10 should see castles in Devon and Cornwall

Okehampton Citadel in West Devon

We now have William the Conquerer to thank for lots of the castles in England. And Okehampton isn’t any exception.

Development began in 1068 to suppress an rebellion in Mid-Devon. The fort went on to turned the county’s largest fortress below the possession of the Courtney household – the Earls of Devon.

Its downfall was by the hands of Henry VIII after Henry Courtney was executed for treason within the sixteenth Century. This was the start of this Devon fort’s decline to destroy.

Nevertheless, tales of Tudor ghosts and the romantic define of its crumbling partitions have made it a well-liked place to go to ever since. Notability the artist JMW Turner portrayed the destroy in his works together with ‘Okehampton, on the Okement’ (1824), which is now within the Tate Britain.

English Heritage members can go to at no cost.

Discover out extra about visiting Okehampton Citadel in Devon.

Pendennis Citadel in Falmouth, Cornwall

Henry VIII was the following prolific builder of castles to defend his realm. He commissioned Pendennis Citadel at Falmouth in response to invasion threats from the continent. It was constructed on the mouth of the River Fal, forming a formidable coastal defence with its twin, St Mawes Citadel, on the opposite facet.

Sarcastically, Pendennis’ fortifications had been first examined in the course of the English Civil Struggle of 1646, slightly than in opposition to international foes. It was one of many final strongholds for the forces loyal to King Charles. Layer upon layer of defences had been constructed over the centuries in response to new navy threats. 

Pendennis’ tunnels, carved into the headland cliffs, and artillery had been up to date proper up till the Second World Struggle. Coaching continued within the barracks till 1956 when the fort was lastly decommissioned.

At the moment it’s sorted by English Heritage and is an eerie place to go to. In case you step contained in the cliff high remark station and air raid shelter, it appears to be like like they’ve solely not too long ago been vacated by troops stationed right here. 

English Heritage members can go to at no cost.

Discover out extra about visiting Pendennis Citadel close to Falmouth, Cornwall.

Compton Citadel close to Paignton

Compton is a Devon Citadel nonetheless related to its ancestral house owners. It has been house to the Gilbert household for almost 600 years, together with Sir Humphrey Gilbert – half-brother to the English Naval hero and favorite of Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh. 

Compton is three miles from the English Riviera and was initially constructed as a manor home within the fifteenth Century. It was quickly fortified in opposition to the specter of French raids with a excessive curtain wall, towers and portcullis that stay at the moment. These had been by no means utilized in anger. 

Compton Citadel is now sorted by the Nationwide Belief and, because the Gilbert household continues to be in residence, is simply open a couple of months annually. In case you time your go to proper, you possibly can wander across the medieval kitchen, nice corridor, photo voltaic and sub photo voltaic sitting rooms, in addition to the formal gardens and orchard.

Discover out extra about visiting Compton Citadel in South Devon.

Powderham Citadel close to Exeter, Devon

Powderham is one other South Devon fort that’s nonetheless occupied. It’s the 600-year-old household house of the Earls of Devon after they left Okehampton.

The fort instructions beautiful views of the Exe Estuary – you possibly can spot it from the railway line from Exeter to Plymouth – and has a wealthy historical past stretching again to the 1300s. 

There’s been work to adapt this historic residence for contemporary residing, however you possibly can nonetheless discover secret doorways, unbelievable marbled halls, winding staircases and opulent sitting rooms.

Powderham can be a enjoyable Devon fort for households to go to, with a small animal farm, a play fort, a deer safari and falconry reveals within the college holidays.

Discover out extra about visiting Powderham Citadel close to Exeter.

St Michael’s Mount, Marazion in Cornwall

St Michael’s Mount must be certainly one of Cornwall’s most iconic landmarks, together with Lands Finish and the Eden Undertaking. It’s additionally the setting for a widely known fable that everybody will know from their childhood – Jack and the Beanstalk or Jack the Large Killer.

Legend has it {that a} large constructed the Mount and would wade ashore to feast on the native farmers’ flocks. At some point Jack from Marazion, the village reverse St Michael’s Mount, set off to sleigh the large. He dug a pit half method up the mount and sounded his horn. The enormous got here working and fell into the opening, which Jack rapidly crammed.

In case you cross the causeway and stroll up the cobbled hill in direction of the fort there’s a heart-shaped stone which, is claimed to mark the spot when the large fell.

The fort on the high of St Micheal’s Mount was initially a monastery. If you’re questioning if it has hyperlinks to Mont St Michael in Normandy you’d be proper. It was constructed by the identical monks – not the large.

