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Castle Neroche today

England · Ruin

Castle Neroche

Castle Neroche is a Norman motte-and-bailey built on an earlier hill fort site on the northern escarpment of the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, England. Today only the earthen motte, ringworks and ramparts survive as grassy earthworks within woodland and it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1140

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1140

What Castle Neroche looked like in its prime.

A broad, grassy motte about 6.1 metres (20 ft) high sits within concentric earthen banks and ditches forming an inner ringwork and a larger 7.5-acre outer rampart; no standing stone keep survives. The earthworks are rounded in profile, turf-covered, and set on a wooded hillside of the northern escarpment of the Blackdown Hills. In its prime the motte top and bailey would have been occupied by timber defensive works and simple wooden buildings clustered against the inner banks.

Its story

The story of Castle Neroche.

Castle Neroche is a Norman motte-and-bailey raised on the site of an earlier hill fort, on the northern escarpment of the Blackdown Hills near Staple Fitzpaine in Somerset. It was probably built by Robert, Count of Mortain, in the eleventh century.

Why such sites were built is still argued over, military works against threatened invasion from continental Europe, sites built by the invaders themselves, or a reaction to social tensions caused by a growing population pressing on agriculture. Today only the earthen motte, ringworks and ramparts survive as grassy earthworks within woodland, protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1140.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Castle Neroche, including 1 interior: inner ringwork / bailey interior. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach along the northern escarpment pathSummit of the motteInner ringwork / bailey interiorOuter rampart and ditchBarbican at the motte cornerRamparts viewpoint over the Blackdown Hills

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Castle Neroche.

Sweet Track, EnglandAncient siteSweet Track29 km awayAvalon, EnglandLandmarkAvalon32 km awayGlastonbury Abbey, EnglandMonasteryGlastonbury Abbey32 km away

Questions about Castle Neroche

What is the history of Castle Neroche?

Castle Neroche was probably raised in the 11th century by Robert, Count of Mortain, on an earlier hill fort site. A large outer rampart was built first, followed soon after the Norman Conquest by an inner ringwork, and later converted into a motte-and-bailey. It fell out of regular use by the early 12th century, was reused during The Anarchy, and may later have served royal-forest administrators.

What is inside Castle Neroche?

Inside Castle Neroche, the surviving feature is the inner ringwork or bailey interior rather than rooms in a standing building. In its prime, the motte top and bailey would have contained timber defensive works and simple wooden buildings clustered against the inner banks. No stone keep survives.

Why was Castle Neroche built, and what was it used for?

Castle Neroche was built to serve as a defensive Norman motte-and-bailey on an earlier hill fort site. Its works included a large outer rampart, an inner ringwork and a motte with a barbican. After it stopped being in regular use, it was reused during The Anarchy and may later have supported operations by administrators of the surrounding royal forest against poachers.

Where is Castle Neroche?

Castle Neroche is near Staple Fitzpaine, in Somerset, on the northern escarpment of the Blackdown Hills. The site is in the parish of Curland and is also associated with Buckland St Mary. The hill rises to 260 metres (850 ft).

When was Castle Neroche built?

Castle Neroche was probably built in the 11th century, in several stages. A 7.5-acre outer rampart came first, followed soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066 by a smaller inner ringwork; the site was later converted into a motte-and-bailey. The first-raised year is not recorded.

What did Castle Neroche look like in its prime?

Castle Neroche is a broad, grassy motte-and-bailey earthwork rather than a surviving stone castle. The motte is about 6.1 metres (20 ft) high, enclosed by concentric banks and ditches, with an inner ringwork and a 7.5-acre outer rampart. Timber defences and simple wooden buildings would have occupied the motte and bailey in its prime.

Is Castle Neroche still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castle Neroche is a ruin, with only its earthen motte, ringworks and ramparts surviving as grassy earthworks within woodland. The rounded earthworks are turf-covered, and no standing stone keep survives. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Who built Castle Neroche?

Castle Neroche was probably built by Robert, Count of Mortain. The surviving evidence describes him as the builder or patron, but does not name an architect or designer. The castle was constructed in several stages, beginning with a large outer rampart and continuing with an inner ringwork and later motte-and-bailey.

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