Moresk Castle, St Clement

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Possible Masonry Castle

There are no visible remains

NameMoresk Castle, St Clement
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishSt Clement

Castle, mentioned in a documentary source of C15 as having been destroyed c.1104, 'old walls' recorded in C17. No recent physical evidence found. (PastScape)

The castle is mentioned by William of Worcester (C15) as being near Truro and destroyed, the dwelling of Edmund, a duke of Cornwall. The Manorial Assession Rolls mention Dynys, Denys, Dyney etc (ie Dinas). Old walls are recorded forming part of an old garden in 1794 and an unspecified excavation of the lane "strengthens the opinion". (PastScape–ref. McLauchlan) This description suggests the given map reference in PastScape, is slightly inaccurate and the site was nearer to the village and church.

The duchy manor of Moresk, comprising the greater part of this parish, was sold under the land-tax redemption act, in 1799, to Henry Prynn Andrew, Esq., subject to the remainder of a lease of thirty years, granted to Sir William Lemon, Bart. William of Worcester, whose Itinerary of Cornwall was written in the reign of Edward IV., speaks of the castle of Moresk, then in ruins, as having been the residence of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall. There are now no remains of the buildings. This manor was given by Edward the Black Prince, to his usher of the chamber, Sir Walter de Woodland, who died without male issue (Sir William Pole's Devonshire Collections, p. 278.). (Lysons)

Gatehouse Comments

There may be some confusion in historical records between this site and the castle at nearby Truro

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSW852434
Latitude50.2550888061523
Longitude-5.01661014556885
Eastings185200
Northings43440
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

Antiquarian

  • Harvey, J.H. (ed), 1969, Itineraries (of) William Worcestre (Clarendon Press)

Journals

  • Pounds, N., 1937, 'The Medieval Castle in Cornwall' Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society Vol. 104 p. 34
  • Mc'Lauchlan, H., 1847, Royal Institution of Cornwall 29th report p. 20-22