The Gatehouse website record for Colcombe Castle

In the civil parish of Colyton. In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Devon, 1974 county of Devon).

Moated homestead and probable C13 fortified house. It was In ruins by 1539 and was rebuilt in the early C17, and was later used as a farmhouse. It is now mostly in ruins. Remains show no defensive signs. House. Circa C17 with later alterations. Stone rubble with quoins and rendered front. Slate roof with gabled ends. Two stoeys. Two window range. Modern metal frame casements replace former stone mullion windows. Central plank door with modern gabled porch. Extended at rear to form deep plan and with further extension with catslide roof. Interior heavy stopped chamfer ceiling beams. On the site of and possibly incorporating some of the remains of Colcombe Castle one of the seats of the Courtenays, Earls of Devon, and first built in late C13, by Hugh de Courtenay, partly rebuilt by Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, but after his execution in 1540 it was confiscated by the Crown. Returned to Edward Marquis of Exeter who died in 1556. Bought by William Pole of Shute whose son William Pole the historian and antiquarian completed the house and made Colcombe his residence.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SY247948

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 449686
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.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.