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Explore Devon’s castles from home

24th February 2021

Categories: Visitor News

We might not be able to travel to Devon at the moment, but we can certainly travel into the past with these hints at the region’s history. Devon is full of large country estates, manor houses and castles, so we thought we’d bring a bit of Devon to you by compiling a list of some of the castles and forts you can find around the county.

While many of these are now just ruins, there are a couple that you can still visit – when restrictions are lifted of course!

Being on the coast, Devon was an area of strategic importance, so naturally, it became home to a number of fortresses. In the Iron Ages, these were often placed on high ground to give a better vantage point.
In North Devon, you can still see the remains of Barnstaple Castle in the centre of the town. Initially, it was built as a wooden structure, before being rebuilt with stone and then left to decay, it was a ruin by the 1300s, but the remains of the former fort can still be seen, though these days, it resembles more of a hill than a castle.

Similarly in East Devon, you can find Sidbury Castle on the outskirts of Sidmouth. This is another former Hill Fort that was thought to have been constructed in the Iron Ages and gives a wonderful vantage point across the Sid Valley. There is a delightful walk that takes you up to the site that begins in Sidmouth and takes you through the Byes and into the village of Sidbury.

It isn’t just old castles you can find in Devon either – though there are several of them, the UK’s youngest castle is in Devon. Castle Drogo, which is managed by the National Trust was built as an ancestral home for Julius Drewe, who retired at the age of 33 having made his fortune.

Image: Powderham Castle

In fact, many of Devon’s castles were built as private residences and some of them remain so to this day. Powderham Castle on the outskirts of Exeter is home to the Earl and Countess of Devon and has been in the Courtenay family since the 1300s. Though the family still live there, it is also a top tourist attraction and event venue. Michael Buble is set to play there once the pandemic allows!

One of the oldest castles, as we know them, is Tiverton Castle. It was originally built in 1106 under the orders of Henry I, and over the years it has been the home of medieval earls and a Plantagenet Princess, it even saw battle during the Civil War, but is now a private home offering bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation – what could be more magical than staying in a castle?!

Image: Tiverton Castle

Speaking of Tiverton Castle, it too was once part of the Courtenay estate, back in the days of Thomas de Courtenay, it became the home of the Dowager countess, while he resided nearby in another of his family’s castles, Colcombe Castle, which is in East Devon. Nearby is Bickleigh Castle, which also falls under the Tiverton jurisdiction. While there isn’t much in the way of a castle to look at these days, the surrounding countryside is quite spectacular.

Another castle you can visit that was called home is Watermouth Castle. Not content with being a beautiful building, it also houses exhibition rooms and a theme park! Technically, it is a country house that was made to look like a castle, rather than an actual castle, but being a Grade 2 listed building, it gives off the ancient castle vibes. It was built in the 19^th century and many of the rooms are still made up to resemble a Victorian home.

Image: Watermouth Castle

It isn’t just people that call Devon’s castles home, one of the region’s castles is thought to be the most haunted place in the county. Berry Pomeroy Castle near Totnes was built in the 1560s on the site of the Seymour family mansion – the Seymour’s were a very influential family, with one of them going on to marry Henry VIII and giving him his only son. The castle was extended in the 1600s and abandoned in the 1700s, it is said that two particularly restless spirits stalk the grounds – so don’t stay too late after dark!

Image: Berry Pomeroy Castle

A castle you can’t miss is Dartmouth Castle, which has guarded the entrance to the Dart Estuary for over 600 years. It was built by the Mayor of Dartmouth who had a sideline in piracy. After the gun tower was added, it saw service during the Civil War and was in use as a defensive structure until the second world war.

Image: Dartmouth Castle

Several of Devon’s forts and castles were put to use during the civil war including Bampton Castle – not much of it remains, but you can still see where the foundations of the castle were and the Motte survives.

There are a number of castle remains and ruins to enjoy in the region too. Okehampton Castle features the remains of a former Motte and Bailey style castle that was born soon after the Norman conquest, as was Totnes Castle. The former castle grounds offer amazing views across the town.

The Normans were prolific castle builders, they are also to credit for Launceston Castle – the remaining tower and keep can still be seen and you can even climb the top of the tower and see amazing views across the area. At one time, it was used for defence and then as a prison, as was Lydford Castle, which gained a reputation as being one of the harshest prisons in the region.

Image: Lydford Castle

While you might think that Powderham Castle is the only remaining castle structure in Exeter, you’d be mistaken. The city has its own castle in fact, known as Exeter Castle or Rougement Castle, it was built into the Roman walls that surround the city in 1068 and was besieged by King Stephen during his fight to retain the throne from his half sister, it even got a mention in Shakespeare’s Richard III. For a time, the court could be found there and it was the venue for England’s last witchcraft execution. Parts of the gatehouse still remain and you can walk around the former grounds, head to Northernhay Gardens to visit.

Plymouth’s City castle still remains too, initially used for defence, now only a small fragment of the gatehouse remains. You can find it in the Barbican on Lambhay Street, one of the oldest parts of the city. The original stone work was taken down to help build other parts of Plymouth as it grew, so bits of it can probably be found all over!

Plymouth is also home to Crownhill Fort, which was built during the Victorian times.

This is by no means a complete list of all the region’s castles and forts, so don’t forget to visit our history and heritage pages to find out more about Devon’s diverse history. If you want to see more of Devon, make sure you’re following us on Instagram, where you can enjoy the county’s sights without having to leave your home! As the UK is currently under a national lockdown, travel is currently not permitted, so please do not visit Devon – these castles have survived hundreds of years, they will still be there when this is all over! For the latest updates on travel and restrictions, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.