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Summary

The original keep (the eastern half of the existing structure) dates to the 11th century. It was rebuilt and extended westwards, doubling its size in the 14th century.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1007812: Okehampton Castle: a motte and bailey castle with associated earthworks north of the West Okement River.
• Listed Building (I) 1165647: OKEHAMPTON CASTLE

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• KEEP (Early Medieval to XIV - 1066 AD (Between) to 1400 AD (Between))

Full description

Higham, R. A., 1977, Excavations at Okehampton Castle (Article in Serial). SDV233066.

Keep: 1st phase: an irregular square building (10.8m externally) of granite, contemporary with the upper layers of the motte, dating to 1068-1086. It was probably a stone tower of at least two storeys with a possible first floor entry. 2nd phase: circa 1300. The phase 1 building was included in a rebuilding in shale, which incorporated a westward extension. The resultant keep was rectangular, of 2 storeys, with 2 rooms on both upper and ground floor.

Higham, R. A. + Freeman, J. P., 1996, Devon Castles (Draft Text), Gazetteer (Monograph). SDV354350.

The early castle consisted of an almost square tower (the eastern half of the existing structure), 10.8 metres square on top of a large motte. It was rebuilt and extended westwards to double its size in the early 14th century.

Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV3474 - Earthwork survey of Okehampton Castle and Park

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.