View NW of the entrance to Benson's Cave below The Castle (Marisco Castle) & parade ground (Castle Parade) on Castle Hill, Lundy Island, Devon, UK.
View NW of the entrance to Benson's Cave below The Castle (Marisco Castle) & parade ground (Castle Parade) on Castle Hill, Lundy Island, Devon, UK. The Castle was built 1243-4 on command of Henry III. The cave was probably cut in the 1600s by Thomas Bushell who held Lundy for King Charles I during the Civil War: he largely rebuilt the keep, added a parade ground & is reputed to have used the cave as a royal mint. Thomas Benson MP leased Lundy 1748-54 & used the island as a base for smuggling: he held his convict workers in the Castle & used the cave as a workshop & store for contraband. Benson had a contract to take convicts to America, but he took them to Lundy instead. In the 1850s the ruined keep was adapted for use as fishermen's cottages. In 1979 the Landmark Trust began renovation & conversion to holiday accomodation. The Castle is often incorrectly named after the de Marisco family who held the island c1150-1242 & had their stronghold at Bulls Paradise.
Size: 4961px × 3722px
Location: Benson's Cave, Castle Hill, Lundy Island, North Devon, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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