Moresk Castle, St Clement

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

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

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SW85204344

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 428761
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.

• Books
  • Lysons, D. and Lysons, S., 1814, Magna Brittannia Vol3 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50632#s7
• Journal Articles
  • Mc'Lauchlan, H., 1847, Royal Institution of Cornwall Reports Vol29 p20-22
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Harvey, J.H. (ed), 1969, Itineraries (of) William Worcestre (Clarendon Press)