My previous post introduced the isles of Scilly and featured images of Cromwell Castle on the west coast of Tresco. This post is all about The Blockhouse on the east coast of the same island.
By the 16th century the Isles of Scilly were a weak spot in England’s defences. If captured, they would have made an ideal base for England’s enemies, whether France, Spain or ‘privateers’. In 1547 Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour visited the islands and realised the importance of improving the defences. About a year later work began on fortifying the islands, starting with Tresco.
The Old Blockhouse was probably built in the late 1540s to protect the harbour of Old Grimsby on the northeast coast of Tresco. The stone building has a raised gun floor that looks northwest over the harbour of Old Grimsby and northeast over the sound between Tresco and Tean, one of several points of entry into the archipelago. To the right of the entrance was a room with a fireplace and chimney, which was probably the living quarters for the small garrison. It was added when the blockhouse was reoccupied 100 years later during the Civil War.
The Blockhouse never saw action against the French or Spanish but 100 years later it wa occupied by Royalist troops defending the islands and was attacked by the Parliamentarian fleet commanded by Admiral Blake. Blake attacked Tresco first and took the Blockhouse without special problems (which explains why so much of the structure is still standing).
My photos show the blockhouse and area around it captured one morning around sunrise. We see the Old Grimsby Harbour, where the houses now mostly are let out to holiday makers during the summer. Some were even in use when I was there in November.
