Clan Rising
Cary Castle today

England · Ruin

Cary Castle

Cary Castle was a 12th‑century motte-and-bailey fortress sited on Lodge Hill overlooking the town of Castle Cary in Somerset. In its prime it had a stone keep within a small inner bailey and a larger outer bailey to the north; today only earthworks survive and it is a scheduled monument.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1150

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1150

What Cary Castle looked like in its prime.

A motte-and-bailey silhouette on Lodge Hill: a steep, earthen motte topped by a roughly 24-metre-square stone keep with a forebuilding and plinth, surrounded by a small inner bailey and a larger outer bailey to the north. A wide, deep ditch (recorded up to 17 m across and 6 m deep) cuts around the motte. Foundations and facing were of local Hadspen, Hamstone and Doulting stone, the whole sitting above the town of Castle Cary in the valley below.

Its story

The story of Cary Castle.

Cary Castle stood on Lodge Hill overlooking the town of Castle Cary in Somerset, a stone keep of local Hadspen, Ham and Doulting stone within a small inner bailey, with a larger outer bailey to the north and a ditch in places 17 metres wide and 6 metres deep. A lack of weathering on the keep's plinth suggests the castle was relatively short-lived after the keep was built.

During the Anarchy, Robert was exiled by King Stephen and the castle given to Ralph Lovel, who then sided with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, against the king. Henry de Tracy later gained control of Cary and built another stronghold in front of the older castle, demolished when William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester, arrived with his troops to take it.

The Lovels achieved the return of the castle, and their descendants were lords of the manor until the 14th century, around which time a manor house was built on or adjacent to the site, possibly by Baron Zouche. It later passed to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, and by the 1630s was occupied by Edward Kirton; today only earthworks survive, protected as a scheduled monument.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1150.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Cary Castle, including 1 interior: interior of the stone keep. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Southern approach from Lodge Hill (exterior)Base of the motte and defensive ditch (exterior)Keep forebuilding and plinth (exterior)Interior of the stone keepInner bailey courtyard (exterior)Outer bailey to the north (exterior)Lower mound and slope below the motte (exterior)

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1150, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Cary Castle.

The families that held Cary Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Lovel

    Granted to Ralph Lovel during the Anarchy; Lovel descendants were lords of the manor until the 14th century.

  • Seymour

    The manor later passed to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Cary Castle.

Stourhead, EnglandGardenStourhead14 km awayGlastonbury Tor, EnglandLandmarkGlastonbury Tor14 km awayAvalon, EnglandLandmarkAvalon15 km away

Questions about Cary Castle

What is the history of Cary Castle?

Cary Castle’s history begins in the 12th century as a motte-and-bailey fortress on Lodge Hill. During the Anarchy, King Stephen besieged it with fire and stones until its garrison surrendered through hunger. Henry de Tracy later built another stronghold in front of it, but William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester, demolished that addition. The Lovels later regained the castle, whose earthworks survive today.

Where is Cary Castle?

Cary Castle is in Castle Cary, Somerset, on Lodge Hill overlooking the town. It stands above the town in the valley below, in the region of Somerset. The site is associated with Castle Cary as its nearby settlement.

When was Cary Castle built?

Cary Castle was built in the 12th century, although the precise year it was first raised is not recorded. Its stone keep was constructed during that broader period, within a motte-and-bailey arrangement of an inner and outer bailey. The keep appears to have been relatively short-lived after its construction.

Was Cary Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Cary Castle was besieged by King Stephen in 1138 and fell after its garrison surrendered through hunger. Stephen abandoned his siege of Bristol and attacked Cary Castle with fire and showers of stones from siege engines. Later, William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester, arrived with troops and demolished a stronghold Henry de Tracy had built in front of the older castle.

Which family or clan held Cary Castle?

The Lovel family held Cary Castle during the Anarchy and regained it later. Ralph Lovel was granted the castle after Robert was exiled by King Stephen, and he sided with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, against the king. Lovel descendants remained lords of the manor until the 14th century. The manor later passed to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset.

What did Cary Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Cary Castle had a steep earthen motte topped by a roughly 24-metre-square stone keep, with a forebuilding and plinth. A small inner bailey surrounded the keep, while a larger outer bailey lay to the north. A wide, deep ditch encircled the motte, reaching 17 metres across and 6 metres deep in places. The stone included local Hadspen, Hamstone and Doulting stone.

Is Cary Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Cary Castle is now a ruin, with only earthworks surviving. The castle was largely demolished at the end of the 18th century, although some of its stonework may be seen in buildings in the town. Its surviving earthworks are protected as a scheduled monument.

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