Old Town, Isles of Scilly
Old Town
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Old Town Bay — the island's airport is seen atop the right-hand hill, whilst Ennor Castle was located at the small wooded hill towards the left. | |
Location within Isles of Scilly | |
OS grid reference | SV914102 |
Civil parish |
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Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | ISLES OF SCILLY |
Postcode district | TR21 |
Dialling code | 01720 |
Police | Devon and Cornwall |
Fire | Isles of Scilly |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
Old Town (Cornish: Treveglos "church town")[1] is a village on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly located southeast of Hugh Town.[2] It is thought to be the oldest settlement on the island.
It is a popular tourist area and is only a short distance from the
Old Town Bay (Cornish: Porth Treveglos)[1] forms a natural harbour and links the village with the open sea; there is an old quay and there continues to be a slipway in use.
History
In medieval times this was the main
Amenities and landmarks
As well as being located close to the island's school and airport, within Old Town there is a small shop, a pub, two cafés, as well as three art studios located on the road leading north out of the village.[3]
Ennor Castle
On a small but prominent knoll are the fragmentary remains of a small shell keep castle dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, known as Ennor Castle, the only medieval castle on the islands.[4] It became redundant after Star Castle, built on the Garrison, was built in the late sixteenth century. Some of the castle's stone was used to build Star Castle, with much of the rest robbed for buildings in Old Town.[5][6] During 2014, overgrowth clearances were carried out, which made the castle far more visible. The project was supported by Natural England, English Heritage and the owners of the site.[7]
Church
On the other side of the bay to the settlement lies
Notable residents
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Wilson was a regular visitor to the Isles of Scilly, and often stayed at Hugh Town in a bungalow named 'Lowenva'. He is buried in the cemetery at the church at Old Town.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Akademi Kernewek - Henwyn Tyller".
- ^ Landranger 203: Land's End & Isles of Scilly. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Map & Location - Visit Isles of Scilly". www.visitislesofscilly.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Historic England. "Ennor Castle (1014994)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Ennor Castle (304082)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- OCLC 60559326.
- ^ "Scilly's Oldest Castle Revealed For First Time In Living Memory". Scilly Today. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ Scilly Bells Church
- ^ Council of the Isles of Scilly Cemetery
- ^ Jack, Ian (27 May 2016). "Scilly, where Harold Wilson, the first PM to show his knees, found peace". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2022.