At the moment it’s the household house of the St Aubyns. There are many historic curiosities inside together with a figment of a coat worn by Napoleon on the Battle of Waterloo.

Discover out extra about visiting St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

Totnes Citadel in Devon

This Citadel sits above the bohemian South Devon city of Totnes and dates again to the eleventh Century. William the Conquerer initially constructed it utilizing timber. This was changed with the stone Bailey you possibly can see at the moment on the flip of the 14th Century.

It’s now the most effective preserved Norman motte and bailey castles in England. 

It doesn’t take lengthy to discover Totnes Citadel, however is a good addition to wandering across the city’s impartial retailers and riverside. You’ll be able to climb the motte, admire the views down the River Dart and picnic within the fort partitions.

English Heritage members can go to at no cost.

Discover out extra about visiting Totnes Citadel in Devon.

Tintagel Citadel in Cornwall

A visit to Cornwall wouldn’t be full with out searching for out certainly one of its most well-known legends: King Arthur. It’s stated he was born at Tintagel Citadel, which now stands in ruins on the cliffs of Tintagel Island. 

In actuality, the fort was constructed within the thirteenth Century – effectively after the supposed reign of King Arthur – however let’s not let details get in the best way of a great fairy story.

There are nonetheless the stays of buildings courting again to the fifth Century when Cornwall’s kings had sturdy holds right here. 

A should for any fan of the Arthur legends is an image with the moody, bronze sculpture that guards the headland.

There’s two routes to achieve the island – a foot bridge or a set of steep steps minimize into the cliffs. Be ready for all weathers because the headline is extraordinarily uncovered. The repay is unbelievable views of the craggy North Cornwall shoreline. 

Discover out extra about visiting Tintagel Citadel on the north Cornwall coast.

Berry Pomeroy Citadel close to Totnes in Devon 

Go to Berry Pomeroy on a misty morning and also you’d be forgiven for being spooked. This fifteenth Century destroy is claimed to be certainly one of Devon’s most haunted locations. There’s an audio tour that tells you all of the ghostly tales. 

Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector to Henry VIII’s solely official son, began constructing an Elizabethan mansion inside the fort partitions in 1560. The plan was for it to be the grandest in Devon. However it was by no means accomplished and was finally deserted by the 18th Century.

Regardless of now being a destroy, you possibly can nonetheless stroll via the Nice Corridor and discover the primary ground of the medieval gatehouse the place there’s a preserved wall portray. This depicts the three sensible males visiting Bethlehem and is assumed to have been used as a backdrop for a chapel alter.

English Heritage members can go to at no cost.

Discover out extra about visiting Berry Pomeroy Citadel in Devon.

Dartmouth Citadel in South Devon

The salty stays of Dartmouth Citadel cling to the cliffs above the doorway to the River Dart in South Devon. In contrast to many English castles, it has by no means been house to kings or courtiers. However it has performed an vital function in defending the close by port of Dartmouth because the 14th Century.

Over the centuries, towers and batteries had been added to the fortifications. A sequence is also drawn throughout the river mouth between Dartmouth Citadel and Kingswear to cease unwelcome vessels getting into.

At the moment you possibly can go to the fort’s battery, casemates and gun tower the place troops had been stationed periodically proper up till the Second World Struggle. 

One in every of this fort’s highest options are the panoramic views over the ocean and down the River. Stand on the highest of the gun tower and also you’ll be capable to see the Britannia Royal Naval School perched on the hill above Dartmouth.

English Heritage members can go to at no cost.

Discover out extra about visiting Dartmouth Citadel.

Caerhays Citadel in Cornwall

Caerhays is a relative newcomer in relation to Cornish castles. It was designed by well-liked architect John Nash in 1805. The challenge value a lot that the Trevanion household who commissioned it ran out of money earlier than it was completed.

Fortunately it was rescued by the Williams household 150 years in the past. It has remained within the household and is now a personal residence that’s open from mid-February to mid-June.

The fort and 140 acre woodland gardens overlook Porthluney Cove on the south coast. It’s a paradise for horticulturalists with a set of Chinese language crops that had been purchased right here as early because the 1870s. 

Discover out extra about visiting Caerhays Citadel in Cornwall.

Extra locations to go to in Devon and Cornwall

If you’re serious about extra locations to go to than castles in Devon and Cornwall then I can suggest testing my Devon with Youngsters web site and these different posts right here on Tin Field Traveller: