Okehampton Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Okehampton, England.
Okehampton Castle comprises the remains of a medieval fortification positioned on a hill north of the West Okement River, with visible sections of the motte, bailey, and defensive stone walls. The structures combine Norman building techniques with the landscape's natural features, creating a cohesive archaeological complex.
Baldwin FitzGilbert built the original motte-and-bailey fortification between 1068 and 1086 in response to Norman consolidation efforts following regional resistance in Devon. The construction exemplified Norman control and military strategy in southwest England during this period.
The ruins captured the attention of 19th-century landscape painters, who found in the medieval remains a compelling subject for their romantic compositions.
Access to the ruins is straightforward, with English Heritage maintaining clear paths and informational markers throughout the site. Sturdy footwear is advisable since the terrain is uneven and becomes slippery after rainfall.
The castle operated through a feudal arrangement where landowners received properties in exchange for providing military service to defend the fortification. This system reveals how Norman rulers maintained power through reciprocal obligations with local landholding families.
Location: Okehampton
Inception: 1068
Founders: Baldwin FitzGilbert
Operator: English Heritage
Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/okehampton-castle
GPS coordinates: 50.73060,-4.00894
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Devon combines historical sites and natural landscapes across a region in southwest England. The area extends from moorlands in Dartmoor National Park to cliffs along the Bristol Channel and English Channel coasts. Visitors find Norman castle ruins like Totnes Castle and Okehampton Castle, Georgian manor houses such as Saltram House, medieval villages, and monastery sites like Buckland Abbey. The landscape appears in forms of granite formations, waterfalls, remote beaches, and ancient woodlands. Places include Wistman's Wood with its gnarled oak trees, the rock formations at Valley of the Rocks near Lynton, the historic fishing village of Clovelly with its steep streets, and the sandy beaches at Bantham and Mothercombe. Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall drops directly into the sea, while Blackchurch Rock stands as a coastal formation. Gardens like RHS Garden Rosemoor display botanical collections, and industrial sites such as the water-powered Finch Foundry or the Dartmouth Steam Railway document past working environments. Beer Quarry Caves offer views into historic underground stone quarrying.
Meldon Viaduct
2.6 km
Meldon Quarry
2 km
Museum of Dartmoor Life
979 m
Town Hall
1 km
Nine Stones ring cairn on Belstone Common
3.2 km
Church of All Saints
859 m
Fice's Well And Cross
993 m
Chapel Of St James
1.1 km
White Hart Hotel
1 km
13, Fore Street
1.1 km
Lloyds Bank
1 km
Okehampton Library
1.2 km
Town Mill
1 km
14, Fore Street
1.1 km
Churchyard Cross Immediately West Of All Saints Church
862 m
Chimney About 50 Metres West North West Of Town Mill
1 km
Chalet Treloar
763 m
5, West Street
980 m
Brock's Almshouses
710 m
26-38, Station Road
757 m
1 and 3, St James Street
1.1 km
Darley House Including Front Garden Area Railings And Piers
900 m
Stone cross adjoining Fitz or Fice's Well
993 m
1 and 3, West Street
990 m
K6 Telephone Kiosk Outside St James's Church, Fore Street
1.1 km
11 And 13, East Street
1.2 km
Footbridge About 30 Metres West Of Chimney At Town Mill
981 m
Milestone, Exeter Road, jct with Beardown Road, by Business Park
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