St Michael's Mount; a castle, a monastery and first beacon in the chain to alert Elizabeth I that the Armada was coming.
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Why visit St Michael’s Mount?
Getting there is an adventure. You can walk at low tide across a causeway or go on a short boat trip. On landing you then have the challenge of getting to the top.
From the mainland it cries out to be visited and from the top you get some great views.
Pilgrims have visited it for centuries.
It has survived a variety of historic events such as the Wars of the Roses, Spanish Armada and the Napoleonic Wars.
It has been altered so many times over the years that each room in the mix takes you to a new part of its history
It has a unique and fascinating collection of artefacts. There is no guessing what you will see in the next room.
What is there to see at St Michael’s Mount?
Defence arrangements. Anyone with evil intent will be blasted.
Having got to the top, there’s time to catch your breath as tickets are checked. From this view you can see what I mean by an interesting construction, built and altered over centuries.
After entering, you are met by all kinds of mounted objects such as these swords.
An early cannon. The ridges on the barrel suggest that this might have been made from strips of iron held together by iron hoops, something like in a beer or wine barrel.
A sophisticated crossbow.
In another part of the entrance rifles of some type.
The St Aubyn Coat of Arms
The library with an 1840 rosewood gaming table.
View with cannons positioned to take out any enemy shipping.
Above, the room known as “Chevy Chase”, the name coming from a ballad rather than the American comedy actor and its features include a chase in a frieze around the walls.
Around the wall is a frieze of hunting scenes or chase. Oddly, one section shows and Ostrich, not a local bird and weirdly, it has a horse shoe in its beak.
Above the chapel. Chapels/churches have been here since 1135. Pilgrims have been coming to this place for over 800 years.
15th century window with early 20th century stained glass.
A “Lantern Cross” possibly linked to King Edward the Confessor when he was made a saint by the Pope, nearly one hundred years after his death. Edward the Confessor may have given land to create to the parent monastery of St Michael’s Mount, Mont St Michel. He satisfied the criteria for making someone a saint by being associated with miracles in his lifetime and after he died.
A concealed chamber that was only discovered in 1720. On discovering the small room, workmen also found a very long skeleton and a black jug. This is a mystery that has no explanation to date. The guide did not know of ghost stories to my knowledge or stories associated with someone who was bricked up here.
What important events have taken place at St Michael’s Mount?
It is believed that William the Conqueror’s half brother, Robert the Count of Mortain and Earl of Cornwall, granted St Michael’s Mount to the monastery at Mont St Michel in France. In the photo below, you can see him sitting on Wliiam’s left showing he was one of William’s key men. One of his tasks was to suppress Cornwall and the South West from any more uprisings against William. Having a monastic presence may have also been part of the plan to pacify the locals.
In 1193, with King Richard out of the country, (he only spent a few weeks in England during his whole reign!) St Michael’s Mount was seized in the name of Prince John by his supporter, Henry de la Pomeray or Pomeroy. When Richard returned, Prince John grovelled to his big brother and pleaded for forgiveness for attempting to replace him. John was pardoned but Pomeroy refused to give up St Michael’s Mount and so Richard sent a powerful force to deal with him. At this point stories vary and in one version, Pomeroy commits suicide by cutting himself and bleeding to death whereby at least, allowing his will to be legal when most forms of suicide meant any will was null and void! Another version states that when Richard’s men came to arrest him at night, he mounted his horse and jumped over the battlements and landed in a heap 300 feet below. The next morning they found his body with, “never a bone in him whole!” Experts state this is totally untrue because there were no battlements then and the slope was covered in trees.
1414 Under Henry V, later victor over the French at Agincourt, St Michael’s Mount was taken from the Monastery of Mont St Michel in France and handed to the convent of Syon Abbey in England. However, during the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI handed it over to his newly founded college, Kings College Cambridge only for Edward IV to hand it back to Syon Abbey!
Continuing in the Wars of the Roses, in 1473 The Earl of Oxford captured St Michael’s mount but was then besieged for 6 months! When he surrendered in 1474 he was imprisoned in Calais but escaped to join Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) and helped him seize the throne in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
In 1536, Henry VIII’s quest for money and for everyone to be part of his Anglican church resulted in him dissolving (closing down) all of the monasteries. There was hardly any chance of any of the monks and abbots moving away from the Roman Catholic church and its teachings and so, in Henry’s mind, they had to go. Hence, St Michael’s Mount was no longer allowed to be a monastery and all the monks had to leave.
