Tintagel Crescent

There are several Cornish names recalled in the streets running off St Pancras Avenue in Plymouth. Among them is one with the most romantic and historical connection of them all - Tintagel.

Until the 20th century, Tintagel only referred to the castle, church and manor in that part of Cornwall. In recent years however, the name was extended to apply to the neighbouring village, which was known as Trevena as late as 1907. As for the name, Tintagel itself is thought most likely to have come from two words, 'din' and 'tagell'. The local form is said to be Dundadgel (Ekwald - English Place Names), that is - fort or a constriction of a throat.

There is little doubt about the first element - there has been a fort there since the Dark Ages. It is the second element that is less obvious, although the narrow neck of land connecting the promontory lends itself to that interpretation. Craig Weatherhill in his Cornish Place Names adds that a "Norman-French origin should be considered, such as that given to a similar site in the Channel Isles, 'tente d'agel' - the devil's stronghold".

EH 02 May 2000