Affeton Castle, East Worlington

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are major building remains

NameAffeton Castle, East Worlington
Alternative NamesAffeton Barton; Aston; Afferton; Afton
Historic CountryDevonshire
Modern AuthorityDevon
1974 AuthorityDevon
Civil ParishEast Worlington

King writes this is a Tudor gatehouse not a castle. Salter and Pettifer say Tudor gate is most prominent remains of C15 house which may have had slight defences.

Gatehouse to former manor house, the latter now demolished except for a range of outbuildings. C15, sacked 3 times during the Civil War, restored 1868 and later in C19, and some C20 work. Coursed and squared local rubble, freestone dressings; flat lead-sheeting roof; tall renewed stone stacks. Plan: square on plan with an archway through, now blocked; restored in Neo-medieval style. Exterior: principal entrance front to west, 2 storeys, 2 windows, 2-light stone- mullioned casements, each light with a cinque-foiled head, one window on the left of the first floor with a transom. Depressed arch head to a central archway, moulded surround, now blocked with small narrow C19 doorway, plank door, ornamental strap hinges, sidelights. All opening with labels, carved stops. Three 2-stage buttresses; embattled parapet. Right return with a shallow garderobe turret 2- storeyed, pent stone roof. Elevation to the east with further mullioned windows; 3- storeyed stair-turret, 4 lancets and a quatrefoil window, on ground floor an elaborate narrow door opening with a pointed-arch head moulded in 2 orders, fleurons to spandrels, imposts, label with large floral stops, C19 plank door with ornamental hinges. Addition of 1868 to the north, formerly a coach-house, now incorporated as a dwelling, on main entrance front 9- and 16-pane sash windows, front-facing gable with achievement and bellcote, bell missing. Interior of the gatehouse completely refitted during the C19 restoration; stone newel staircase to the stair-turret, and a moulded door surround off this staircase, at first floor level, appear to be the only early features remaining; good C19 work including a panelled room with Jacobethan fireplace. (Listed Building Report)

Affeton Castle is a restored 15th century gate-tower

The castellated building to which it gave entrance was probably erected by the Affetons in the 13th or 14th cent. and was a fortified manor house rather than a true castle. (PastScape – ref. Hoskins)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSS755136
Latitude50.9092788696289
Longitude-3.77174997329712
Eastings275540
Northings113680
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Robert Cutts All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Robert Cutts All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Robert Cutts All rights reservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 486-7
  • Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 87 (slight)
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 53
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus and Cherry, Bridget, 1989, Buildings of England: Devon (Harmondsworth) p. 904
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 121 (reject)
  • Hoskins, W.G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon (London: Collins) p. 519
  • Pevsner N., 1952, Buildings of England: North Devon p. 38
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 21 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 350 (as Alston) online copy
  • Lysons, D. and S., 1822, Magna Britannia Vol. 6 Devon p. cccxlv-cccxlviii online transcription

Journals

  • Haslam, R., 1983 Sept, Country Life