Topsham Castle (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Apsom; Mount Howe

In the civil parish of Exeter.
In the historic county of Devonshire.
Modern Authority of Devon.
1974 county of Devon.
Medieval County of Devon.

OS Map Grid Reference: SX967876
Latitude 50.67864° Longitude -3.46342°

Topsham Castle has been described as a Uncertain but is rejected as such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

On the strand, Topsham, below Mount Howe, the most likely site of Topsham Castle, of which nothing remains. Two other possible sites are considered (Holman). 17th century documentary reference to Topsham Castle is cited (Stone). (Devon Historic Environment Record)

Topsham Castle. — The Copie of a Letter sent from Exeter . . . shewing How the Enemy have besieged the said City . . . and at a place called Apsom . . . battered down a Fort . . ." Printed for Bernard Alsop in London in 1643 (of which a copy is in the library of the Devon and Exeter Institution) states : — " The Earle of Warwicke at his arrivall neere our Castle at Apsom sent a message to the high Sheriffs commanding him to raise the Country . . . but the Sheriffs obstinately refused it . . . then my Lord sent three or foure small ships which battered downe a great Fort levell to the ground where the Cavalleres harboured . . ."
Is it known whereabouts the fort was ? H. Stone.
With reference to Mr. H. Stone's enquiry re Topsham Castle, there are three possible sites for this. The first is on the mud flat called "Greenland," opposite Turf. The second is on the Strand below Mount Howe. The third is on the upper garden of Follett Lodge, near the ferry. A number of cast iron circular six-pounder balls have been dug up on the last named site. The Greenland fort is not shown on any of the ancient charts of the River Exe that I have examined. I consider the Mount Howe site the most probable. H. Wilson Holman. (Devon and Cornwall notes and queries 1920-21)

Sources of information, references and further reading

County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 18070.

Periodical Articles
- Holman, H.W., 1920-21, Devon and Cornwall notes and queries Vol. 11 Part 1 p. 143 online copy
  Stone, H., 1920-21, Devon and Cornwall notes and queries Vol. 11 Part 1 p. 96 online copy

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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.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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