Work begins to preserve 16th Century Cornish cannon

The cast iron cannon can corrode in the salty sea air

Work is under way to preserve an historic collection of cannon and guns at St Mawes Castle in Cornwall.

The weapons include six 300-year-old cast iron cannon and a bronze gun dating back to the mid-16th Century.

Conservators said exposure to salt in the air due to the castle's coastal location, means some iron items deteriorate quickly.

The three-week project will involve removing rust and treating the items with a layer of protective paint.

The conservation work will take three weeks to complete

Experts said each cannon will need to be lifted out of its wooden carriage before being assessed and treated.

The carriages will also be washed and treated with a compound to prevent wood rot and insect attacks.

The star of the collection at the Tudor fort - the Alberghetti gun - will be treated with hot wax instead of paint as it is the only cannon made from bronze at the castle, staff said.

The 16th Century Alberghetti gun will need special attention

The castle's manager David Guest said: “We’re very proud of the cannon we have on display here, so the team have been excited to see this work take place – and it’s proving a fascinating watch for visitors too.

"The cannon are heavy but surprisingly brittle so need to be handled very carefully to ensure they’re not damaged."

The castle - owned by English Heritage - is one of the best-preserved of the 30 coastal fortresses commissioned by Henry VIII under threat of French and Spanish invasion in the 1540s, according to historians.