Down Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Puddington Bottom

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

Down Castle is a small ring-work, situated on Down Farm, and formerly covered by Castle Plantation. It is sited on the top but not at the end of a low spur, steep on both sides, which falls gently to the Binneford Water just below Puddington Bottom. A part of Castle Plantation had been felled before 1947 and is now an arable field. When ploughed the greater part of the circle of the defences shows as a light band of shaly stone from the bank in contrast to the darker soil from the rest of the field. The entrance is traceable on the higher part of the ridge to the eastward, and the rampart and external ditch can be clearly seen passing through the coppice and hedge on the south-west on the line A-B (fig 3). The rampart can be traced under the hedge on the western side and in the wood to the north of a modern track, which cuts through it at the corner of the field on the line A-B. The whole work is about 150 feet in diameter. In the tithe map of 1848 there was no plantation and the field (No 148) was called Castle, being part of Colleyland; the field to the west of the ring-work was then part of Venchannon (now Venn Channing) and was also simply called Castle. (PastScape–ref. Woolner)
Isolated from settlement but overlooks a restrictive river crossing. However, most likely a Iron Age farmstead.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS838093

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 35522
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.

• Journal Articles
  • Cdr and Mrs Woolner, 1963, Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol95 p80-1