Millsome Castle, Coldridge

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameMillsome Castle, Coldridge
Alternative NamesMilson
Historic CountryDevonshire
Modern AuthorityDevon
1974 AuthorityDevon
Civil ParishColdridge

Medieval motte or ringwork on a natural rise above the valley of the River Taw. It survives as an oval mound which measures 49m from north to south and 43m from east to west at its base, and is 9m high. To the north there is a section of ditch which measures 15m wide and up to 3m deep. This peters out to the south at both the western and eastern sides of the mound where it is preserved as a buried feature. A bailey is thought to exist on the western side. The castle is thought to date to the mid 1100s. (PastScape)

This is a castle mound with a flat top. A vestigal berm around much of the circumference suggests an infilled ditch. On the north side where natural defence is slighter there is a ditch with an outer bank of stone rubble and earth. Whole area densely overgrown with bramble and it is difficult to see whether any form of bailey was intended (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card 1971).

On a knoll beside the River Taw. Physical details obscured by dense vegetation cover. Enclosing ditch survives on north side 1 metre deep. Central area is 2-3 metres high, and 20 metres in diameter. Its foundation date is uncertain, the civil war period (1130's and 1140's) is suggested (Higham 1979). (Devon and Dartmoor HER)

Millsome Castle survives well and contains archaeological information relating to Norman military activity in this part of Devon.

The monument includes a medieval motte on a natural rise above the valley of the River Taw, and has commanding views over the surrounding countryside. The monument survives as an oval mound which measures 49m from north to south and 43m from east to west at its base, and is 9m high. To the north there is a section of ditch which measures 15m wide and up to 3m deep. This peters out to the south at both the western and eastern sides of the mound where it is preserved as a buried feature. The motte is thought to date to the mid-1100s. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Isolated from settlement and close to parish boundary. However, there was much non-nucleated settlement in Devon and isolated small timber castle are not uncommon in Devon. May have been near a crossing of the River Taw. The suggested mid 1100's date, while not impossible, is not based on evidence and probably reflects received wisdom.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSS666058
Latitude50.8363304138184
Longitude-3.89496994018555
Eastings266650
Northings105800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 87 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 115

Journals

  • Higham, R.A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol. 46 p. 142-9
  • Higham, R.A., 1982, 'Early Castles in Devon' Château Gaillard Vol. 9-10 p. 101-116
  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127

Other