Tintagel Castle in Cornwall is set to receive a new footbridge, thanks to a £2.5 million donation from philanthropists Hans and Julia Rausing, heirs to the Tetra Pak fortune. The bridge will reconnect the two parts of the castle, which are currently separated by a 190-foot gorge and only accessible via a steep, rocky path.
The proposed bridge, designed by Ney & Partners engineers and William Matthews Associates Architectural Practice, will consist of two separate cantilevers meeting in the middle with a 1.5-inch (4cm) gap. This gap is intended to allow visitors to appreciate the transition between the mainland and the island. The bridge will be 98 feet (30 metres) long and sit 187 feet (57 metres) above sea level.
According to folklore, Tintagel Castle was the birthplace of King Arthur, after his father Uther Pendragon, with the help of Merlin, crossed the gorge to seduce the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. The original medieval drawbridge that once connected the two sections disappeared between the 14th and 17th centuries.
English Heritage is leading the project, which has also received contributions from over 1,000 individuals. All donors have signed a piece of slate to mark their contribution. The Rausings expressed their pleasure in supporting the project, noting the bridge's design fits the landscape and improves access for visitors.
The site has been inhabited since at least the late Roman period, with a community flourishing from the 5th to 7th centuries. Artifacts found at Tintagel, including Mediterranean pottery, suggest significant trading with the Mediterranean region.
