Harry's Walls, Unfinished Tudor fort in St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England.
Harry's Walls is an unfinished fort on St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly featuring two angled bastions linked by a granite wall. The structure was designed as a coastal defense installation and demonstrates the military construction methods of the 1500s.
Construction began in 1551 under Edward VI's rule to protect the harbor from French attacks. Financial shortages prevented the project from ever being completed.
The fort's design incorporated advanced Italianate-style military architecture, reflecting the Tudor period's adoption of continental European defensive innovations.
The site is freely accessible during daylight and reached by an uphill footpath. From the top you get views out over the harbor and surrounding waters.
A prehistoric standing stone near the fort has served as a navigation marker for ships for centuries. Today a modern navigational aid stands right beside it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
