Botelet Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Boleit; Bodleit

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

William of Worcester, who wrote an Itinerary of Cornwall in the reign of Edward IV., speaks of a dilapidated castle, called Bodleit (Probably Botelet, in the adjoining parish of Lanreath, which was a manor of the Bottreaux family.), near Sir John Coleshill's mansion, at Tremoderet. (Lysons)
Farmstead, dwelling of which is situated on the site of an ancient manor. Belonged to the Brotreaux family, the last of whom died in 1462 (Gilbert). The old house at Botelet was located at SX 18326021 according to the present owner and all that remains is a section of six foot high undateable walling. This house was demolished when the new house was built in 1884. (PastScape)
Medieval deer park at Botelet. It was in use by 1500. Evidence for the site is in the form of fieldname evidence. (PastScape record 432699–ref Henderson)
Clearly the manor house of the Bottreaux's, with its associated deer park was high status enough to be built in a castellated style and may have had modest defences. However, I suspect Worcestre was actually referring to the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Bury Camp (SX188594 PastScape record 432087) which, with its drystone walling exposed in parts, would have looked very castle like.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX18326021

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 432687432699
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
  • Henderson, Charles (edited by Rowse, A.L. and Henderson, M.I.), 1963 [original written 1935], Essays in Cornish history (Clarendon Press) p162
    Gilbert, C.S., 1838, Parochial History of Cornwall Vol2 p367
    Lysons, D. and S., 1814, Magna Britannia Vol3 Cornwall p80 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50634
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Harvey, J.H. (ed), 1969, Itineraries (of) William Worcestre (Clarendon Press)