Cardinham Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cadenham; Cardinan

In the civil parish of Cardinham. In the historic county of Cornwall (Modern Authority of Cornwall, 1974 county of Cornwall).

The remains of a motte and bailey castle built soon after the conquest, probably by Richard Fitz Turold, steward of the Count of Mortain. The descendants of Richard lived for two centuries in the castle, taking the name "Cardinan" after their place of residence. There are two enclosures, the higher almost circular, 35 yards diameter. It appears to have been a quarry for centuries from the uneven state of the mound. The ditch encircling the base of the mound at the NW may be seen. The bailey or lower enclosure is approx 89 yards x 83 yards - it is fairly level and enclosed by traces of a mound, especially at the S side. The motte which is approximately 4.0 metres high has been extensively mutilated on its top and east side by surface stone digging. The erroneously described "ditch" on the north-west side is the result of modern stone quarrying. The bailey is generally well preserved on the west and south sides but the east side has apparently been cut away. There is no trace of the entrance. The north-south double bank and ditch to the east of the bailey is probably a flanking work as the slope is too steep for a hollow way. There are no obvious traces of a contemporary settlement within the earthwork. (PastScape)
Even before their extinction the Cardinhams had begun to build Restormel Castle near their borough of Lostwithel. Cardinham Castle, a ringwork on the margin of Bodmin Morr, was abandoned (Pound)
King calls this a ringwork.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX126680

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 432594
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/200/cardinhamcastle.htm
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, Index and Amendments to Mike Salter's English Castles Books (Malvern) p6
    Higham, Robert A., 1999, 'Castles, Fortified Houses and Fortified Towns in the Middle Ages' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p136-43
    Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p18
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p24 [slight]
    Pounds, N.J.G., 1994, The medieval castle in England and Wales p138
    Spreadbury, I. D., 1984, Castles in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Redruth)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p73
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Cornish, J.B., 1906, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Cornwall Vol1 p462 http://www.archive.org/stream/victoriahistoryo00pageuoft#page/n565/mode/2up
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p2
    Daniel, J., 1854, A Geography of Cornwall p117
    Hitchins, Fortescue, 1824, A History of Cornwall (Samuel Drew) Vol2 p150 http://books.google.com/books?id=YUYQAAAAYAAJ
    Polwhele, R., 1803, History of Cornwall (London) Vol1 p107 http://books.google.com/books?id=C0QQAAAAYAAJ
• Journal Articles
  • Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' Archaeological Journal Vol143 p310
    Preston-Jones, Ann and Rose, Peter, 1986, 'Medieval Cornwall' Cornish Archaeology Vol25 p135-185 http://www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk/documents/CA25-5s2.pdf
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Picken, W.M.M., 1954-5, Devon and Cornwall notes and queries Vol26 p203-4
    MacLauchlan, 1850, Royal Institute of Cornwall 32th report p36 plate xxvii
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p78
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • History of East Cornwall sketch (Henderson MSS in Royal Institute of Cornwall Truro)