Scheduled MonumentsEnglandPolruan Blockhouse

Polruan Blockhouse

England
List entry 1019056
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Polruan Blockhouse is a Tudor artillery fortification built during the 1520s on the eastern bank of the River Fowey in Cornwall to defend the strategically important harbour against French and Spanish naval raids. The structure comprises a compact stone gun tower with gun ports designed to mount cannon, representing the emerging military technology of early sixteenth-century coastal defence. Its construction reflects Henry VIII's systematic fortification programme along the English coast, and it operates as a complementary defence position to Fowey Blockhouse on the opposite bank. The blockhouse survives as a substantial remains testament to Tudor military engineering and the historical significance of Fowey as a defended anchorage during the Tudor period.

Polruan Blockhouse is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019056. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Polruan Blockhouse?

Polruan Blockhouse is a Tudor artillery fortification built during the 1520s on the eastern bank of the River Fowey in Cornwall to defend the strategically important harbour against French and Spanish naval raids. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1019056.

Who is responsible for protecting Polruan Blockhouse?

Polruan Blockhouse is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1019056.

What other scheduled monuments are near Polruan Blockhouse?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Fowey Blockhouse (0.3 km), St Saviour's Chapel, Polruan (0.3 km), St Catherine's Castle 16th century blockhouse, 19th century gun battery and 20th century gun emplacement at St Catherine's Point (0.5 km).

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