Tiverton

Devon

Little remain’s of this motte and bailey castle which was originally built by Richard de Redvers in

the winter of 1106.

He was one of the barons who sided with King Henry I, at the Battle of Tinchebray against the King’s brother, Duke Robert II (Curthose) of Normandy. Henry wanted Normandy for himself, claiming his brother was incompetent to run the Duchy. Duke Robert was taken prisoner but the commander of the Duke’s rear guard, his friend Robert de Bellême escaped.

Flushed with success in battle, King Henry I, thankful to Richard de Redvers for his aid, created him Earl of Devon and also granted Redvers the Lordship of Tiverton.

In 1293 the castle came into the hands of the Courtenay family who rebuilt and enlarged it, in pink sandstone.

During the Civil War the castle was besieged in 1645 by Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Parliamentary troops. Having set up his artillery on Skrink Hills a lucky shot smashed the chain holding up the drawbridge. A troop of Parliamentarians gained entrance to the castle, putting an end to the siege almost before it had started.

By act of Parliament the castle was demolished.

http://www.tivertoncastle.com/

The castle it is open to the public


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