For the first time in over 500 years, the two separated halves of English Heritage property Tintagel Castle have been reunited with the opening a daring new footbridge. Visitors can now walk in the footsteps of the medieval inhabitants of the Cornish castle – inextricably linked with the legend of King Arthur – and enjoy spectacular views not seen since the Middle Ages.
The footbridge spans a 190-foot gorge and features a 4cm gap in the middle designed to contract and expand according to weather conditions. The bridge follows the line of the original route – a narrow strip of land that has been long lost to erosion – between the 13th century gatehouse on the mainland and the courtyard on the jagged headland. So significant was the historic crossing that it gave rise to the castle’s Cornish name Din Tagell, which means ‘the Fortress of the Narrow Entrance’.
Built in Plymouth and designed by Ney & Partners engineers and William Matthews Associates Architectural Practice, the bridge consists of two independent cantilevers made of steel, local Cornish slate, and oak, approximately 30 metres in length that reach out from either side to almost touch in the middle. In addition to being an engineering necessity, the gap is also designed to represent the transition between the mainland and the island, the past and present, history and legend.
Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of English Heritage said, “Tintagel Castle has been made whole again. Once more, people will cross from one side of the castle to the other and their footsteps will echo those from hundreds of years ago.
“As a charity, English Heritage’s core purpose is to care for historic sites like Tintagel Castle and to inspire people to visit them. Our new Tintagel bridge does both – protecting the castle’s archaeology and bringing its story to life in a brilliant, imaginative way.”
Timed ticketing has been introduce to manage the number of people visiting the site. Tickets can be pre-booked through the English Heritage website and a limited number of on-the-day tickets will also be available to purchase at Tintagel Castle.
