Stowey Castle

Stowey Castle
Somerset, England
Stowey Castle
Shown within Somerset
Type	Motte and bailey
Coordinates	grid reference ST187395
Current condition	Earthworks remain

Stowey Castle (also known as Nether Stowey Castle) was a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, built in the 11th century, in the village of Nether Stowey on the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.^[1]

Details

Map of the castle site

The Castle is sited on a small isolated knoll of Leighland Slates of the Devonian series, about 390 feet (119 m) high. It consisted of a square keep, (which may have been stone, or a wooden superstructure on stone foundations) and its defences, and an outer and an inner bailey.^[2] The mount is 29 feet (9 m) above the 6 feet (2 m) wide ditch which itself is 7 feet (2 m) deep. The motte has a flat top with two large and two small mounds as the edge which may be sites of towers. Central area occupied by approximately square foundations 33 feet (10 m) by 33 feet (10 m) with internal divisions.^[3]

The blue lias rubble walling is the only visible structural remains of the castle which stand on a conical earthwork with a ditch approximately 820 feet (250 m) in circumference.^[4]

The castle was destroyed in the 15th century, which may have been as a penalty for the local Lord Audley's involvement in the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497 led by Perkin Warbeck.^[5] Some of the stone was used in the building of Stowey Court in the village.^[6]

See also

• Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
• List of castles in England

References

1. ^ "Stowey Castle". Pastscape National Monument Record. English Heritage. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=189462. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
2. ^ "Nether Stowey Castle orientation leaflet" (PDF). Quantock Online. http://www.quantockonline.co.uk/quantocks/villages/netherstowey/orientationleaflet_v2_2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
3. ^ "Stowey Castle, Nether Stowey". Somerset Historic Environment Record. http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=11402. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
4. ^ "Remains of Keep to Stowey Castle". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=268896. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
5. ^ "Nether Stowey". Quantock Online. http://www.quantockonline.co.uk/quantocks/villages/netherstowey/netherstowey1.html. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
6. ^ Waite, Vincent (1964). Portrait of the Quantocks. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709111584. 

Coordinates: 51°08′59″N 3°10′07″W / 51.1496°N 3.1685°W / 51.1496; -3.1685