More information : [ST 1870 3958] Stowey Castle [GT] (Remains of) [NAT] (1)
Stowey Castle is a mount and base-court part formed by scarping. The mount, which is some 25' above the ditch which surrounds its base is mainly natural rock, on the top of which are the foundations of a rectangular keep. An oval base-court is to the east of the mount and a second and smaller bailey to the north of this.
Photo of plan, See AO/63/376/4.
Stowey Castle is an undistinguished castle-mount of no historical importance. It was built perhaps in the 12th century and all masonry had probably disappeared by the C 16. Scheduled. (2-4)
This is a large motte with two baileys. The earthworks are well preserved but the only masonry now visible are the foundations on the top of the motte which have been exposed by excavation. These excavations were obviously conducted many years ago and no report can be traced. Surveyed at 1:2500. (5)
Remains of Keep to Stowey Castle (formerly listed as Stowey Castle (remains of) under General) Grade I. Remains of keep. C11. Coursed blue lias rubble, forming foundation walls, some buried, of a square keep. Remains stand on a conical earthwork with a ditch approximately 250 metres in circumference. The walling is the only visible structural remains of the castle. Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 56). (6)
Plan and illustration of the castle are present with a text. (7)
ST 187 396: Stowey Castle. SAM No 56. (8)
ST 1860 3957. The monument is located in the Quantock Hills and the scheduling includes Stowey Castle's remains in the village of Nether Stowey, including a motte with a stone keep and 2 baileys. Also included are the following monuments lying adjacent to the castle: a Medieval kiln site, the site of St Michael's Chapel and the remains of a Post Medieval mill and mill pond situated west of Nether Stowey. The castle predates 1154 and may have been founded on an earlier pre Conquest site developed by William Fitz Odo during the 11th century. (9)
Listed by Cathcart King. (10)
Stowey Castle has been recorded and mapped from aerial photographs. (11-14)
Nether Stowey Castle was recorded at a scale of 1:1000 as part of the EH archaeological survey of the Quantock Hills AONB. Full details of the survey are contained in the EH report (15, 16). |