The Gatehouse website record for Widworthy Castle Hill

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

Motte castle, of possibly C12 date, sculptured from the natural hillside. The motte was created by the scarping of a natural irregularly-shaped knoll which sits on the top of the hill. The knoll, as modified, is sub-rectangular in shape, being near circular on its southern and eastern sides whilst the north and north west sides are nearly straight, measuring about 31m and 27m in length respectively. The apex of the knoll has been flattened to provide a platform about 35m across. The resulting platform is about 5m in height with no encircling bank. It slopes at a 45 degree angle on all sides to a ditch which survives as a faint trace, with a width of about 3m. It is suggested that may date from the second major period of motte construction, during the civil wars of King Stephen's reign in the 1130s and 1140s. (PastScape)
There is no real evidence to date this to the 1130's. It may well be originally Saxon in date as it is a modestly fortified site close to the parish church (the church is 'Mid - late C14 on ancient church site'–listing description).

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SY21269948

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 449613
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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