An English squadron off St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall

Dating to circa 1690, St. Michael's Mount is viewed from the seaward side and is surrounded by shipping. Its strategic position has led to the Mount witnessing many sieges and battles throughout the ages and it was here that the first beacon was lit to warn of the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588. From 1647, the Mount belonged to the St Aubyn family before being handed over to the National Trust in 1954.