Carn Brea Castle

Carn Brea Castle stands on Carn Brea, a granite hill in Cornwall. It is a small stone folly built in the 14th century as a chapel, later remodelled in the 18th century as a hunting lodge for the Basset family. The building has an irregular layout with four rectangular turrets and an embattled parapet. It is built into a large stone outcrop with a steep drop at the rear. The castle measures 60 by 10 feet and was designed as a hunting lodge rather than a dwelling. The castle is worth the journey for its historical significance and unique features. Originally dedicated to St Michael, it was recorded by antiquarian William Worcester as one of 32 castles on the Cornish peninsula. The Basset family extensively rebuilt it in the 18th century, and it is considered a folly due to its uncut boulder foundations. The castle served as a beacon for ships in 1898, with the tenant agreeing to show a light in the north-facing window. It fell into disuse in the 1950s to 1970s but was renovated in 1975–1980 and later converted into a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant. Visitors find a romantic medieval/gothic-style building with a core surrounded by turrets and a parapet. The steep drop at the rear adds to its dramatic setting. The castle has appeared in films such as the 1983 James Bond movie *Never Say Never Again* and was used as a location for the stolen Ford Anglia in the Harry Potter films. The nearby Basset monument can be viewed through the missiles’ head-up display in the Bond film. The castle’s history and appearances make it a notable landmark in the landscape.