Okehampton Castle

This site is one of the most extensive castle ruins in the West Country.

Before 1070 the site was a simple motte but in the late 11th century a stone keep was constructed. In the early 14th century a further building was added to the keep with thick walls and high round-arched windows. During this period buildings were also built below the keep including kitchens, a hall and solar, a chapel, guardrooms and more accommodation. A gatehouse was built, joined to the rest of the fortress by a long, narrow tunnel. The result was a long enclosure protected by walls and steep slopes.

The castle had a comparatively uneventful history but in 1539 its owner Henry, Marquis of Exeter was executed by Henry VIII for conspiracy. Thereafter, the property was seized for the Crown and dismantled. However, today many of the buildings are still in a good state of preservation.