Eggesford Castle, Wembworthy

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Heywood Wood

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

Ringwork and bailey castle situated above a ford to the west of the River Taw at Eggesford. It survives as an oval mound which measures 31m long by 20m wide and is 3.5m high with a surrounding bank up to 1.5m high. Part of the ringwork has been levelled by C19 ornamental gardening. The bailey, which lies to the north-north-east, measures 71m long by 24.5m wide internally and is surrounded by a bank which is up to 3.8m wide and 2.3m high. Surrounding the whole is a ditch which measures 2m wide and from 1.6m to 3.5m deep on the north eastern side. The history of the castle is not clear, although a date of 1130s to the 1140s seems most likely. (PastScape)
Eggesford Castle and Heywood castle are only 500m apart. Both are rather isolated from settlement, although the settlement form is dispersed in this area. The mid C12 date given to both castle in PastScape is speculative. There must be some relationship between these two neighbouring castle but the nature of that relationship is obscure. The suggestion by Vatchell that Eggesford was the original post-Conquest castle succeeded by the larger Heywood has merit but is unproven. The Eggesford location may be close to, a now lost, river crossing suggesting a manorial centre. The Heywood location, on a hill spur end is more defensive and more dramatic and impressive (although this impact is now lost in the wooded site). If the Eggesford location became somewhat isolated after a ford became impassible then this might suggest a reason for a move to a more impressive location. Dating evidence would be useful but would probably require extensive and destructive excavation and both these earthworks are actually well preserved and should be protected from such damage.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS67831191

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 34357
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.devonperspectives.co.uk/heywood_castle.html
• Books
  • 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) p86
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p120
    Allcroft, A. Hadrian, 1908, Earthwork of England (London) p405-7 http://www.archive.org/details/earthworkofengla00allc
    Wall, C., 1906, in Page, Wm (ed), 'Ancient Earthworks' VCH Devon Vol1 p621-22
• Journal Articles
  • Higham, R.A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p142-9
    Higham, R.A., 1982, 'Early Castles in Devon' Château Gaillard Vol9-10 p101-116
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Vatchell, E.T., 1963, 'Eggesford and Heywood Castles' Transactions of the Devonshire Association Vol95 p197-207
    Renn, D.F., 1959, 'Mottes: a classification' Antiquity Vol33 p106-12