The battle over Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, is continuing after a group of 200 Cornish historians accused English Heritage of turning the site into a Disney-style theme park.
The Cornwall Association of Local Historians argued the organisation is mixing fact and fantasy to promote Tintagel's link with the king and boost visitor numbers.
It follows an outcry over the carving of a wizard's face English Heritage commissioned at the mouth of the so-called Merlin's Cave, where it is said the wizard took Arthur as a baby to keep him safe.
English Heritage 'turning Tintagel into King Arthur theme park'
Group of 200 Cornish historians say English Heritage is combining history with fantasy with its plans to transform legendary birthplace of King Arthur
Eagle-eyed visitors can now discover a new addition to Tintagel's landscape - the sleeping face of Merlin carved into the rocks Photo: APEX NEWS
By Leon Watson
23 Mar 2016
The Telegraph
The battle over Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, is continuing after a group of 200 Cornish historians accused English Heritage of turning the site into a Disney-style theme park.
The Cornwall Association of Local Historians argued the organisation is mixing fact and fantasy to promote Tintagel's link with the king and boost visitor numbers.
It follows an outcry over the carving of a wizard's face English Heritage commissioned at the mouth of the so-called Merlin's Cave, where it is said the wizard took Arthur as a baby to keep him safe.
Local craftsmen Peter Graham spent three months carrying out the work Photo: ENGLISH HERITAGE
English Heritage also plans to erect an 8ft model of a knight partly inspired by King Arthur near the castle and a compass installation that may remind visitors of the round table.
In a statement, the association said: "We are appalled at what English Heritage is doing to Tintagel, one of Cornwall’s most historic sites.
"As an organisation of over 200 local Cornish historians, we view with alarm the plans to turn Tintagel into a fairytale theme park."
Despite its long association with King Arthur that English Heritage widely promotes, some historians argue that there is no evidence to suggest he ever visited Tintagel.
The association has accepted that many people visited because of the Arthurian legend but argued that it should not be the role of English Heritage to further the fantasy.
"In fact, it should be the function of EH to help visitors learn the true history of this Cornish place, to begin to better understand what has gone on before and to preserve that heritage," the association said.
"The idea of carving even a small face of a mythical druid into one of the stones of Stonehenge or adding an 8ft statue of a legend to the scene would be beyond any historian’s imagination."
The new carving was undertaken by local craftsman Peter Graham, who spent three months carrying out the work.
Jeremy Ashbee, head curator at English Heritage, said: "Visitors to Tintagel Castle get a complete overview of the site’s history from the 5th century to recent times.
"We recently opened a new exhibition there which explores both the site’s archaeology and history including, for the first time, excavated artefacts.
"Since the Middle Ages, the legends and literary associations of Tintagel have played a key role in shaping the castle.
"The importance of these legends is widely acknowledged by historians and archaeologists.
"Our new outdoor interpretation explains this and places the legends within the context of Tintagel’s overall history and significance."
Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur
English Heritage 'turning Tintagel into King Arthur theme park' - Telegraph
The Cornwall Association of Local Historians argued the organisation is mixing fact and fantasy to promote Tintagel's link with the king and boost visitor numbers.
It follows an outcry over the carving of a wizard's face English Heritage commissioned at the mouth of the so-called Merlin's Cave, where it is said the wizard took Arthur as a baby to keep him safe.
English Heritage 'turning Tintagel into King Arthur theme park'
Group of 200 Cornish historians say English Heritage is combining history with fantasy with its plans to transform legendary birthplace of King Arthur
Eagle-eyed visitors can now discover a new addition to Tintagel's landscape - the sleeping face of Merlin carved into the rocks Photo: APEX NEWS
By Leon Watson
23 Mar 2016
The Telegraph
The battle over Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, is continuing after a group of 200 Cornish historians accused English Heritage of turning the site into a Disney-style theme park.
The Cornwall Association of Local Historians argued the organisation is mixing fact and fantasy to promote Tintagel's link with the king and boost visitor numbers.
It follows an outcry over the carving of a wizard's face English Heritage commissioned at the mouth of the so-called Merlin's Cave, where it is said the wizard took Arthur as a baby to keep him safe.
Local craftsmen Peter Graham spent three months carrying out the work Photo: ENGLISH HERITAGE
English Heritage also plans to erect an 8ft model of a knight partly inspired by King Arthur near the castle and a compass installation that may remind visitors of the round table.
In a statement, the association said: "We are appalled at what English Heritage is doing to Tintagel, one of Cornwall’s most historic sites.
"As an organisation of over 200 local Cornish historians, we view with alarm the plans to turn Tintagel into a fairytale theme park."
Despite its long association with King Arthur that English Heritage widely promotes, some historians argue that there is no evidence to suggest he ever visited Tintagel.
The association has accepted that many people visited because of the Arthurian legend but argued that it should not be the role of English Heritage to further the fantasy.
"In fact, it should be the function of EH to help visitors learn the true history of this Cornish place, to begin to better understand what has gone on before and to preserve that heritage," the association said.
"The idea of carving even a small face of a mythical druid into one of the stones of Stonehenge or adding an 8ft statue of a legend to the scene would be beyond any historian’s imagination."
The new carving was undertaken by local craftsman Peter Graham, who spent three months carrying out the work.
Jeremy Ashbee, head curator at English Heritage, said: "Visitors to Tintagel Castle get a complete overview of the site’s history from the 5th century to recent times.
"We recently opened a new exhibition there which explores both the site’s archaeology and history including, for the first time, excavated artefacts.
"Since the Middle Ages, the legends and literary associations of Tintagel have played a key role in shaping the castle.
"The importance of these legends is widely acknowledged by historians and archaeologists.
"Our new outdoor interpretation explains this and places the legends within the context of Tintagel’s overall history and significance."
Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur
English Heritage 'turning Tintagel into King Arthur theme park' - Telegraph
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