Discover the wartime secrets of Cornwall’s greatest fortress. Pendennis Castle was built by King Henry VIII, between 1540 and 1545, to defend against possible attack by Spain and France. In 1598, during Elizabeth I's reign, a new type of defensive wall was added around the original fort. The castle was strengthened again prior to the Civil War and played host to the future Charles II in 1646, before he sailed to the Isles of Scilly. It then withstood five months of siege, before becoming the penultimate Royalist garrison on the British mainland to surrender.
Throughout its 450-year history, Pendennis Castle has faced new enemies, right up to the Second World War. See a Tudor gun deck in action, and experience the sights and sounds of battle in the interactive exhibition at the Royal Artillery Barracks. Explore the cells of the WWI guard house, and relive the drama of an enemy attack on the WWII observation post. Then descend through secret tunnels to the big guns of Half Moon Battery. Explore centuries of war time history or simply relax, enjoy the scenery and indulge in a Cornish cream tea in the newly refurbished tea room. In its superb coastal setting, Pendennis offers magnificent views of Falmouth and the Fal Estuary.