Castle Dore

Has been described as a Rejected Uncertain

There are earthwork remains

NameCastle Dore
Alternative NamesCasteldour; Croftededor; Castle Dirford; Golant
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishSt Sampson

Castle Dore is marked on current OS maps (b10). William of Worcester described it as "a delapidated castle by the name of Dirford, near Golant" (Harvey). Leland called it 'Castledour' (Toulmin-Smith). The site is a multivallate defended enclosure. Parts of the interior and defences were excavated by Radford in 1936-37. (Cornwall & Scilly HER)

Golant, St Sampson.–'Castle Dore.' Identified by some writers as the 'Croftededor' of Domesday Book. Mentioned by William of Worcester as 'Castle Dirford'; he says it was then in ruins. There may have been a medieval castle here. It was used as a fort in the Civil War (W. of Worcester; Leland; Borlase, 334; Polwhele, 79 and bk. i ch. xi p. 207; Drew, ii. 596; Rashleigh, 5, 13, 17; R.I.C. 31st Rep. (1849), p. 29 and plan; Maclean, i, 114, O.S. xli. 4) (VCH)

Leland writes "From Lostwithiel to Castle Dore is at least three miles... Castle Dore belonged to the Earl of Salisbury, but is now completely demolished." PastScape report reads "Multivallate Iron Age hillfort settlement of C5BCE-C2CE. The original excavations interpreted the latest phases as possible C5-C8 reoccupation, identifying one structure as a possible palace. However, re-examination of the excavation reports in the light of recent knowledge suggests that although there was a distinct break in occupation, the site had ceased to be occupied before the beginning of the Roman period."

Gatehouse Comments

The site has strong Arthurian associations. Leland report of it belonging to the Earl of Salisbury in a manner clearly implying medieval use and origin. The excavations show this to be fanciful.

- 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 ReferenceSX103548
Latitude50.3626289367676
Longitude-4.66788005828857
Eastings210350
Northings54830
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Cornish, J.B., 1906, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Cornwall Vol. 1 p. 462, 463 (plan) online copy

Antiquarian

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England  (Sutton Publishing) p. 80
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1907, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 1 p. 207 online copy
  • Harvey, J. (Ed), 1969, Itineraries of William of Worcestre

Journals

  • Quinnell, H., 1986, 'Cornwall during the Iron Age and the Roman period' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 25 p. 111-134 online copy
  • Quinnell, H. and Harris, D., 1985, 'Castle Dore: the Chronology Reconsidered' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 24 p. 123-132 online copy
  • Fitzpatrick, A.P., 1985, 'The Iron Age Glass Bracelets from Castle Dore' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 24 p. 133-140 online copy
  • Rahtz, P., 1971, 'Castle Dore – A Reappraisal of the Post-Roman Structures' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 10 p. 49-54 (plans) online copy
  • Radford, C.A.R., 1951, 'Report on the excavations at Castle Dore' Journal Royal Institute of Cornwall Vol. 1