People in Cornwall were quite conservative and independent in their religious views and so, when Henry’s son, Edward, a devout Protestant, introduced a new Prayer Book as part of his religious reforms, they rebelled! This was not helped by Edward’s refusal to have the new Prayer Book translated into Cornish. The rebellion was short lived but it did entail some Cornish land owning gentry fleeing to St Michael’s Mount only to be captured by the rebels and held temporarily, as hostages.
In 1588, when the Spanish Armada passed by St Michael’s Mount, the English early warning system went into action. The castle had a vital role and that was, to light the first early warning beacon. As soon as it was seen a few miles away, the next one was lit and so on, until the government in London saw a beacon. Elizabeth’s government was informed and made the final preparations to defeat the invasion.
In 1812, success in the Napoleonic wars came to St Michael’s Mount in the form of a French ship that had its masts blown to pieces by cannons from the castle.
Essential information
Getting there;
Use the postcode TR17 0EG for satnav The carpark you need may be marked as Folly Field on your map; this is the St Michael’s Mount and Long Stay Marazion car park.
From North Cornwall and the A30 Follow the A30 past Hayle and towards Penzance. About a mile after Crowlas village, take the second exit at the roundabout, signposted to Marazion. Turn left at the junction with the main road and you'll soon be in Marazion.
From Penzance Follow the A30 east, and about three miles out of Penzance take the third exit at the roundabout, signposted Marazion. Turn left at the junction with the main road and follow the signs.
From Helston & The Lizard Take the A394 from Helston towards Penzance. After about nine miles, go straight over the roundabout (ignore the left hand exit signposted Marazion). Follow this road to a further roundabout and take the first exit, signposted Marazion. Turn left at the junction with the main road and follow the signs.
Car parks. The St Michael’s Mount and Long Stay Marazion car park are easy to find. During busy periods, there is an overflow car park opposite so that there will always be space for your visit. The postcode for satnav is TR17 0EG and it may be marked as Folly Field on some maps. We don't restrict the number of hours that you can stay on the island. Dwell time on St Michael’s Mount will vary depending on ticket type and how long you decide to stay on the island. For a combination ticket, dwell time is generally between two to four hours on the island. For a single ticket, dwell time is generally between one and two hours on the island. Late time slots need to be mindful that last entry to garden and castle is at 4pm and the island closes at 5pm.
By rail and bus
Local and intercity trains run to Penzance station. From here you can travel by bus or taxi to Marazion (about 10 minutes away). There is also a regular bus service to Marazion from the bus station in Penzance.
How to find the boats
Our boats will depart (and return to) one of three landing points on the mainland, depending on the height of the tide – Chapel Rock, Gwelva and Top Tieb (see map). You will be directed to your boat landing by our guides on the day.
Approximate walking times to the landings from the main visitor/overflow car parks:
Chapel Rock - the little rock on the beach, opposite the Mount - allow at least 5-10 minutes
Gwelva - head into the town and past The Godolphin, turn right opposite the red phone box, follow the Orange signs - allow at least 10-15 minutes
Top Tieb - go through the town, turn right just before the Copper Spoon cafe and head down Leys Lane, following the Green signs - allow at least 15-20 minutes
Please take these times into account when paying for parking.
Admission;
All visitors to the island must book a ticket online in advance.
If you are a National Trust member you must still book a ticket, although you will not need to pay*.
Autumn opening: Until 31st October, at times when the causeway is closed and covered by the sea, all visitors (including National Trust members) are required to pay the boat fare to get to St Michael’s Mount. Boat tickets will need to be added to your basket when prompted, as part of the booking process if they are required. When you want to leave the island you can walk back to the mainland if the causeway is open, or purchase a boat ticket back to the mainland from any of our island retail outlets on the day.
Winter opening: From 1st November, our boats will no longer be operational and all visitors will walk to and from the island via the ancient cobbled causeway during causeway opening times (low tide). Please check dates and times here before you book your ticket.
Castle Adult Single £14.00 Includes entry to the Castle. Family discounts automatically applied at checkout (Single Adult Family up to 3 Children - £21, Family with 2 Adults and up to 3 Children - £35)
Castle Child Over Five £7.00 Includes entry to the Castle. Family discounts automatically applied at checkout
Castle Child Under Five Free Includes entry to the Castle
One Way Boat Ticket Adult £2.50 Do not buy a boat ticket unless you have purchased a castle ticket. Without a castle ticket you will not be able to board a boat. To return to the mainland, boat tickets can be purchased on the island on a smartphone or from one of our outlets.
One Way Boat Ticket Child Over One £1.50 Do not buy a boat ticket unless you have purchased a castle ticket. Without a castle ticket you will not be able to board a boat. To return to the mainland, boat tickets can be purchased on the island on a smartphone or from one of our outlets.
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