Pengersick Castle

Pengersick Castle stands between the villages of Germoe and Praa Sands in Cornwall. It is a fortified manor house, with parts dating from the early 16th century. The tower house is one of the few of its type preserved in Britain. The building was constructed around 1510 by William Worth. Later it passed to the Militon family, who enlarged it and added defensive features. The castle has a colourful past. John Milliton fled Devon after committing murder and built the tower at Pengersick to hide from justice. The basement has loops for firing weapons and a shoot for molten lead above the door. In 1547 Job Militon became Governor of Saint Michael’s Mount. The castle’s wealth partly came from salvaging a Portuguese shipwreck around 1530. Visitors find a medieval tower with wainscotted rooms once used as granaries. Some panels have painted scenes with verses and proverbs. The castle is linked to ghost stories and smugglers’ myths. Cornish wrestling tournaments have been held here. The surrounding area offers views across the countryside to the sea.