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Marisco Castle, Lundy Island

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

Situated in a prominent cliff-top setting at the south east corner of Lundy. The history of a castle on this site begins with the construction of a shell keep and bailey on order of Henry III in 1243. In 1643, during the Civil War, the royalist Thomas Bushell restored the castle 'from the ground at his own charge.The present remains seem to date from this restoration. Foundations of medieval curtain wall found in excavation in 1984/5. Marisco Castle was built in 1243 after Henry III had executed William de Marisco in 1242 for treason. The de Marisco family, who held Lundy from the C12 to 1321 were pirates who terrorised this coast, but as reputed descendants of a royal bastard they made claims to the throne.
This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain. Masonry footings remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This site is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 91981)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS14174377

Modern Map fromOrdnance Survey logo

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

Good for general location

Air Photo from multimap logo

1st edition OS Map from old maps logo

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape Defra ELS number; 31785

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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.

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This record last updated on Thursday, July 24, 2008

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