St Catherine's Castle

St Catherine's Castle is a stone fortification built on a headland at the entrance to Fowey Harbour. The structure has a distinctive D-shaped design with five gun-ports facing the water.

Thomas Treffry built the fort between 1538 and 1540 under Henry VIII to defend the coast against French and imperial naval forces. The structure later received military enhancements during the Crimean War and World War II that reflected changing defense technologies.

The structure illustrates the transition in England's coastal defense strategy from local community management to direct involvement of the Crown under Henry VIII.

The ruins can be reached by a walking path of roughly three quarters of a mile from the Ready Money Beach car park, following woodland trails to the elevated site. The route is straightforward but involves some uphill sections on the approach.

The fort was modified during three distinct military periods, with each era adding different defensive features based on the technology of the time. These changes reveal how coastal defense strategy evolved across centuries of warfare.

Location: Fowey

Inception: 1538

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-catherines-castle

GPS coordinates: 50.32820,-4.64453

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:50