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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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Modbury Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Medebury

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SX65625164
Latitude 50.34931° Longitude -3.89013°

Modbury Castle has been described as a certain Fortified Manor House.

There are no visible remains.

Description

At the west end of the town are the slight remains of the Champernoun's mansion (Hoskins). At the W end of the town are the supposed remains of the once famous Champernoun mansion. They stand close to the churchyard (Pevsner). Modbury was the home of the Champernownes from the reign of Edward I to the beginning of the 18th century. A licence to crenellate was granted temp. Edward III (JBAA, 33). Licence to crenellate granted 1334 (Higham). The mansion (Modbury House) was taken down in 1705 (White). Taken by a Parliamentary garrison in Dec 1642. In 1698, the remains of Modbury Castle were conveyed to Mrs Sarah Champernowne, who sold "what remained of the old castle" for the materials in 1705. A small part of the mansion yet (c.1822) remains, said to have been a dining room now converted into a stable and hay loft (Lysons). (Devon and Dartmoor HER)

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1334 June 1 (Click on the date for details of this licence.).

Comments

The use of the C14 as a base needing to be besieged in the C17 suggests a house of some strength, although temporary earthworks did make many, non-fortified, houses into camps. The lack of remains (The slight remains mentioned by the Lysons survived until the mid C20 but are now gone), even given thorough demolition in the C18 suggest, however, a relatively thin walled house.
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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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