On the coast of Cornwall is the quaint town of Tintagel. This small town is only about 4,885 acres in size and has only a little fewer than 2,000 residents. The village was settled during the Norman times and sometime before the Domesday Survey that took place in 1086. The borough area wasn't actually established until 1253 by Richard the First Earl of Cornwall. Thanks to the rich history and architecture of the area there are many items for visitors to spend time at.
Even though the town is small Tintagel is home to several interesting items. One of which is the Tintagel Castle. The ruins of castle are located on the Tintagel Island. This island is not actually an island but more like a peninsula that has been undergoing serious erosion by the sea. This site is believed to be the original Roman settlement that started the town. The ruins of the castle date back to the 13th century and are linked to the legend of King Arthur. This legend began when the rumor started that the Queen of Cornwall was seduced by King Uther conceiving Arthur in this area. Whether or not Arthur ever called this area home it has been proven that an earlier Medieval Celtic fortress did exist here at one point in time. The legend only helps aid in the interest by visitors. You can roam the castle ruins and imagine what it would have been like to be in the middle ages.
While not nearly as old as the castle ruins the legend of Arthur permeates the entire town. Another popular Arthurian site is King Arthur's Hall. The Hall was actually built during the early 1930s and was the site of a social organization. This organization was called Order of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table. Today it is home to many works of art that depict the legend of Arthur. Visitors who are interested in the Arthur legend and are Arthurian enthusiasts can find a lot of interesting exhibits here.
While you're here you should wander over to the Saint Materiana's Church located here in Tintagel. This is the Anglican Parish Church and it stands on the cliffs between the Trevena and Tintagel Castles. This is not the first church that was built on the site, the original church having been built in the 6th century. The beautiful building that exists today was built in the late 11th century that has somewhat a mixture of Norman and Saxon design. The tower is believed to have been added later maybe as late as the 13th or 15th century. The church was restored in the late 1800s giving it a new roof and new stained glass windows. Visitors can enjoy seeing the stained glass saints and copies of the Old Master paintings as well as an ancient Roman milestone. The tower is home to six bells that were constructed at various times between 1735 and 1945.
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