AN artisan candle maker has pledged to help preserve an Iron Age hillfort near St Columb Major.

St Eval has become the Heritage Guardian of Castle an Dinas (East) after signing up to be the first organisation to join Cornwall Heritage Trust’s new scheme.

The Heritage Guardian programme aims to help continue its work to save Cornwall’s historic sites, improve them and share them, free of charge, with the general public.

Castle an Dinas is one of the largest and most impressive hillforts in Cornwall. It dates from around the fourth to first centuries BCE.

Hillforts like this are thought to have been a focus for the community, symbols of the wealth and power of the tribe, and a central place for social ceremonies, trade and ritual.

The monument is mentioned in Cornish legends as one of the seats of the early Dukes of Cornwall and as the place where Cador, Duke of Cornwall and husband of King Arthur’s mother, met his death. The existence of such legends suggests that this site remained important long after its construction.

It is one of 19 historic sites cared for by Cornwall Heritage Trust, which works to ensure Cornish heritage is archaeologically protected, ecologically improved and freely accessible to everyone. The independent charity also hosts a wide-reaching programme of wellbeing, education and community workshops, activities and events at these places and provides grants enabling visits to museums and historic monuments across Cornwall.

Cornwall Heritage Trust fundraising officer, Antonia Mullaly, said: “The historic sites our team looks after are unique and inspiring green spaces for Cornish people to connect with one another and their shared history. Protecting and sharing these assets with everyone is at the heart of everything we do because, despite how important they are to local communities, many are uncared for and under threat.

“Joining our ‘Heritage Guardians’ Programme is a fantastic and unique opportunity to support this vital work, offering businesses the chance to make a strategic investment in Cornwall’s culture, communities and landscapes, deliver lasting impact with a trusted charity and demonstrate their corporate social responsibility.

“We’re incredibly grateful to St Eval for partnering with us. As an independent charity, every penny from business partnerships, memberships, donations and funding really does count so their generosity makes a huge difference to our work. We hope many more businesses will see the benefits of this investment in Cornwall’s heritage and come on board.”

St Eval executive director, Ian Greaves, said: “We were delighted to support Cornwall Heritage Trust by sponsoring the magical site of Castle an Dinas, a much-loved landmark just a few miles from our farm. Living and working in the Duchy, we are fortunate to be surrounded by such rich history and heritage, and it is inspiring to see Cornwall Heritage working so passionately to preserve these special places for the future.”