Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, built the castle in 1233 after trading the Merthen land to Gervase de Tintagel for the site in 1225, while the infobox says only the 13th century. The article says he built it in an old-fashioned style to make it appear more ancient, because of its Arthurian and Cornish royal associations.
Excavated stone buildings with slate floors and steps on the southern terrace date from the 5th and 6th centuries. The Great Hall roof was removed in the 1330s, parts were used as a prison, and the Iron Gate defenses were strengthened in the 1580s. Erosion of the isthmus caused progressive damage. The article gives no dimensions.
In the early 1540s John Leland found a makeshift bridge of tree trunks, and a wooden bridge was installed in 1975. A cantilevered steel footbridge by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates opened on August 11, 2019, designed to evoke Arthur's sword.
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