".

History of Tintagel

The site of Tintagel has been inhabited since the late Roman period, but it was not until the 12th century when chronicler Geoffrey of Monmoth claimed it was where King Arthur was conceived.

His mythological account of the history of the kings of Britain, Historia Regum Britanniae, cemented Tintagel’s place in the national imagination.

It is thought this new-found celebrity inspired Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to start building a castle there in the 1230s.

English Heritage said the site has always battled with erosion, with parts of the castle already falling into the sea by the 14th century.

But it said recently parts of the cliff directly in front of the visitors centre had been lost, affecting the viewing area and the coastal path.

It is hoping to raise £40,000 to repair this and the damage caused by last winter's storms.

Isles of Scilly Garrison Walls at risk

Other sites considered to be among the most vulnerable to coastal erosion include Bayard's Cove Fort near Dartmouth in Devon, and the Garrison Walls on the island of St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly.

The walls, which were built to strengthen the island's defences after the attempted invasion by the Spanish Armada, have "pinch points" which take the full force of the tide and make them vulnerable to erosion.

Mr Woodside said: “Hundreds of heritage sites in the UK and around the world are increasingly at risk.

“If these coastal properties are to survive the coming decades, we will need to strengthen their walls and build sea defences to protect them. It is for this reason that we are launching a public appeal to raise funds for this vital conservation work".

You can read more about the English Heritage Coastal Conservation Appeal on its dedicated webpage.

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