Mount Holles

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Possible Artillery Fort

There are no visible remains

NameMount Holles
Alternative NamesSullia; Mout Hughes Battery
Historic CountryIsles of Scilly
Modern AuthorityIsles of Scilly
1974 AuthorityIsles of Scilly
Civil ParishSt Marys

The site of possibly the earliest castle on St Mary's is suggested by Borlase, who describes a round hillock called 'Mount Holles' "which seems to have had a keep on top of it". His drawing shows the site as corresponding with the mound-like feature below the Garrison walls, shown on OS 6" 1963. O'Neil agrees that the rocky knoll astride the road from Hugh Town to the Garrison could be a likely site for the first castle in Scilly. A declaration of Ordnance in 1554 includes one culverin and one demi-culverin on the Hugh. These heavy pieces were perhaps mounted in the work known as 'Mount Holles' or 'The Folly'. (This is not one work as implied by Saunders, but two: see SV 81 SE 42) "Upon Mount Holles are the remains of an old fort. Guns were formerly on it, and a watch tower on the south side, the walls of which were stripped to build the lines." (Troutbeck). Borlase's drawing cannot be reconciled with the conventional representation by Cosmo in 1669, and on Lilly's plan of 1715 the fortification is shown as an angular walled battery, about 20.0m long and 12.0m wide overall (Saunders and Miles). Mount Holles is now cut across by a road and though it generally appears as a rise the mound is now a terraced garden encompassed by houses. No evidence of any fortification survives (Field Investigators Comments–F1 NVQ 01-JUN-78) A reference in the October 1661 'survey of the contents of His Majesties Castles and Garrisons' makes reference to 'Mout Hughes Battery'. It details an estimate to lay a new timber floor and repair the slate roof in the guardhouse; also to lay a new timber floor in the Match Room (PRO WO55/1697). (PastScape)

Projection of a hillside, may have carried a motte. (King 1983)

Gatehouse Comments

A castle of Scilly (Sullia) is mentioned in 1194 (Rot. Cur. Reg.), may have been here or elsewhere (Gatehouse favours Ennor).

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSV901106
Latitude49.9147796630859
Longitude-6.3182201385498
Eastings90110
Northings10610
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Bowden, Mark and Brodie, Allan, 2011, Defending Scilly (London: English Heritage)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (New York) Vol. 2 p. 552
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 356
  • Troutbeck, J.A., 1796, A survey of the ancient and present state of the Isles of Scilly p. 53
  • Borlase, Wm., 1756, Observations on the Ancient and Present State of the Islands of Scilly (Oxford) p. 12 online copy

Journals

  • Saunders, A.D. and Miles, T.J., 1970, 'King Charles's Castle, Tresco, Scilly' Post-Medieval Archaeology Vol. 4 p. 1-30

Guide Books

  • O'Neil, B.H.St.J., 1950, Ancient Monuments of the Isles of Scilly (HMSO) p. 16

Primary Sources

Other

  • Bowden, Mark, 2011, Isles of Scilly: Military Defences, 1540-1951: Earthworks and Minor Sites (English Heritage Research Department Report series 56-2011) p. 27 online copy
  • Graeme Kirkham, April 2003, Cornwall & Scilly Urban Survey: Hugh Town (Cornwall County Council) Download copy