Totnes Castle

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Totnes castle seen from the Castle Street from

Totnes Castle is a ruined castle in Totnes in Devon, UK.

Location

Totnes Castle is a Norman castle ruins in the heart of Totnes on a hill above the River Dart.

History

The first castle was built in the 11th century by Judhael de Totnes, a follower of William the Conqueror. He received the surrounding land in 1086 and built a wooden castle presumably in order to consolidate his power over the land. With the death of William he lost the country - probably because he took the uprising in 1088 over the succession and the division of England from Normandy with William Rufus party.

The castle became the successor to Roger de Nonant, whose descendants they farmed for three generations, probably before 1206, the castle came into the possession of William de Braose. His son Reginald de Braose was probably around 1219 built the stone castle, the remains of which are still preserved. About Reginald's granddaughter Eva de Braose, the castle came around 1241 to the family Cantilupe and later to the family de la Zouch. In 1326, the castle was a ruin derelict and was built at the behest of the king again and re- attached. After the battle of Bosworth, Henry VII Totnes awarded to Richard Edgcumbe, then the castle was overtaken militarily and fell into disrepair. Middle of the 16th century had Richard Edgcumbe Totnes sell the castle fell to the family Seymour, the later Dukes of Somerset. During the English Civil War the castle was occupied again, but played a minor role. 1947 the family handed Seymour the ruins of the Ministry of Works, she finally gave in to the care of English Heritage.

Plant

Today there are still large parts of the castle wall and the keep received. The ruined castle is managed by English Heritage since 1984 and can be visited from April to October for a small entrance fee.