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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Hembury Castle, West Buckfastleigh

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Dane's Castle; The Danish Camp

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SX72546843
Latitude 50.50177° Longitude -3.79848°

Hembury Castle, West Buckfastleigh has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

Motte and Bailey set within an Iron Age hillfort. The castle is situated on the western summit of the hillfort interior. The motte consists of a central grass covered mound with an encircling ditch and bank, bailey and outer rampart. The motte is almost perfectly circular at its base, about 32m in diameter rising to an oval top offset to the south west quadrant and measuring 19m north east to south west by 11m overall. The remains of the bailey lie 18m beyond the mound. (PastScape)

Motte and bailey built into the Iron Age enclosure/hillfort. The mount is locally called Danes Camp. It has a hollow centre 3.6m deep and is ditched. The mound is 27m diameter and 6m high. This is surrounded by a level platform with a scarped edge descending to the level of the interior of the camp. It has been noted that the bailey has been 'mutilated by excavation'. The hillfort was probably utilised as an outer bailey. A mid 13th century document describes it as 'the old castle which was called Hembury'. It was possibly a campaign castle of the Norman Conquest, but is likely to have gone out of use soon after. (National Trust HBSMR)
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:21:52

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