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Location Penzance, Cornwall, England Landlord Penwith District Council and Penzance Town Council Similar Picture Penzance Ltd, Montol Festival, Penlee House, Chûn Castle, Castle an Dinas - St Columb | ||
Lescudjack Hill fort is the name given to the unexcavated Iron Age settlement located in Penzance, Cornwall. The name might originate from the Cornish words lan (enclosure) and scosek (shielded)- shielded enclosure or, more likely, "nans" (valley) and "cosek" (wooded); however, compare: "lesky" (to burn), "cunnys" (fuel) and "ack" (a place where found), since "LESKInnick" terrace is just below on the west side of the hill; therefore it could mean a "beacon place". It is positioned on the summit of a steep hill in the east of Penzance and consists of a single rampart enclosing an area of 3 acres (12,000 m2). The site has been damaged and contains allotments and an open area of land which has recently been cleared of thick undergrowth. It is reported that a small lead-copper mine was situated "just outside" the ramparts, however all trace of this appears to have vanished.
Map of Lescudjack Hill Fort, Penzance, UK
In 2004 this land was purchased by Penwith District Council and Penzance Town Council for £45,000 following a series of campaigns in the local community including a campaign conducted by the then Lescudjack Infants School (now part of the Pensans Primary School). According to Penwith District Council's website, a full archaeological survey is being conducted by Cornwall County Council's Historic Environment Service [1]. The site is also subject to a management plan jointly agreed by Penzance Town Council and Penwith District Council.
The site traditionally was referred to as a castle and Castle Road which runs alongside the site was named after it. There are also several roads nearby named Lescudjack, two schools have used the name and the local Sure Start is called Lescudjack.[2]
The hill fort was formally handed over to public use on the 21st of December 2007 as part of the Montol Festival.