© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)
Restormel Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortress located near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, with origins in the Norman period following the conquest of 1066. The monument comprises a substantial earthen mound topped by a circular stone shell keep, surrounded by a bailey with defensive ditches, representing a typical example of Norman military architecture adapted to the Cornish landscape. The shell keep itself dates from the twelfth century, built upon the earlier motte, and served as the administrative centre of the honor of Restormel under the earls of Cornwall. The castle remained in use through the medieval period but gradually declined in importance after the fourteenth century, eventually falling into ruin though its earthwork defences and keep survive prominently to the present day.
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 fortress located near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, with origins in the Norman period following the conquest of 1066. 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 Britain — 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