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Restormel Castle is a motte and bailey castle of Norman origin, with the motte crowned by a substantial stone shell keep. The site was established in the early 12th century and developed over subsequent medieval centuries as a significant stronghold in Cornwall, commanding the valley of the River Fowey near Lostwithiel. The circular shell keep, built of local slate and granite, represents one of the finest examples of its type in the South West and was constructed during the 13th century to replace or augment earlier timber defences on the mound. The castle served as an important administrative and military centre, and its defensive earthworks remain substantially intact, preserving the characteristic motte and bailey plan with its encircling ditch and bailey ramparts.
Restormel Castle: motte, bailey and shell keep is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1017574. View the official record →
Restormel Castle is a motte and bailey castle of Norman origin, with the motte crowned by a substantial stone shell keep. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1017574.
Restormel Castle: motte, bailey and shell keep is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1017574.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Small multivallate hillfort called Castle Dore (6.6 km), Cross in grounds of Trenython (7.3 km), Small multivallate hillfort 230m south-east of Great Prideaux (7.4 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Restormel Castle: motte, bailey and shell keep