Stogursey Castle
Stogursey Castle is a medieval castle in Somerset, England. Most of the site is in ruins, but there is a thatched gatehouse used for holiday rental by the Landmark Trust.
| Stogursey Castle | |
|---|---|
| Somerset, England | |
 The castle gatehouse | |
  Stogursey Castle | |
| Coordinates | 51.1761°N 3.1429°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference ST202425 |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Landmark Trust |
| Open to the public | For holiday let |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
History
Stogursey Castle was built to the south of the village of Stogursey by the family of the De Courcys, probably in the late 11th or early 12th century.[1] The name Stogursey is a corruption of Stoke Courcy.[2] The castle was a motte-and-bailey design with a 60 metre wide, two metre tall motte and two bailey enclosures, surrounded by a water-filled moat, fed from the nearby Stogursey Brook.[3]
The castle was controlled by King John of England during the First Barons' War, and was ordered to be destroyed in 1215, but survived; John's lieutenant Falkes de Bréauté took control of the castle, and after his death a second order to destroy the property was given in 1228, again apparently ignored.[1] The castle was extended in stone in 1300 by the Fitzpayne family, and was destroyed in the 1450s by the Yorkist faction during the War of the Roses,[1] though the Victoria County History notes that "there is no evidence, either documentary or archaeological, to support the claim for its destruction in 1457".[4] A house was built within the castle grounds in the 17th century and was restored in the 1870s, but by the late 20th century had itself become ruined.[5]
Storgursey Castle is a scheduled monument and its gatehouse is a Grade II* listed building,[6] restored by the Landmark Trust between 1981 and 1982 for use as a holiday let.[3]
References
- Pettifer, p.223; Stogursey Castle, the Gatehouse website, accessed 22 April 2011.
- Pettifer, p.223.
- Stogursey Castle, the Gatehouse website, accessed 22 April 2011.
- Baggs, A. P.; Siraut, M. C. (1992). "Stogursey: Castle". In Dunning, R. W.; Elrington, C. R. (eds.). A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). Victoria County History. pp. 136–137.
- Landmark Trust, p.165.
- "Stogursey Castle". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
Bibliography
- [Video Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiZSbdbjWT4]
- Landmark Trust. (2006) The Landmark Trust Handbook. Maidenhead, UK: The Landmark Trust. ISBN 978-0-9533124-5-0.
- Pettifer, Adrian. (2002) English Castles: a Guide by Counties. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-782-5.