It was built in 1100 in the typical motte and bailey style and is a perfect example of military architecture of its period, and one of the finest in England. The castle belonged to the Cardinhams in the 12th century, until Andrew de Cardinham's daughter married Thomas de Tracey, who owned the castle until 1264, after which it went to Simon de Montfort and to Henry III's brother, Richard of Cornwall. Richard died in 1271, and his son Edmund in 1300. From 1337 it became one of the 17 Antiqua maneria of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Restormel Castle is now in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public.
The castle was built behind a 17 metre moat, upon slopes which were artificially steepened. Restormel has seen action only once during its long history, when Charles I's forces drove out the Parliamentarian garrison during the Civil War.
In 1999 members of the Cornish Stannary Parliament removed signs from this site and other Cornish sites under the care of the English Heritage organisation, based upon the claim that the sites should properly be marked as Cornish heritage and not English. Three men later paid criminal fines in connection with these actions.
In 2007 British Archaeology magazine reported the discovery of a Roman fort near Restormel castle. A geophysical magnetometer survey was conducted by members of the Saltash Heritage.
(Referances taken from Wikipedia)
Your photos are beautiful! Wonderful Rose (who I read her blog) mentioned your new space :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the UK, so it's wonderful to be able to "experience" the photos!
Blessings!
Sheesh...the way Rose tells it, it was just a piddling pile of bricks *grin*....
ReplyDeleteI do love castles....
Thanks to you both, it was a shame the weather was a little gloomy, but i think the pictures came out well enough.
ReplyDeleteI like castles as well Mel, we have one near us that is now a restaurant, i think i have some pictures somewhere along with the monument that is on the same hill, i'll post them as well.