NOTE TO ACCOMPANY Sir RICHAED GRENVILLE'S PLOTT OP 



TINTAGEL CASTLE. 



By H. MICHELL WHITLEY. 



Amongst the Domestic State Papers of the reign of Elizabeth 

 at the Public Record Office, is a report dated December, 1585, by 

 Sir Pichard Grenville, on the state of the fortifications at Tin- 

 tagel, and his suggestions for the further defence of the Castle. 



In this report. Sir Richard states he has drawn a plott for 

 plan) of the castle, which he sends in order to make his descrip- 

 tion clear, but this plan is not now with his report. In the 

 Cottonian collection at the British Museum is, however, a map 

 described as being one of Tintagel Island, county Donegal ; and 

 this, to which my attention was drawn by Mr. Tregellas, turns 

 out to be the missing document. 



Sir Richard's report itself has been already published in 

 our Journal for 1871, so it will not be necessary further to 

 allude to it, but the map will form an interesting accompany- 

 ment. 



The annexed plate is a reduced fac-simile, half the size 

 of the original. Sir Richard's signature to his report being 

 added, it will be seen that it is drawn in a way that shows the 

 great Admiral to be no mean draughtsman, the original copy 

 is well coloured, and anyone examining it will see, that it con- 

 veys an excellent idea of the state of the fortifications at the 

 date it was prepared. 



On the mainland is noted the upper keep standing on a high 

 rock, below is a fenced way over a valley to the gate, and inside 

 the latter, is the first course to pass to the draw-bridge. The 

 place where the draw-bridge was, and the straight steep path 

 over the cliff to the Isle are duly described. 



On the Island itself, the ruinous castle, the cave, the chapel, 

 the walled garden, and the spring of water, are inserted, as well 

 as the wall of the iron gate, where Sir Richard advises two 

 bulwarks to be added. 



