IT’S not often you can become part of a historic site — but this autumn English Heritage are inviting people to do just that with the chance to ‘sign a slate’ for Tintagel Castle’s new footbridge.

Spanning 67m across Tintagel’s divided landscape, the new bridge will recreate the historic link between the mainland and island. In total, nearly 100,000 tiles of local Delabole slate will be used in the ambitious construction. Laid on edge, and interspersed with a pattern of quartzite tiles, the slate will make up the bridge’s eye-catching paved deck.

In return for a donation of £5, you can sign your name, leave a dedication or write a message on one of the thousands of slate tiles, which will form the walkway of the spectacular new bridge. Once signed, the tiles will be laid on edge, side by side, with the messages concealed from view — a lasting legacy to everyone who has supported the bridge.

Tiles will be available to sign in person at the Tintagel Castle shop on Tintagel high street up until Christmas, whilst history lovers from further afield will be able to donate, and have messages scribed on their behalf, online.

Georgia Butters, English Heritage’s head of historic properties in Cornwall, said: “This is a once in a lifetime chance to quite literally make your mark on history. As well as signatures, we’ve already had a wonderful range of messages of love, remembrance and celebration written on our slates. When in place, the messages will be hidden from view on the side of the slates, and will become a lasting legacy for everyone who has donated to support the bridge and our work at Tintagel.”

Each tile has been hand-cut from Delabole slate, at a quarry just outside Tintagel village. The bridge joins a long line of local architecture to feature Delabole slate, which has been an important part of North Cornwall’s building traditions for hundreds of years.

Recent excavations at Tintagel unearthed local slate tiles, which had been used for roofing, window ledges and flooring in buildings from the 6th century, with one rare piece of slate featuring names, phrases and symbols engraved into the stone.

Work on Tintagel Castle’s new footbridge began at the beginning of October, and the historic site is now closed to the public throughout the build. The new bridge will be completed and revealed in spring 2019.

Whilst the site is closed, the castle ticket office and shop on Castle Road in Tintagel village will remain open to provide information about the project, and for people to sign a slate in person.

Donors will also be able to submit messages online and receive an image of their tile, signed on their behalf by the castle team.

Tiles will be available to sign until Christmas, subject to availability, for a suggested donation of £5 each.

Money raised will go towards English Heritage’s work at Tintagel.